Poland

Poland is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. Poland capital is Warsaw.

Poland has a continental climate, conditioned especially by westerly winds. Only the southern areas are humid. Summers are cool, and winters range from moderately cold to cold. The average mean temperature is about 7° C (45° F ); temperatures in Warsaw range, on average, from –6° to –1° C (21–30° F ) in January and from 13° to 24° C (55–75° F ) in July. Precipitation is greatest during the summer months, lasting 85 to 100 days. Annual rainfall ranges from about 50 cm (20 in) in the lowlands and 135 cm (53 in) in the mountains; the overall average is about 64 cm (25 in).

Since the turning point of 1989, Poland has undergone great political, social and economic changes. In January 1990, state-controlled prices were lifted and market forces largely shaped from then on food and trade margins. The market reform plan assumed that prices would rise on average by 50%. In fact, they rose at the time by 78% and some goods and services by even as much as 600%. But this was a first step towards prices as they operate in developed capitalist economies. Agriculture plays an important role in Poland’s economy. Agricultural land accounts for approx. 54 % of the total area of the country, 38 % of the Polish population live in rural areas and some 25% of the labour force is employed in agriculture. The contribution of agriculture to the GDP, however, represents only 3%. Marketable production accounts for only approximately 60 % of the total agricultural output, with the rest of output being used for self-supply. Poland’s main agricultural crops are wheat and other cereals, potatoes, sugar beets and fodder crops. Poland is the leading exporter of apple concentrate and is among the world’s leading producers of berries, cabbage and carrot. Poland has substantial mineral resources. It has the world’s fifth-largest proven reserves of hard and brown coal, in addition to deposits of copper, sulphur, zinc, lead, silver, magnesium, salt and natural as well as deposits of chalk, kaolin, clays, and potash. Main types of industry: machine building, iron and steel, mining, shipbuilding, automobiles, furniture, textiles and apparel, chemicals, food processing, glass, beverages. Natural resources are coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land. Exports and imports partners are Germany, Italy, France, UK, Czech Republic, Russia, China and Netherlands.

Religions is Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002). Languages are Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census).

Greater Poland comprises much of the area drained by the Warta River and its tributaries, including the Noteć River. The historical capital of Lesser Poland – Krakow – is regarded by many to be the cultural capital of Poland. Lodz is the third-largest city in Poland. The Lublin area is one of main beneficiaries of the EU development funds. Lebus is located on the Oder River on the German border with Poland, It is the seat of Amt Lebus. Masovian is the biggest voivodeship of the country. Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River. Today, many German Upper Silesians and Poles of German ancestry live in the Opole region, in the city itself, Germans make less than 3% of population. Podlaskie Voivodeship is a voivodeship (province) in north-eastern Poland. The region has a continental climate which is characterized by high temperatures during summer and long and frosty winters. Pomeranian is an adjective referring to Pomerania, an area divided between Poland and Germany. Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship is divided into 14 counties (powiats): 1 city county and 13 land counties. These are further divided into 102 gminas. West Pomeranian came under Swedish military control in 1630 during the Thirty Years War.

Poland has a wonderful coast with beautiful sandy beaches, encouraging also for doing the water sports. Bicycle is a perfect way opening to the tourist great possibilities of introducing the beaty of Poland, which has ideal circumstances for doing this sport. Poland form the earliest times was bound with hunting. Perfect grounds, the expert hunters, which cultivate the trusted hunting tradition through generations as well as they tace care of hunting culture and ethics, they cause, that Poland from long time ago was and is attractive for great of this world. Castles and litle castles is palaces, courtyards are the inhered element of Polish landscape. These are the monuments of our history, which remind the old times and still fascinate. The diversity of architecture in Poland encourages for touring our country not only by the art expert but also everyone who's interested of "traveling by centuries". Frequently well maintained buildings of sacral architecture are the only proof of our history luxuriance of our country. You will find here the wooden, brick temples, with beautiful, although modest architecture, but also richly adorned (especially those dating from baroque or then reconstructed). ANTIQUE RAIL - in Poland there are a dozen or so rail heritage parks and many Antique Rail Touristic Tracks. The attractiveness gives them the fact, that many exhibits still work and it is possible to make a journey with them. NATIONAL PARKS - their areas mark out with special landscape and natural values. Every of 23 parks is characterized with unique species of plants, animals and birds. BEACH - beautiful, wide and sandy beaches is a characteristic look of whole polish coast enriched with sand dunes and cliffs. The water sports fans also will find something for themselves. AQUAPARKS - we invite the water amusement fans to the water parks. Here independently of aura and age it is possible to wallow and have a great fun. Famous festival is Bielska Zadymka Jazz, Krakow Film, Summer Jazz Festival and International Young Audience Film Festival.

The Temple of Sybille also referred to as the Temple of Diana is home in Lazienki Park. Visitors to Poland are always in search of historical buildings especially a Poland Temple. The capital city is home to a Warsaw temple that has visitors year round from all over the world.