POLAND

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is situated in Central Europe

Neighbours: West: Germany South: the Czech Republic, Slovakia East: Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania North: The Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia

Map of Poland Poland is a unitary state made of sixteen voivodeships.

Flag

Coat of arms

Anthem Dąbrowski’s Mazurka or “Poland is not yet lost” Current official lyrics Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, Kiedy my żyjemy. Co nam obca przemoc wzięła, Szablą odbierzemy. Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski, Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski. Za twoim przewodem Złączym się z narodem. Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę, Będziem Polakami. Dał nam przykład Bonaparte, Jak zwyciężać mamy. Marsz, marsz... Jak Czarniecki do Poznania Po szwedzkim zaborze, Dla ojczyzny ratowania Wrócim się przez morze. Marsz, marsz... Już tam ojciec do swej Basi Mówi zapłakany Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi Biją w tarabany. Marsz, marsz... English translation Poland has not perished yet So long as we still live That which alien force has seized We at sabrepoint shall retrievesabrepoint March, march, DąbrowskiDąbrowski From Italy to Poland Let us now rejoin the nation Under thy command Cross the Vistula and Warta And Poles we shall be We've been shown by Bonaparte Ways to victoryVistulaWartaBonaparte March, march... Like Czarniecki Poznań regains Fighting with the Swede, To free our fatherland from chains We shall return by seaCzarnieckiPoznań March, march... Father, in tears Says to his Basia Just listen, it seems that our people Are beating the drums March, march...

General information Capital: Warsaw Official language: Polish Demonym: Pole/Polish Government: Parliamentary Republic President: Lech Kaczyński Prime Minister: Donald Tusk Formation: – Christianisation: 14 April 996 – Redeclared: 11 November 1918 EU accession: 1 May 2004 Area: 312,679 km² Population: 38,116,000 Currency: złoty (PLN )

Geography Rivers: – The Vistula – The Oder – The Warta – The Bug

Vistula River in Modlin

Oder River

Warta River near Wronki

Bug River near the vinicity Wyszkow

The s ea: The Baltic Sea

– The Masurian Lake District – The Pomeranian Lake District – The Greater Polish Lake District – The Kashubian Lake District Lake Districts:

Lake in Gołdap

Lake Hańcza

Mountain Regions: The Sudetes The Świętokrzyskie Mountains The Carpathian Mountains including the Beskids and the Tatra Mountains

Panorama of the Silesian Beskids

Tatras

The Desert: Błędów Desert

The biggest cities: Warszawa Lódź Kraków Wrocław Poznań Gdańsk

WarszawaŁódź

KrakówWrocław

PoznańGdańsk

Cuisine Polish sausage Red beet soup

Polish dumplingsTripe soup

Cabbage rollsOscypek

Pork chopsTraditional stew

Famous Poles Pope John II Fryderyk Chopin composer

Nicolaus CopernicusMaria Skłodowska Curie astronomer physicist, chemist

Jan MatejkoAdam Mickiewicz painterpoet

Lech Wałęsa

Polish folklore Poland is a land with a rich and diverse folklore. There are many regions in the country, each with their own traditions, dances, songs and costumes. On the territory of present-day Poland there are some sixty folkloric regions - each with their own distinctive costumes. In some areas, such as the highlands of the Tatras (Podhale), Kurpie, Lowicz, Opoczno and Sieradz, the tradition of folk-costumes is still alive.

Polish folk costumes: Krakow Region Highlands Region Lowicz Region

Silesia RegionRzeszow Region

Kurpie RegionKaszubski Region

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