My World Factbook
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Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Central Europe, east of Germany
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Area: 
total: 312,685 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
69
land: 304,255 sq km
water: 8,430 sq km
slightly smaller than New Mexico
total: 3,047 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km
440 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Current Weather
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)
1,000 sq km (2003)
63.1 cu km (2005)
total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)
flooding
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
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
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
