and
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Map
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Location: 52 00 N, 20 00 E -- Central Europe, east of Germany

Flag
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Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red;
similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and
white

Geography
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Location: Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 312,683 sq km
land area: 304,510 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,888 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

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
lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver,
lead, salt

Land use:
arable land: 48%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1992)

Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in
heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist
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
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Law of the Sea

Geographic note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat
terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

People
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