Situated at the center of Europe, and the largest of the former
Eastern European states, Poland’s position is crucial.
Poland has become one of the major destinations for travelers. Its
beauty can be admired in both its
old cities and in the
wild scenery of its
national parks and
nature reserves. The country’s regions are largely divided into horizontal bands: the
Baltic Coast and the
hilly post-glacial lake district.
Central Poland is split into northern lowlands and southern uplands, including the
Kraków-Wielun Upland with its limestone areas,
caves and medieval
castles. The
Carpathian Mountains, including the
Tatras, lie in the extreme south; their mountain scenery,
folklore and
sports facilities contributing to their charm.
Poland is a nation with a proud
cultural heritage, and
theater, music and opera companies abound. The former textile city of
Lodz is proud of its
film school, alma mater to directors
Roman Polanski and Krzysztof Kieslowski. There is also a strong tradition of graphic design and glassware.
Although the native soil for composer
Frederick Chopin, scientist
Marie Curie (neé Skladowska) and astronomer Nicholas Copernicus, Poland is best remembered for being the birthplace of the former Soviet bloc’s first officially recognized
independent mass political movement when strikes at the
Gdansk shipyard in August 1980 led to agreement with the authorities on the establishment of the
Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union.
Elections in summer 1989 ushered in eastern Europe’s first
post-Communist government. Poland is a member of the
European Union and has achieved success in creating a
market economy and attracting foreign investment. Growth is slow-moving and growing pains are apparent in the high unemployment rate and mass exodus of qualified people to other countries in search of a decent wage, but the potential exists for a healthier economy.
GeographyPoland shares borders to the east with the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania, to the south with the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic and to the west with Germany. To the north lies the Baltic Sea. The Baltic coast provides over 500km (300 miles) of sandy beaches, bays, steep cliffs and dunes. Northern Poland is dominated by lakes, islands and wooded hills joined by many rivers and canals. The Mazurian Lake District to the northeast is particularly beautiful. Lake Hancza, the deepest lake in Poland, is located in this district. The River Vistula (Wisła) has cut a wide valley from Gdansk on the Baltic coast to Warsaw in the heart of the country. The rest of the country rises slowly to the Sudety Mountains, which run along the border with the Czech Republic, and the Tatra mountains, which separate Poland from the Slovak Republic. To the west, the River Oder, with Szczecin at its mouth, forms the northwest border with Germany.
Next Page »
