Poland is the largest country in Central Europe, and is situated on the eastern frontier of the newly enlarged European Union (Unia Europejska). The country lies along the Baltic Sea (Morze Bałtyckie), with a coastline running some 300 miles. Poland’s shape roughly resembles a square measuring 400-440 miles across.
Poland has a very diverse landscape. Lowlands occupy the larger part of the country, especially in northern and central Poland. The Baltic seacoast features beautiful and large sandy beaches. Located in the northern and eastern parts of the country, the Pomeranian (Pomorze), Masurian (Mazury) and Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) Lake Districts are home to innumerable lakes, and are popular summer holiday destinations for those interested in camping, fishing, swimming, or sailing.
For hikers, the Sudeten (Sudety) and Carpathian Mountains (Karpaty) stretch along Poland’s southern border. Trails are well-marked and easily accessible, and hiking and mountaineering are regular pastimes among Polish young people. The Sudeten belong to the oldest massifs in Europe with Mt. Śnieżka (1602m) as their tallest peak.
The Carpathians are much younger. The Tatras (Tatry), which sit above Zakopane – commonly called the “tourists’ capital city” of Poland – are the only Alpine-style range in Poland, and feature challenging trail systems including strenuous climbs, chains, and mountain huts. The tallest peak in the Tatras and in all of Poland, Mt. Rysy, is 2499m high.
Poland’s rich natural environment also includes many primeval forests and woods (lasy), much of which are protected in 23 national parks (parki narodowe). A dense system of water courses converge into two major Polish rivers (rzeki), the Vistula (Wisła) and the Odra.
Web Resources for Poland
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