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| Location | Central Europe, east of Germany | | | Geographic coordinates | 52 00 N, 20 00 E | | | Zone | Europe | | | Area | total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km | | | Land boundaries | total: 3,056 km
border countries: Belarus 416 km, Czech Republic 790 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 103 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 529 km | | | Coastline | 491 km | | | Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties | | | Climate | temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers | | | Terrain | mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border | | | Elevation extremes | lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m | | | Natural resources | coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land | | | Irrigated land | 491 km | | | Natural hazards | flooding | | Environment -
current issues | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government | | Environment -
international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 | | | Geography - note | historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain | |
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