1. POLAND  Flag :

2. T h e flag of Poland consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the top being white and red underneath. Poland: Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, Lithuania, Russia and the Baltic Sea to the north. Capital: Warsaw Prefix: 48 Currency: Polish Zloty Population: 38.54 million (2012) World Bank Unemployment rate: 10.2% (October 2013) Eurostat Political system: Parliamentary Republic, Democracy.

3. Geographic : Poland is located in Central Europe. It has direct access to the Baltic Sea. It became, in the aftermath of the Second World War, Soviet satellite state. In 1989 the communist leaders were removed and were organized first partially free elections in Poland. In 1999 Poland became a NATO member on 1 May 2004 to join the European Union. Most part it consists of lowland areas with altitudes not exceeding 200 meters. Highest mountain ranges are found only in the southern part of the country. From the Baltic Sea coast is swampy, with lagoons and sand dunes. To the south is a coastal region lakes, marshy places with moraines that reach an altitude of 300 m Further south is situated Plain Poland. Sudet, are in the western part of the southern border, separated from the Carpathians - lay further east by step Glanders. High Tatra and Beschidele is the highest region of the Carpathians, here is the highest point of Poland : Rysy, 2499 meters. Largest rivers are the Oder and Vistula.

4. Natural Regions Although Poland appears to be an unbroken plain, topography is very complex. Average elevation is 175m, but reaches 2499m mountain peak Rysy Tatra Mountains Vistula delta in south and reach 2m below sea level. Poland is divided into a number of parallel regions coming from east to west. Occupying the northern two-thirds of the territory is a region of plains and low hills, divided into the central plains of Poland, Baltic highlands and the coastal plain. Central plain is crossed from east to west by a series of broad valleys, swampy areas. Plain north central highlands lies the Baltic ( Pomeranian hills and hills Mazuriene ) with hills and lakes. Low coastal plain is a strip of 40 -100km wide, spanning the entire length of the Baltic Sea. Coast 491 km lugime is very smooth except Pomeranian Bay in the west and the Gulf of Gdansk in the east.

5. A few natural harbors are located along the Baltic Sea. Territory - third of southern Poland is composed of highly variable terrain ( hills, plateaus and mountains ). A narrow belt of mountains occupies the extreme south and southwest. Carpathian Mountains located southeast border include Tatra and Beskizi groups. Sudetes, another important group of mountains are located at the southwest border. In their north is an area of low hills and plateaus Polish Silesia called plain low Relief : Although Poland appears to be an unbroken plain, topography is very complex. Average elevation is 175m, but reach the mountaintop Rysy 2499m Tatra mountains in the South and in the Vistula delta reach 2m below sea level. Poland is divided into a number of parallel regions coming from east to west.

6. Occupying the northern two-thirds of the territory is a region of plains and low hills, divided into the central plains of Poland, Baltic heights and coastal plain. Central plain is crossed from east to west by a series of broad valleys, swampy. To the north is the high central plain Baltic ( Pomeranian hills and hills Mazuriene ) with hills and lakes. Low coastal plain is a strip of 40 -100km wide, stretching the entire length of the Baltic Sea. 491 km long coast is very smooth except for the western Gulf and the Gulf of Gdansk Pomerania in the east. Some harbors are located along the Baltic Sea. Territory - third of southern Poland consists of highly varied terrain ( hills, plateaus and mountains ). A narrow belt of mountains occupies the extreme south and southwest. Carpathian Mountains located southeast border include Tatra and Beskizi groups. Sudetes, another important group of mountains are located to the southwest border. Their northern exist in an area of ​​ low hills and plateaus Polish Silesia called plain low.

7. Almost all Polish waters flowing into the Baltic Sea by the Vistula and Odra two major rivers and their tributaries of the Warta and call Bug. Polish lakes that are close to 9300 are concentrated in the high Baltic and coastal strip. Poland has nearly 120 ponds located mostly in the Baltic and in the high mountains of the south. Climate : The climate is temperate, with cold winters, misty and frequent rainfall, mild summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms, a mix between western maritime climate and continental climate in the east. In January, average temperatures in Warsaw is -3 ° C and in July 18.6 ° C. It is continental and dry, with long, cold winters, although in the Baltic seaside oceanic stands : precipitaiii and moderate temperatures.

8. Winters are becoming colder east and south. Rainfall is evenly divided throughout the year, summer being frequent violent torrents, winter zapada.In snowy northern surfaces are maintained on average for 40 days, and in the south up to 60-70 days. In Gdynia average temperature in July is 17 ° C, the -1 ° C in January and 20 ° C in Warsaw, respectively - 3 ° C. Average annual rainfall in these two cities are 660 mm and 560 mm. Vegetation and Fauna : Forests cover almost a quarter of Poland and are generally coniferous pine forests. Some forests in the northeast contain old and rare species such as dwarf birch, that can not be found in another part of Europe. Because the majority of Polish forests are coniferous species are highly vulnerable to acid rain and other forms of air pollution, they are mostly affected.

9. Sudeten Mountains spruce forests were most affected by air pollution. Another big part of Poland's forests were destroyed intentionally to create farms and forestation rate is very low. The combination of factors makes the Polish forests to be the most vulnerable in Europe. The fauna is very varied. Although most species live in other countries, Poland is home to a number of species in other places are absent or rare. Tourism : The main cities of Poland are Warsaw and Krakow. Warsaw It is the capital of Poland until 1596, when King Sigismund III changed the capital from Krakow. The town is also the capital of the region of Mazovia is located in the central-eastern part of the country. Warsaw is notable among the capitals of Europe for its size, age, or beauty, but for its indestructibility.

10. It is a phoenix that is reborn from the ashes several times of war. Having suffered great damage during the Swedish and Prussian occupations from 1655-1656, was assaulted again in 1794, when the Russian army massacred the population varşoviene suburbs. During the Second World War, the city was completely destroyed on the orders of Hitler, suburbs evacuated and all buildings demolished. After the war varşovienii returned, and the city returned to its role as capital of Poland and center of social, political, economic, scientific and cultural center of the country. Many of the streets, historic buildings and churches were restored according to their original shape. Historic Centre of Warsaw came in 1980 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Places. In the second part of the eighteenth century, the emblem of Warsaw was a mermaid with sword and shield in hand, representing creature that, according to legend led a prince in this place, asking him to found the city. City motto is " Contemnit procellas " (" Defeat the storm " ).

11. Tourist objective : -Historical Museum of Warsaw - Royal Palace, admirably rebuilt after the original plans. Often houses exhibitions and art galleries. Palace of Culture and Science, built by the architectural model of the University of Moscow, located in the city center, offers a superb view of Warsaw who ascends the terrace of the building. -Uprising Museum in Warsaw, one of the finest museums in the country, offering visitors information on the most tragic episode in the history of the city. -Park Łazienski Palace offers an interesting insight on Poland's former imperial lands. Wandering the alleys of the park occasions frequent encounters with squirrels, very friendly with tourists. -Old Town Square, surrounded by Mermaid statue, the symbol of Warsaw. Here you will find most shops and souvenir stalls, or opt for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage,

12. -Palace of Wilanow -Zoo -Krakow: It is one of the oldest and largest cities in Poland. Located in the upper Vistula valley, now the capital of the principality, the port city, visited with delight over 4 million tourists is one of the few places where inestimabilele works of art, collected while the ages were not destroyed during World War II. Forests : 29% of the country is covered by forests, especially in hilly and mountainous areas of southern and fertile areas of the northern lowlands. Most are made of coniferous forests. The main products of the timber industry are: paper, timber, in recent years developing and furniture.

13. Mining : For a long time Poland is among the leading producers of coal. With an annual production of 150 million tons of coal ranks in April, and as a producer of coal (700 million tons), 5th in lume.Cele largest deposits in the Silvezia, Bug Valley, near Lublin, and at west of Warsaw, also exploits Konin.Se copper and sulfur in Western Silesia and Solec and in Tamobzreg. Saline is in Wielicka and Bochnia.Mai can remember and reserves, lower oil, gas, lead and silver. Energy : 75% of electricity production is due to the large thermal plants that use coal and lignit.In small quantities, and used oil and gas, and there is a nuclear power. In southern Poland operates over 100 plants.

14. Agriculture : Dividing surface is the next country, 49 % arable land, 13 % grassland. 30% of the population works in agriculture. Livestock is based on cattle and sheep - in mountainous areas and pigs ( 3rd in Europe occupying Poland among swine breeders ). The soil is less favorable to agriculture, cultivating the rye, potatoes and oats, used as food and as furajere.In southern plants with loess cultivated wheat and barley. Fruits and vegetables grown in the vicinity of large cities. Fishing Annual fish production is 650 thousand tons. Major ports are : Gdynia and Szczecin Industry : Thanks MINERAL RESOURCES, Poland has become a major industrial country.

15. Basic branches of industry are the steel and machinery. No marine industry and electronics do not fall behind. Centers steel industry are: Szczecin, Warsaw, Katowice. Chemical industry thrive is based on sulfur and coal in Tarnobrzeg. Textile industry with traditions that export branch. Carpathians tourists contribute in turn to the national economy. Transport : Railways extend over a length of 26,848 km (9452 km electrified). Public roads form a network of 154,000 km in length. Transport of persons and goods takes place primarily on the latter, plus waterways and waterways - in terms of the transport industry.

16. Cities : Warsaw, the capital, is the center of transportation and most important railway junction. The second largest city is Lodz (851.690 inhabitants). Previous capital, Krakow (748.356 inhabitants) is situated on the Upper Vistula. Currency : The national currency is the Polish Zloty, the exchange value around 4zł / €. Zloty is divided into 100 thick 1 (Zl) = 100 thick Because hyperinflation of the early 90s, like Romania in 1995 was moved to the new zloty, 10,000 old zlotys (PLZ) being converted into a Zloty (PLN). Denominations : currency 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 thick, 1, 2, 5 zlotys. banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 zlotys.

17. Food in Poland : Wild boar meat is popular here. Poles prefer and pickles and sauerkraut (for a period in their history had little meat and adapted), meat (more meat), smoked sausage (salami or bologna more than in Romania) and... oil. Being a cold region, they need meat dishes, and some are bathed in oil. A popular dish is pierogi. As for Romanian saramalele (not just ours) so is peirogii for Poles. Being popular in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. Pierogii's kind of dumplings filled with meat or cabbage or. It can be anything, but in general they are the main potato and onion have a very important role in their cuisine, and gelatin.

19. Other means more or less strange to tourists are : Pierogi - dumplings with cheese, potatoes, cabbage, meat, mushrooms and fruit Smalec - pork rind oil, spread on a piece of bread, Karp w galarecie - trotters carp Nóżki w galarecie - jelly -legged pig Flake - tripe soup with vegetables Czernin - duck blood soup with vinegar, Kwaśnica - sauerkraut soup, Plack po Góralski - potato pancakes with goulash, Oscypki - smoked sheep cheese. And if you want something sweet, then all the kiosks can ask naleśniki, pancakes with berries and cheese. Also, all Poles eat and smoked sheep cheese with żurawiny a gooseberry jam. Even if maybe some of you to mix cheese with jam weird Poles serve this grilled.

20. Vodka! We know that vodka originated in Poland, he even says that in the past it was 14% alcohol, the maximum amount that could be reached from both the natural fermentation. Marks Belvedere, Chopin or aged Starka times Zubrowka are known throughout lume.Tot in drinks or beer is not forgotten, for this range the best known names are Zywiec, Okoč, EB, Warka and Tyskie.