Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 312,685 sq km
country comparison to the world: 69
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land:
304,255 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water:
8,430 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
slightly smaller than New Mexico
total: 3,047 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries:
Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km
440 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
defined by international treaties
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
More Climate Details
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point:
Rysy 2,499 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
arable land: 40.25%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops:
1%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other:
58.75% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
1,000 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
63.1 cu km (2005)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita:
304 cu m/yr (2002)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]
flooding
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 EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
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
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain