Area comparison map:

about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 3,071 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (7): Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km

Coastline:
440 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation:
mean elevation: 173 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
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:
agricultural land: 48.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 36.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 10.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 30.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 21.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
970 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of emissions from burning low-quality coals in homes and from coal-fired power plants; the resulting acid rain causes forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes

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, 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