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Location:
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Central Europe, east of Germany
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Geographic coordinates:
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52 00 N, 20 00 E
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Map references:
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europe
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Area:
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total: 312,685 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Mexico
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km
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Coastline:
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491 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
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Climate:
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temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
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Terrain:
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mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
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Natural resources:
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coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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flooding
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Environment - current issues:
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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 European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
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