Location: | Central Europe, east of Germany | | Geographic coordinates: | 52 00 N, 20 00 E | | Map references: | Europe | | Area: | total: 312,685 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km | | Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than New Mexico | | Land boundaries: | total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km | | Coastline: | 491 km | | Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties | | Climate: | temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers | | Terrain: | mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border | | Elevation extremes: | lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m | | Natural resources: | coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land | | Land use: | arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001) | | Irrigated land: | 1,000 sq km (1998 est.) | | Natural hazards: | flooding | | Environment - current issues: | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government | | Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 | | Geography - note: | historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Source: CIA World Factbook
|
|
|
