The Republic of Poland is a state in Central Europe, bordering Germany in the west, the Czech Republic in the southwest, Slovakia in the south, Ukraine in the southeast, Belarus in the east, Lithuania in the northeast, in the north - with Russia ( Kaliningrad region). In the north, the coast of Poland is washed by by the Baltic Sea. The capital is the city of Warsaw.

In the XIV century, adding to their possessions Galicia-Volyn principality, Poland tried to seize the Western Russian lands, weakened by the Tatar-Mongol invasion. In 1569, Poland united with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and formed a new state - the Commonwealth.

In 1610, the Polish army of General Zholkiewski defeated the Russian-Swedish army and moved to Moscow. Soon Moscow swore allegiance to the Polish prince Vladislav. However, as a result of a popular uprising led by Minin and Pozharsky in November 1612, the Poles were expelled from Moscow, and in 1634, under the Treaty of Polyana, they abandoned their claims to Moscow.

Poland experienced the last period of stability in its history under King Vladislav IV. In 1648 an uprising began Ukrainian Cossacks and peasants under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and from 1654 to 1667 the war with Russia lasted, which began after the reunification of Ukraine with Russia in 1654. Then the Swedes occupied most of Poland, including Warsaw, King Jan II Casimir fled. In 1657 Poland was forced to abandon East Prussia, and in 1667 - from Kyiv and the territories east of the Dnieper.

Under Vishnevetsky, the Ottoman Empire took Podolia from Poland. It was only in 1683 that King Jan III Sobieski managed to stop the advance of the Turks into Europe.

The first division of the Commonwealth between Prussia, Austria and Russia took place in 1772. The second time the territory of Poland was divided between Prussia and Russia in 1793. In 1795, after the suppression of the national liberation movement, which began in March 1794, led by Kosciuszko, the third partition of the country took place between Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Under Napoleon, the Principality of Warsaw was created here, subordinate to France, and consisting of Polish lands taken from Prussia. The Poles took part in Napoleonic war against Russia. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814-1815, Poland was again divided between Austria, Prussia and Russia. In 1815, the Kingdom of Poland as part of Russia gained independence, but in a volume that did not suit the Poles, and almost the entire 19th century was overshadowed by popular uprisings and riots. During the First World War, Poland was occupied by the troops of Germany and Austria-Hungary. During the war between Poland and the USSR 1919-1921 West Side Ukrainian and Belarusian lands passed to Poland.

In 1926, the nationalist regime of Jozef Pilsudski was established in Poland. In 1939, Germany, breaking the non-aggression pact with Poland, invades its territory. During the Second World War, a very diverse resistance movement operated on the territory of Poland, which included units of the government Polish Army Craiova, the Communist Guards of Lyudova, Ukrainian nationalist formations of the UPA, which exterminated peaceful Polish population, Soviet partisan detachments. From Nazi German troops Poland was liberated by the Red Army in 1945, after which the Polish Communist Party came to power. In the early 1980s, Poland experienced a period of socio-economic decline, ending with the rise to power of General Wojciech Jaruzelski. In 1989, the Solidarity party became the helm of the country. In 1997, Poland joined NATO, and on May 1, 2004, the European Union.

Today's Poland is a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of tourists with an abundance of historical and architectural monuments and natural attractions.

How to get to Poland

Airplane

As a rule, tourists to Poland most often arrive by plane. Poland has international airports in Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Katowice.

Residents of Moscow can use the services of the national Polish air carrier LOT or Aeroflot, which operate daily flights to the capital of Poland. From St. Petersburg, you can get to Poland by LOT and Rossiya airlines. Citizens of Ukraine can fly by planes of Ukraine International Airlines, flying from Kyiv to Warsaw daily, or low-cost airline Wizzair, plying from Kyiv to Katowice. Flights Minsk-Warsaw are carried out by Belavia and LOT aircraft.

Eurolot, a low-cost subsidiary of the Polish carrier LOT, specializes in low-cost flights between major regional airports in Poland, but also operates flights to many European cities. In addition, you can get to Krakow and Warsaw with transfers at European capitals on board low-cost airlines easyJet, Ryanair, Germanwings.

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Bus

There is a bus service between Warsaw and the CIS countries. From Moscow and Minsk you can get to Warsaw and Poznan by Intercars buses. From Moscow and St. Petersburg, from Minsk, Gomel and Mogilev, as well as from Ukrainian cities - Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Lvov - buses of the international transport company Ecolines run. Buses deliver guests of Poland to Bialystok, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow.

In addition, there are many private bus companies in Ukraine, whose flights connect Ukrainian cities (Kyiv, Lviv, Truskavets, etc.) with Warsaw and Gdansk. Information can be found on the E-travels and Infobus websites.

A train

You can also get to Poland by train. Direct train 009YA Moscow - Warsaw ("Polonaise") follows from Belorussky railway station daily, travel time is about 20 hours. Train 019M (St. Petersburg - Berlin) runs from St. Petersburg to Poland, following through Vitebsk, Minsk and Brest to the Polish cities of Warsaw and Poznan.

Train 069Ж (Saratov - Berlin), connecting Saratov, Ryazan, Belarusian Minsk and Brest with the capital of Poland - Warsaw and the city of Poznan, also has trailer direct cars from Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Samara, Omsk, Rostov and Novosibirsk.

During the summer period, the movement of the train 008CH Kaliningrad - Gdynia is resumed, following through Gdansk, Malbork and Sopot. Detailed information is on the Russian Railways website.

Train 067K runs daily from Kyiv to Warsaw via Lublin and Kovel, with a trailer direct car from Donetsk. Trains depart from Lviv to Krakow several times a day. Additional Information- on the website of the company "Ukrzaliznytsya".

The main Polish railway company Polish State Railways (PKP) provides passenger services on EuroCity trains between Poland and other European countries. The main routes link Warsaw with Berlin, Cologne, Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

Ferry

Sea transportation between Poland and Scandinavian countries Sweden, Denmark and Finland are operated by Pol Ferries. The company owns two ferry terminals in Poland: in Gdansk and Swinoujscie. From Gdynia to the Swedish port of Karlskrona, a Stena Line ferry departs daily. The ticket price depends on the city from which the ferry departs and the country where it goes, and is usually about 65 euros.

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Weather in Poland

Poland has 3 climatic zones.

The climate of the Baltic coast is maritime, with January temperatures of -4 o C - +3 o C, and an average July temperature of +17 o C degrees. Average rate annual precipitation here is about 600 mm, their maximum amount falls in July and August, and the minimum - in March.

In the central part of Poland (plains) and in the highlands, the climate approaches continental: the average temperature in January is -2 o C, in July - +14 o C - +28 o C. annual rate precipitation in this area is 520-540 mm. The rainiest month is July, while the driest months are February and March.

The mountainous regions of Poland are characterized by snowy and sunny winters and cool summers. Average January temperatures in the mountains reach -8°C, July - +10°C. Falls in the mountains the largest number precipitation. So, in the Tatras their annual number is 1800 mm. The rainiest month is July and the driest month is January.

Cities and regions

Poland is divided into 16 voivodships, voivodships, in turn, are divided into powiats (308 zemstvos and 65 urban (cities with the rights of poviats)), and powiats are divided into gminas (2489 gminas).

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Parks and recreation areas

Leisure

Transport

Private guides in Poland

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Poland in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do

Ski resorts in Poland

Bus stations are usually located in city centers. Tickets can be bought at bus station ticket offices in advance (recommended) or directly from the bus driver, but it will cost a little more.

Trains

Rail traffic in Poland is highly developed, operated by the Polish Railway Company. Traveling by train from Warsaw to other major cities of the country (Krakow, Katowice, Poznan, Gdansk) takes less time than by bus or passenger car. A ticket is bought for a direction, it does not always indicate a place. The ticket is valid up to two days.

Depending on the class, Polish trains are of the following types:

• Osobowy (Os) - slow daily regional train;
• Pospieszny (P) - fast train (day or night);
• InterRegion (IRN) - daily fast train with mandatory seat reservation;
• Express (Ex) - daily express with mandatory seat reservation;
• InterCity (IC) - Express with increased level comfort and with the obligatory reservation of seats;
• EuroCity (EC) - international express with mandatory seat reservation;
• Nocny-Express (NEx) is a non-stop night sleeper train.

The ticket price depends on the route, the type of train and its class. Almost always on the RRC website you can find promotions and discounts.

Car rental

You can rent a car at all airports, at large stations and in cities from rental companies. Most convenient way car rental is a preliminary on-line booking. You can rent a car to drivers who are 21 years of age or older and have a driving experience of 1 year, with a valid passport and a valid driver's license. You will also need a plastic card or a deposit in cash. In Poland, there are car rental points of such well-known international companies as,.

Taxi

Taxis in Poland are available in every city. They can be found at special parking lots at railway stations, airports and near hotels. Each taxi car has the inscription Taxi and the telephone number of the taxi company. You can call a taxi by phone. On weekends, when traveling outside the city and at night (22:00 - 6:00), the fare increases. It is also worth remembering that Polish taxi drivers often turn on the meter from the place where the order was received by phone - thus, the client also pays for the car's journey to the landing site. In the absence of a meter, you should agree on a price in advance.

Urban transport

Urban modes of transport in Poland are buses, trolleybuses, trams, in Warsaw there is a metro.

Buses, trolleybuses and trams run through Polish cities from 5:30 to 23:00. Buses run strictly according to the schedule. Timetables and routes are available at every stop. In the interior of the vehicle, a special board displays the route, date, time, and the name of the next stop.

You can enter the transport through any door, land after sound signal forbidden. To notify the driver of the required stop, you must first press the red Stop button in the vehicle interior.

Tickets for all modes of transport are the same. You can buy them at the box office of railway stations, newsstands and from the driver. There are tickets for an unlimited number of trips for one hour, one and a half and two hours. On working days from 9:00 to 14:00, the fare is cheaper. Tickets should be punched at the entrance to the transport. Travel on express buses (pospieszny) costs twice as much - they compost two tickets at once. After 23:00 there are night buses, tickets for them are even more expensive. Convenient for tourists are daily and weekly tickets. Tickets for public transport in one city are not valid in another city. Ticketless travel is subject to a fine of 120 PLN.

National cuisine of Poland

Communication in Poland

Telephone

You can make a call in Poland using one of the payphones, which are widely available on city streets and in post offices. Payphones are powered by telephone cards (karta telefoniczna). Phone cards can be bought at all newsstands, gas stations, post offices. They are denominated in 25, 50 or 100 "pulses". Depending on the type of call and the time of day, one "pulse" can be equal to 3 minutes (local call 8:00 - 22:00), 6 minutes (local call 22:00 - 8:00), 43 seconds (long distance call 8: 00 - 18:00), 87 seconds (long distance call 18:00 - 8:00). When calling to mobile phone the cost is calculated according to the international tariff.

The main mobile operators in Poland are,. You can buy SIM cards of any operator in the office of companies or in stores cellular communication upon presentation of a passport. The average cost of international calls to Russia is 50 euro cents per minute.

International telephone code Poland - 48.

To call from Poland to Russia, dial:

• from a landline phone: 00 - 7 (Russian code) - your city code - phone number
• from mobile to landline: +7 - your city code - phone number

To call from Russia to Poland, dial:

• from the city: 8 - beep - 10 - 48 (Poland telephone code) - area code - phone number
• from mobile: +48 - area code - phone number

To make a long-distance call within Poland, dial:

• 0 - area code - phone number

Emergency numbers

Internet

The Internet in Poland is very well developed. Wi-Fi hotspots are available in almost all major in public places. Warsaw has a city free Wi-Fi network covering the neighborhood of Nowy Świat Street, Trzech Krzyży Square, Warsaw University Library, the territory Science Center Copernicus, Kosciuszko embankment, Bracka and Francuska streets, territory National Stadium(Stadion Narodowy).

3G connection in Poland is also present in almost all large, medium, and sometimes small settlements. The cost of 1 MB of mobile Internet in Poland is about 1 euro.

Security

Poland is quite safe for tourists European country. However, you should remember the basic safety rules. You should not carry large amounts of cash with you, it is advisable to refrain from walking at night in the suburban and railway station areas. Valuables or important documents it is better to store it in a hotel safe; you do not need to leave personal belongings on the seats of a parked car.

and .

He ordered to transfer his residence to Warsaw. This happened in 1596. The capital of Poland was actually moved to the specified city. However, it only gained legal status after the adoption of the Constitution of 1791.

Etymological data

Many linguists and historians are convinced that the name of the city owes its origin to the possessive adjective "Warszowa" (or "Warszewa"), formed from the previously common name Warcislaw.

The name changed from Warszewa to Warszawa in the sixteenth century. This phenomenon is associated with the peculiarities of the Mazovian dialect (it was distributed precisely in the territory where modern capital Poland). So, the vowel letter "a" turned into "e" in position after soft consonants (the combination "sz" at that time was soft). In the fifteenth century, combinations with the secondary "e" were in the dialect series, so people who adhere to literary pronunciation, replaced them with forms with "a". In the case under consideration, the capital of Poland began to be called precisely Warsaw as a result of the replacement of the etymological form with a hypercorrect one.

There is a popular belief that the Warszawa variant appeared as a result of joining the names of the fisherman Wars and the mermaid Sawa. The image of lovers, as they say unofficial version, and became the source of the formation of the name of the capital.

The most common legend about the founding of Warsaw tells of a certain prince (ruler) named Casimir. Lost while hunting, he came across a poor fisherman's hut on the banks of the Vistula. There he saw a girl who had just given birth to two boys - Varsha and Sava. Casimir agreed to become godfather twins and thanked the hosts well for their hospitality. The donated money was enough for them to build another house nearby. Other fishermen also began to build their huts in this place. So the beginning of the capital of the state was laid.

Official symbols

The capital of Poland has its own symbol. This is the aforementioned mermaid Sava. Her image can even be seen on the coat of arms of the city. Monument in honor mythical creature installed on the Market Square.

The coat of arms is in the form of a French shield. Its color is red. On the upper bound there is a ribbon with the motto, at the tongue - the Silver Cross of the Order of Military Merit.

The flag of the capital is a panel consisting of two equal-width stripes of red and yellow.

Historical information

According to ancient documents found by archaeologists, in the tenth century on the territory of modern Warsaw there were several settlements, the most important of which were Kamion, Brodno and Jazdow. However, the first wooden structures appeared here only in the twelfth century, and stone ones - in the fourteenth.

new time

Which capital of Poland was the center of the Duchy of Mazovia? Warsaw. Subsequently, it was considered their residence Polish kings and Lithuanian princes. From 1791 to 1795 this city was the capital from 1807 to 1813 - the Duchy of Warsaw, from 1815 to 1915 - Polish kingdom.

During the occupation of 1939-1944, the country of Poland suffered greatly. The capital - Warsaw - was destroyed by German bombers. The city was liberated on 01/17/1945 during the successful implementation of the Vistula-Oder operation.

At the end of the 2nd world capital in Poland began to actively recover. However, only the Royal Route, Old and New Towns were reconstructed in their historical form.

Large European cities of the late nineteenth - early twentieth century were characterized by dense buildings. It was not preserved in order to improve housing hygiene in accordance with the ideological program of the pro-communist regime and ideas about modernism.

Much of the city has been radically transformed. Warsaw has changed not only in urban planning, but also in architectural terms.

Weather

Warsaw has a temperate continental climate with warm humid summers and mild winters. Frosts below fifteen degrees and heat above thirty are rare. Autumn is usually warm and long, spring usually comes gradually. An average of 530 millimeters of precipitation falls annually.

Administrative division

Since 2002, the capital of Poland has been a powiat, consisting of one gmina. The latter, in turn, is divided into eighteen districts (dzielnitz).

A little about the Chief of Police

Until 1833, the Warsaw police was one of the branches of the municipal government of the capital, which was under the jurisdiction of the president of the country. On June 20 (July 2, old style) of that year, a Resolution of the Council of Administration of the Kingdom of Poland was issued. According to this document, the executive police was separated from the administrative police and passed under the jurisdiction of the vice-president of the capital, who later became officially known as the Warsaw Chief of Police.

Population

On the evolution and increase in the number of Warsaw residents long time influenced by the fact that the city was one of the transit points at the crossroads of trade routes and trans-European migration. This significantly affected the number and national composition local residents. Before Warsaw became a center of services and industry, the majority of the population consisted of merchants. According to the 1897 census, 34% of the inhabitants were Jews (219,000 out of 638,000). The mixture of nationalities, ideas and trends led to the fact that there was no official name capital Cities. Poland became famous thanks to the "Second Paris" - Warsaw.

The architectural appearance of the city

Modern Warsaw is a mixture of various architectural styles and directions. This is due difficult history both the country and the city itself. The restoration process after the Second World War made its own adjustments. The historical center of the capital - the Royal Palace - is still being restored. It is noteworthy that this area is listed world heritage UNESCO. She is recognized as the epitome of excellence. recovery process destroyed historical monument.

During the time of the Polish People's Republic, many buildings in the style appeared in the city. Some significant buildings were restored after the fall of Poland. Nowadays, the architecture of the city is increasingly replenished with modern business centers and skyscrapers.

Transport system

The metropolitan public transport network has reached a high level of development. Developed a large number of bus routes. Transport strictly adheres to the schedule. Low-floor buses run periodically for the convenience of the disabled.

The city has one subway line, many tram lines. Tickets for travel can be purchased at kiosks at stops or from the driver, while all of them are universal, divided by type Vehicle not produced. The capital has a developed bicycle rental network.

Former capital of Poland

Previously, Krakow was considered the main city of the country. And even its full official name - the Capital Royal City of Krakow - reminds of this. Until the eighteenth century, all Polish rulers were crowned there.

A look into the past

Krakow is well located on the territory where the river. The Vistula becomes navigable. Thanks to its advantageous geographical position, the city rapidly expanded its positions and grew rich. Bolesław the Brave established an episcopal see there in 1000. Counting on the support of the princes of Silesia and feeling their importance, in 1311 the Krakow Germans organized a revolt against Vladislav Lokotok. The uprising was quickly suppressed, besides, the recalcitrants lost all privileges and benefits.

The importance of Krakow began to grow in the fourteenth century. In 1319, the current ruler - Vladislav the First Lokotok - moved his residence there (previously it was in Gniezno). During the reign of Casimir the Great, new buildings were erected in the city, such areas as trade and crafts were developed. In February 1386, Jagiello was baptized in the former Polish capital. His marriage to Jadwiga also took place there.

When the Jagiellons were in power, Krakow finally strengthened its position as the main city of the kingdom. The number of inhabitants increased to one hundred thousand.

What capital did Poland have in the sixteenth century? In 1596, the title of honor passed from Krakow to Warsaw. The well-being of the once richest city was slowly but surely undermined by enemy attacks. In 1787, the population of Krakow was less than ten thousand people.

The twentieth century

Until 1918, Krakow was under the jurisdiction of Austria-Hungary. 1939-1945 are a tragic period in the history of the former capital. The Nazi invaders organized the Krakow ghetto in the city, where they drove most of the Jews, who lived mainly in the Kazimierz area. Representatives of this nationality were mercilessly destroyed in the Plaszow and Auschwitz concentration camps.

Forces of the troops of the First Ukrainian Front in January 1945, the city was liberated from the invaders. On August 11 of the same year, a Jewish pogrom. During the political crisis of 1968, an anti-Semitic campaign took place. Considering the above events, most of the Jewish survivors of the Holocaust left Poland.

Cultural Center

What is the capital in Poland now? Main city country - Warsaw. However, several centuries ago honorary title belonged to Krakow. That's why this city is still called the heart Polish culture. Its historical center was to be destroyed during the retreat of the German troops in 1945. However, as a result of the incredibly complex military operation carried out by the fighters Soviet army and Polish resistance groups, the city survived.

The two main ones are located on Wawel Hill. The first of them is the Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas. This is one of the most revered temples in the country. Previously, coronations and funerals of the rulers of Poland were held in it. Second interesting building on a hill - the Royal Castle. Once it was the residence of the Jagiellons, Piasts and Vazovs. Initially, the castle was a rather modest small structure in the Romanesque style. Later it was repeatedly reconstructed and expanded. That's why he has character traits architectural trends of many historical periods.

There are many churches in Krakow. The most ancient is Maryatsky (Marian). He is widely known for his unsurpassed Gothic stained glass windows. At first, the building was wooden. In the thirteenth century, a new one was erected in its place - in the Romanesque style, but during one of the Tatar raids it was completely destroyed. The church was rebuilt in the fourteenth century, and already in the Gothic style.

Another world-famous attraction is the salt mines called "Magnum Sal". They are located ten kilometers from Krakow - in the town of Velichko. Anyone can visit the one-of-a-kind Salt Museum.

The famous Krakow institution of higher education is the Jagiellonian University. The charter on its foundation was issued by Casimir II in May 1364. The following motto is inscribed at the entrance: "Reason conquers strength." Many luminaries of world science studied at this educational institution. Among them, Nicolaus Copernicus, an astronomer and mathematician of the Renaissance period, the author of the world, is most often mentioned; Stanislav Lem - famous author fantasy stories; John Paul II, who was beatified.

Initially, eleven departments were formed, of which eight were jurisprudential, two medical and one liberal arts. The department of theology appeared later, when they received the permission of the Pope. The university was headed by the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland. His duties included taking care of the activities and development of the educational institution.

Conclusion

Above, we examined why and when the name of the capital changed. Poland is known for many ancient cities, but it is in Krakow and Warsaw that the main historical sights are concentrated, and some of them are even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Capital of Poland. Warsaw.

Poland Square. 312,685 km2.

Population of Poland. 38,634 thousand people

Location of Poland. Poland is a state in Central Europe. In the north it borders on Russia, in the east - with, and, in the south - with and, in the west - with. Washed in the north.

Administrative divisions of Poland. Poland is divided into 16 voivodships, 373 powiats and 2468 communes.

Form of government of Poland. Republic.

Head of State of Poland. President elected for a term of 5 years.

The highest legislative body of Poland. People's Assembly- bicameral parliament (sejm and senate), term of office - 4 years.

Higher executive agency Poland. Government.

Major cities in Poland. Lodz, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan.

Official language of Poland. Polish.

Currency of Poland. Zloty = 100 groszy.

Useful information for tourists

When entering the church, you should bow your head or kneel and cross yourself, therefore, entering interior spaces, you should carefully watch the parishioners walking in front so as not to bump into them. The service can be observed either from the back rows or from the side aisles. Filming in churches is not prohibited, but flashes or other devices that interfere with the service are not allowed to be used - this is usually notified special sign at the entrance to the church: a crossed-out camera with a flash. The only exceptions are mass celebrations (weddings, first communion, etc.), when all types of filming are officially allowed. In churches-museums with a paid entrance for shooting you need to pay separately. In museums, usually all types of filming are paid, for their implementation it is necessary to purchase special tickets for photo or video shooting (somewhat more expensive).

Almost all excursions are conducted in Polish (although you can pre-order service in Russian or English), so it's better to buy a guidebook or a special tourist map in advance. The crime rate in the country is still high, so you need to be very careful in crowded places, in and in crowded areas. It is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash with you. Passport and securities should also be kept out of the reach of unauthorized persons.

Tipping in a restaurant is 10% of the bill, but if they are included in the cost of services, it is recommended to simply round up the bill. Tipping is not accepted in taxis.

A report about Poland in geography is presented in this article.

Message about Poland

The Polish People's Republic is a state located in Central Europe. Poland borders Germany in the west, the Czech Republic in the south, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Lithuania in the east. Total length borders - 3496 km.

Capital of Poland— Warsaw.

Large cities of Poland– Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Lodz, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin

Population of Poland- 38 432 99 people (2017). Urban population- 64%, rural - 36%.

Form of government of Poland- parliamentary republic

Relief of Poland

Lowlands are located in the west and north of Poland. They occupy more than ¾ of the country's territory. In the southeast and south, they pass into the Silesian-Małopolska Upland with low mountains and a flat upland. To the south are located the ridges of the Carpathians and Sudetenland.

The territory of Poland is crossed by such rivers as Vistula, Oder, Danube and Dniester, Neman.

The coast of Poland is washed by the Baltic Sea, where three main port cities- Szczecin, Gdynia and Gdansk.

Physiographic regions

• Sudetenland - in the southwest
• Carpathians - in the south
• Silesia - in the north
• Lesser Poland - in the north
• Central Poland
• Greater Poland
• Mazovia

Natural resources of Poland

• Rivers

The largest rivers in Poland are the Vistula and the Odra. The port of Szczecin is located on the shore of the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Odra. The main river of the republic is the Vistula, on which the capital of Poland, Warsaw, is located. Almost all rivers have a heavily silty bottom, so navigation is supported thanks to frequent cleansing channels.

• The soil

The soil in Poland is predominantly infertile, but varied.

In the north of Poland, podzolic and sandy soils are common, which require the application of fertilizers for agricultural use. Near the river valleys there are peat bogs containing humus.

Soils rich in humus are found in the south in Silesia. The soils in the mountains are infertile, since the humus layer in them is thin.

• Vegetation

In Poland, deciduous trees are common. Oak, beech, birch, maple grow in the middle zone of the country. Along the river wet valleys - willow, poplar and ash. On marshy and podzolic soils - birch.

Coniferous and mixed forests form large tracts, especially in areas of poor sandy soils in the north and east of the country.

Poland is the main producer of apples in Europe.

• Fauna

Since the area of ​​Poland has been plowed up and mastered by man, only an insignificant part of the natural, wild fauna has been preserved here. In the forests you can meet a deer and a wolf, near the rivers - a beaver, and in the Carpathian Mountains - a bear, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha- bison. Such birds as black grouse, capercaillie, partridge are common here. In the waters of the Baltic Sea, cod and herring are found, which are of industrial importance.

Climate of Poland

The country has a characteristic east-west transfer air masses, unstable weather. Cloudy and wet periods often give way to clear and dry ones. Snow lies for three months of the year. Rivers in cold weather freeze up to 4 months. AT northern regions In Poland, summer is considered the wettest time of the year, and winter in the south

In the sectoral structure of the Polish industry, the fuel and energy complex, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemical, light and food industry. The basis of the fuel and energy complex is coal. In terms of its production, Poland is one of the European leaders.

We hope that the above information about Poland has helped you. And you can leave your short story about Poland through the comment form.

Poland is a state (republic) in Central Europe.

In the north, Poland borders on Russia (Kalinik-Gradskaya region), in the east - on Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, in the south - on the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in the west Poland borders on Germany. In the north it is washed by the Baltic Sea. The area of ​​Poland is 312,677 km2.

Although Poland is mostly flat country without much difference in altitude average height above sea level about 175 m), the Rysy mountain in the High Tatras in the south rises to a height of 2499 m. Poland is divided into several physical and geographical regions located from east to west. However, the most striking contrast exists between the northern two-thirds of Poland and the southern third.

The northern zone of the Republic of Poland is a vast region of plains and low hills: the Central Polish Upland, the Baltic Upland and the Coastal Plain. The Central Plain of the Republic of Poland stretches from east to west and is crossed by several rivers and valleys, to the north of the Central Upland is the Baltic Upland, covered with numerous lakes. A narrow coastal plain with a width of 40 to 100 kilometers stretches along the entire length of the Baltic coast. Southern zone Republic of Poland is more mountainous: on far south and southwest there are several mountain systems: Western Carpathians, High Tatras and Beskids. In the southwest are the Sudetes, whose height reaches 1602 m. To the north of the mountain ranges lies the Silesian plain. Almost all rivers in Poland flow into the Baltic Sea. The main rivers of the country are the Vistula and the Oder (Odra). In Poland, there are about 9,300 lakes with an area of ​​more than 1 hectare. They are mainly concentrated on the Baltic Upland and the Coastal Plain.

The population of the country (estimated for 1998) is about 38,606,900 people, average density population of about 123 people per km2. The most densely populated southern part of the Republic of Poland, the least densely populated - the north-western and north-eastern. ethnic groups: Poles - 97.6%, Germans - 1.3%, Ukrainians - 0.6%, Belarusians - 0.5%, Slovaks, Czechs, Lithuanians, Gypsies, Jews. Language of the Republic of Poland: Polish (official), there are also several dialects based on Polish. Religion in Poland: Catholics - 95% ( Catholic Church plays big role in the life of the country), Orthodox (about 570,000 believers), Lutherans (about 100,000 believers), Jehovah's Witnesses (about 100,000 believers); Before World War II, about 3.5 million Jews lived in Poland; now there are about 1,000 Jews in the country. The capital of Poland is Warsaw. The largest cities in Poland: Warsaw (2,316,000 people), Lodz (842,300 people), Krakow (751,500 people), Wroclaw (644,000 people), Poznan (589,000 people), Gdansk (466,700 people), Szczecin (414,900 people), Katowice (366,200 people) ), Bydgoszcz (354,000 people), Lublin (352,100 people). State structure- Republic of Poland. Currency unit- zloty. Average duration of life in Poland (for 1998): 67 years - men, 76 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 9.8. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 9.8.

The first state of Poland was formed around 840 under the legendary Piast king, the founder of the Piast dynasty. In the tenth century, King Mieszko converted to Christianity, and under his son Boleslav Christian church already had a strong position in the country. In 1025, Bolesław was recognized as king by the Pope. AT middle of XIII centuries, the Teutonic knights came to the north of modern Poland, carrying out a brutal colonization of the Baltic lands. The second dynasty of the kings of Poland was founded by the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) Jagiello. In 1386 he married Queen Jadwiga of Poland and was crowned as Władysław II Jagiello. In 1410, the combined forces of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeated the Teutonic Knights in historical battle at Grunwald (Tannenberg). During the reign of the Jagiellonian dynasty, Poland reached its greatest prosperity. In the XVIII century, three partitions of Poland took place, as a result of which most of the state was under the rule of Russian Empire. In the 19th century, Poland, through the uprisings of 1830-1831, tried to achieve independence, but only after 1917 did it get a real chance for the revival of statehood. In November 1918, an independent Polish state was proclaimed. 20 years later, on September 1, 1939, Poland was occupied by German troops and liberated in early 1945. After 35 years of communist rule in Poland, the independent Solidarity trade union demanded free elections. The Polish government introduced martial law, and General Wojciech Jaruzelski became the head of the country. On April 5, 1989, an agreement was reached between the government and the opposition to hold free elections, which took place on June 4. The Communists of Poland were actually removed from power, the leader of the Solidarity trade union, Lech Walesa, was elected president of the country. As a result of the 1995 elections, leftist forces came to power in Poland, but they did not abandon the reforms of their predecessors. Poland is a member of the UN, GATT, WHO, Council of Europe, an associate member of the EU.

Poland's climate is both temperate and continental. The climate of the coast of Poland can be described as temperate maritime, in the eastern part of the country - temperate continental. The average January temperature in different regions of the Republic of Poland ranges from -1°C to -5°C. In summer, the average temperature ranges from 20°C in the southeast to 17°C in the Baltic. Forests cover about 28% of the territory of Poland, about 80% of all forests are coniferous. In the north-east of Poland, rare species of trees grow: dwarf birch and Lappa willow. One of the best preserved wild forests is national park Belovezha on the border with Belarus. Among the representatives of the fauna of the Republic of Poland, the lynx, wild cat, elk, wild boar, deer and bison, or the European bison, are especially distinguished. Deer and elk are found in Masuria. AT mountainous areas- wolves and brown bear.

Poland has a large number of museums, among which in Warsaw (the capital of Poland - National Museum with the richest collection of Polish and Western European paintings, a magnificent collection of exhibits from antiquity and times ancient egypt, a special hall of Pharos frescoes from one of the first Christian temples of Pharos; Museum natural history; Technical Museum; Museum of the Polish Army; State Archaeological Museum; Museum Royal Castle. The National Museum of Poland and the State Wawel Art Collection in Krakow. Museum of Archeology and Ethnography in Lodz. Polish maritime museum in Gdansk. memorial museum memory of the victims of fascism on the territory of the infamous to the whole world concentration camp Auschwitz (Auschwitz), in which several million people died. Among other sights of Poland in Warsaw - Old city in the Renaissance and Baroque style; Barbican - medieval walls and towers surrounding the Old Town; Lazienki - the summer palace of King Stanislav II August (XVIII century), in the Lazienki park there is a monument to Chopin and a magnificent rose garden; gothic cathedral of st. Yana (XIV century); Church of the Holy Cross (XVI century); in addition to the above, there are about 30 more museums; zoo. In Bialystok - magnificent samples modern architecture Poland - White Church and Orthodox Cathedral. In Torun - the Old Town in the Gothic style; town hall XIII-XIV centuries; remains of the castle of the Teutonic Knights (1231); a large number of Gothic and Baroque mansions. In Gdansk, the Church of St. Mary (1343-1505), which houses the famous painting by Hans Memling "The Last Judgment"; town hall in the Gothic style; the stock exchange building, built in 1379; Old city. In Poznań - a Gothic cathedral; town hall of the XVI century; Old city. There are several magnificent churches in Szczecin, among which the church of St. Peter and Paul (1124). In Wroclaw, the Church of St. John the Baptist (1158), Church of St. Elizabeth (XIII century); Church of the Holy Cross (XIII-XIV centuries); Church of the Virgin (XIV century); Gothic town hall of the XIII century; former royal palace. In Gliwice - a 13th-century church; Chopin park. In Częstochowa - the famous shrine of the Catholics Jasna Góra, in the monastery there is a miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Częstochowa, also called the "Black Madonna". In Krakow ( former capital Kingdom of Poland) - Wawel Castle of the XIII century; cathedral of st. Stanisław (1359), where many Polish kings were crowned and where the tombs of King Jan III Sobieski, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Adam Mickiewicz, Jozef Pilsudski are located; church of st. Mary, built in 1223, which houses an altar made by the famous master Bait Stos; the legendary "Dragon's Cave", where the most famous dragon of Poland lived. In Lublin - the Old Town in the Baroque style; Lublin itself is famous for the fact that the Union was signed there, which secured the unification of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In addition, many tourists in Poland are attracted by the magnificent sandy beaches of the Baltic coast, and in the south of the country by ski resorts, most of which are located near the town of Bielsko-Biala.

All this interesting country Poland.