LocationCentral Europe, east of Germany Geographic coordinates52 00 N, 20 00 E Map referencesEurope Areatotal: 312,685 sq km Area - comparativeslightly smaller than New Mexico Land boundariestotal: 3,056 km Coastline491 km Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm Climatetemperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrainmostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Elevation extremeslowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m Natural resourcescoal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land Land usearable land: 40.25% Irrigated land1,000 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources63.1 cu km (2005) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) Natural hazardsflooding Environment - current issuessituation 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 agreementsparty 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 Geography - notehistorically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |