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 PolandPoland is a unitary state made of sixteen voivodeships.

Flag

Coat of arms

AnthemDąbrowski’s Mazurka or “Poland is not yet

lost”

Current official lyricsJeszcze 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 ratowaniaWrócim się przez morze.

Marsz, marsz... Już tam ojciec do swej Basi

Mówi zapłakanySłuchaj jeno, pono nasiBiją w tarabany.

Marsz, marsz...

English translationPoland has not perished yetSo long as we still liveThat which alien force has seizedWe at sabrepoint shall retrieve

March, march, Dąbrowski From Italy to Poland Let us now rejoin the nation Under thy command Cross the Vistula and Warta

And Poles we shall beWe've been shown by BonaparteWays to victory

March, march... Like Czarniecki Poznań regains

Fighting with the Swede,To free our fatherland from chainsWe shall return by sea

March, march... Father, in tears

Says to his BasiaJust listen, it seems that our peopleAre 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 sea: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

Warszawa Łódź

KrakówWrocław

Poznań Gdańsk

Cuisine

Polish sausage Red beet soup

Polish dumplings Tripe soup

Cabbage rolls Oscypek

Pork chops Traditional stew

Famous Poles

Pope John II Fryderyk Chopin composer

Nicolaus Copernicus Maria Skłodowska Curie astronomer physicist, chemist

Jan Matejko Adam Mickiewicz painter poet

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 Region Rzeszow Region

Kurpie Region Kaszubski Region

THE END