--- title: Poland — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 3 description: Wikipedia's «Poland», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Poland # Poland · page 3 From Wikipedia, [«Poland»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/6/) ### Post-war communism Main article: [History of Poland (1945–1989)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_%281945–1989%29), [Polish People's Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_People%27s_Republic), [History of Solidarity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Solidarity), [Polish Round Table Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Round_Table_Agreement) At the insistence of [Joseph Stalin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin), the [Yalta Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_Conference) sanctioned the formation of a new provisional pro-Communist coalition government in Moscow, which ignored the [Polish government-in-exile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_government-in-exile) based in London.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") This action angered many Poles who considered it a [betrayal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_betrayal) by the Allies.[\[156\]](../../page/6/#ref-156 "note 156")[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1944, Stalin had made guarantees to [Churchill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill) and [Roosevelt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt) that he would maintain Poland's sovereignty and allow democratic elections to take place.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") However, upon achieving victory in 1945, the elections organised by the occupying Soviet authorities were falsified and were used to provide a veneer of legitimacy for Soviet hegemony over Polish affairs.[\[157\]](../../page/6/#ref-157 "note 157")[\[158\]](../../page/6/#ref-158 "note 158")[\[159\]](../../page/6/#ref-159 "note 159")[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") The Soviet Union instituted a new [communist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_state) government in Poland, analogous to much of the rest of the [Eastern Bloc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Bloc).[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") [As elsewhere in Communist Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Communism_in_the_Communist_Bloc), the Soviet influence over Poland was met with [armed resistance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursed_soldiers) from the outset which continued into the 1950s.[\[160\]](../../page/6/#ref-160 "note 160")[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") Despite widespread objections, the new Polish government accepted the Soviet annexation of the pre-war eastern regions of Poland[\[161\]](../../page/6/#ref-161 "note 161") (in particular the cities of [Wilno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilno) and [Lwów](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lwów)) and agreed to the permanent garrisoning of [Red Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army) units on Poland's territory.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") Military alignment within the [Warsaw Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact) throughout the [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War) came about as a direct result of this change in Poland's political culture.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") In the European scene, it came to characterise the full-fledged integration of Poland into the brotherhood of communist nations.[\[162\]](../../page/6/#ref-162 "note 162")[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") The new communist government took control with the adoption of the [Small Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Constitution_of_1947) on 19 February 1947.[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Polish People's Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_People%27s_Republic) (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa) [was officially proclaimed in 1952](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_Poland).[\[163\]](../../page/6/#ref-163 "note 163")[\[164\]](../../page/6/#ref-164 "note 164")[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1956, after the death of [Bolesław Bierut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolesław_Bierut), the régime of [Władysław Gomułka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Władysław_Gomułka) became temporarily more liberal, freeing many people from prison and expanding some personal freedoms.[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") [Collectivisation in the Polish People's Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivization_in_the_Polish_People%27s_Republic) failed.[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") A similar situation repeated itself in the 1970s under [Edward Gierek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gierek), but most of the time persecution of [anti-communist opposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-communist_resistance_in_Poland_%281944–1989%29) groups persisted.[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") Despite this, Poland was at the time considered to be one of the least oppressive states of the Eastern Bloc.[\[165\]](../../page/6/#ref-165 "note 165")[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") Labour turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "[Solidarity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity_%28Polish_trade_union%29)" ("Solidarność"), which over time became a political force.[\[166\]](../../page/6/#ref-166 "note 166")[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") Despite persecution and imposition of [martial law in 1981](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law_in_Poland) by General [Wojciech Jaruzelski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojciech_Jaruzelski), it eroded the dominance of the [Polish United Workers' Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_United_Workers%27_Party) and by 1989 had triumphed in Poland's first [partially free and democratic parliamentary elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_Sejm) since the end of the Second World War.[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") [Lech Wałęsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lech_Wałęsa), a Solidarity candidate, eventually [won the presidency in 1990](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_Polish_presidential_election).[\[167\]](../../page/6/#ref-167 "note 167")[\[168\]](../../page/6/#ref-168 "note 168")[\[169\]](../../page/6/#ref-169 "note 169")[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") The Solidarity movement heralded the [collapse of communist regimes and parties across Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutions_of_1989).[\[170\]](../../page/6/#ref-170 "note 170")[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Third Polish Republic Main article: [History of Poland (1989–present)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_%281989–present%29) A [shock therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_therapy_%28economics%29) programme, initiated by [Leszek Balcerowicz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leszek_Balcerowicz) in the early 1990s, enabled the country to transform its [Soviet-style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet-style_socialism) [planned economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_economy) into a [market economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_economy).[\[171\]](../../page/6/#ref-171 "note 171")[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") As with other [post-communist countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-communism), Poland suffered temporary declines in social, economic, and living standards,[\[172\]](../../page/6/#ref-172 "note 172") but it became the first post-communist country to reach its pre-1989 [GDP levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) as early as 1995, although the unemployment rate increased.[\[173\]](../../page/6/#ref-173 "note 173")[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland became a member of the [Visegrád Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visegrád_Group) in 1991,[\[174\]](../../page/6/#ref-174 "note 174") and joined [NATO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) in 1999.[\[175\]](../../page/6/#ref-175 "note 175")[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") Poles then voted to join the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) in [a referendum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Polish_European_Union_membership_referendum) in June 2003,[\[176\]](../../page/6/#ref-176 "note 176") with [Poland becoming a full member](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_in_the_European_Union) on 1 May 2004, following the [consequent enlargement of the union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_enlargement_of_the_European_Union).[\[177\]](../../page/6/#ref-177 "note 177")[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland joined the [Schengen Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area) in 2007, as a result of which, [the country's borders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_of_Poland) with other member states of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) were dismantled, allowing for [full freedom of movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement#European_Union) within most of the European Union.[\[178\]](../../page/6/#ref-178 "note 178")[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") On 10 April 2010, the [President of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Poland) [Lech Kaczyński](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lech_Kaczyński), along with 89 other high-ranking Polish officials [died in a plane crash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Polish_Air_Force_Tu-154_crash) near [Smolensk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolensk), Russia.[\[179\]](../../page/6/#ref-179 "note 179")[188](../../188/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2011, the ruling [Civic Platform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Platform) won [parliamentary elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Polish_parliamentary_election).[\[180\]](../../page/6/#ref-180 "note 180")[189](../../189/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2014, the [Prime Minister of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Poland), [Donald Tusk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Tusk), was chosen to be [President of the European Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Council), and resigned as prime minister.[\[181\]](../../page/6/#ref-181 "note 181")[190](../../190/ "tree and pragmatics") The [2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Polish_parliamentary_election) and [2019 elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Polish_parliamentary_election) were won by the national-conservative [Law and Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_and_Justice) Party (PiS) led by [Jarosław Kaczyński](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarosław_Kaczyński),[\[182\]](../../page/6/#ref-182 "note 182")[\[183\]](../../page/6/#ref-183 "note 183") resulting in increased [Euroscepticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euroscepticism) and [increased friction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_constitutional_crisis) with the European Union.[\[184\]](../../page/6/#ref-184 "note 184")[191](../../191/ "tree and pragmatics") In December 2017, [Mateusz Morawiecki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateusz_Morawiecki) was sworn in as the Prime Minister, succeeding [Beata Szydlo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beata_Szydło), in office since 2015.[192](../../192/ "tree and pragmatics") President [Andrzej Duda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrzej_Duda), supported by Law and Justice party, was re-elected in the 2020 presidential [election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Polish_presidential_election).[\[185\]](../../page/6/#ref-185 "note 185")[193](../../193/ "tree and pragmatics") as of November 2023, the [Russian invasion of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine) had led to 17 million [Ukrainian refugees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_refugee_crisis) crossing the border to Poland.[\[186\]](../../page/6/#ref-186 "note 186") as of November 2023, 0.9 million of those had stayed in Poland.[\[186\]](../../page/6/#ref-186 "note 186")[194](../../194/ "tree and pragmatics") In October 2023, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won the largest share of the vote in the [election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Polish_parliamentary_election), but lost its majority in parliament.[195](../../195/ "tree and pragmatics") In December 2023, Donald Tusk became the new Prime Minister leading a coalition made up of [Civic Coalition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Coalition_%28Poland%29), [Third Way](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Way_%28Poland%29), and [The Left](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_%28Poland%29).[196](../../196/ "tree and pragmatics") Law and Justice became the leading opposition party.[\[187\]](../../page/6/#ref-187 "note 187")[197](../../197/ "tree and pragmatics") On 1 June 2025, The Law and Justice candidate for the [2025 Polish presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Polish_presidential_election), [Karol Nawrocki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karol_Nawrocki) won the election, beating [Civic Platform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Platform) candidate [Rafał Trzaskowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafał_Trzaskowski).[198](../../198/ "tree and pragmatics") The results continued the streak of Law and Justice aligned presidential candidates only losing one presidential election in [2010](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Polish_presidential_election) since its founding in 2001.[\[188\]](../../page/6/#ref-188 "note 188")[199](../../199/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Geography Main article: [Geography of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Poland) Poland covers an administrative area of 312722 km2, and is the [ninth-largest country in Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_area).[200](../../200/ "tree and pragmatics") Approximately 311895 km2 of the country's territory consists of land, 2041 km2 is internal waters and 8783 km2 is territorial sea.[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[201](../../201/ "tree and pragmatics") Topographically, the landscape of Poland is characterised by diverse [landforms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landform), [water bodies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrology) and [ecosystems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem).[\[190\]](../../page/6/#ref-190 "note 190")[202](../../202/ "tree and pragmatics") The central and northern region bordering the [Baltic Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea) lie within the flat [Central European Plain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_European_Plain), but its south is hilly and mountainous.[\[191\]](../../page/6/#ref-191 "note 191")[203](../../203/ "tree and pragmatics") The average [elevation above the sea level](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_above_sea_level) is estimated at 173 metres.[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[204](../../204/ "tree and pragmatics") The country has a coastline spanning 770 km; extending from the shores of the Baltic Sea, along the [Bay of Pomerania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Pomerania) in the west to the [Gulf of Gdańsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gdańsk_Bay) in the east.[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[205](../../205/ "tree and pragmatics") The beach coastline is abundant in [sand dune fields](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dunes) or [coastal ridges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_ridge) and is indented by [spits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spit_%28landform%29) and lagoons, notably the [Hel Peninsula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_Peninsula) and the [Vistula Lagoon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula_Lagoon), which is shared with Russia.[\[192\]](../../page/6/#ref-192 "note 192")[206](../../206/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest Polish island on the Baltic Sea is [Wolin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolin), located within [Wolin National Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolin_National_Park).[\[193\]](../../page/6/#ref-193 "note 193")[207](../../207/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland also shares the [Szczecin Lagoon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szczecin_Lagoon) and the [Usedom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usedom) island with Germany.[\[194\]](../../page/6/#ref-194 "note 194")[208](../../208/ "tree and pragmatics") The mountainous belt in the extreme south of Poland is divided into two major [mountain ranges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_ranges); the [Sudetes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudetes) in the west and the [Carpathians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_Mountains) in the east.[209](../../209/ "tree and pragmatics") The highest part of the Carpathian massif are the [Tatra Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_Mountains), extending along Poland's southern border.[\[195\]](../../page/6/#ref-195 "note 195")[210](../../210/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland's highest point is the northwestern summit of [Rysy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rysy) at 2500 m in elevation, located in the Tatras.[\[196\]](../../page/6/#ref-196 "note 196")[211](../../211/ "tree and pragmatics") The highest summit of the Sudetes massif is [Mount Śnieżka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Śnieżka) at 1603.3 m, shared with the Czech Republic.[\[197\]](../../page/6/#ref-197 "note 197")[212](../../212/ "tree and pragmatics") The lowest point in Poland situated at [Marzęcino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzęcino) on the [Vistula Fens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula_Fens), which is 2.2 m below sea level.[\[198\]](../../page/6/#ref-198 "note 198")[213](../../213/ "tree and pragmatics") In Poland, [Trójmorski Wierch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trójmorski_Wierch) is one of the six tripoints of the [European watershed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_watershed).[214](../../214/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland's [longest rivers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Poland) are the [Vistula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula_River), the [Oder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oder_River), the [Warta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warta), and the [Bug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug_River).[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[215](../../215/ "tree and pragmatics") The country also possesses one of the highest densities of lakes in the world, numbering around ten thousand and mostly concentrated in the north-eastern region of [Masuria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masuria), within the [Masurian Lake District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masurian_Lake_District).[\[199\]](../../page/6/#ref-199 "note 199")[216](../../216/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest lakes, covering more than 100 km2, are [Śniardwy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Śniardwy) and [Mamry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mamry), and the deepest is [Lake Hańcza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hańcza) at 108.5 m in depth.[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[217](../../217/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Climate Main article: [Geography of Poland § Climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Poland#Climate) The climate of Poland is [temperate transitional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperateness), and varies from [oceanic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_climate) in the north-west to [continental](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_climate) in the south-east.[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[218](../../218/ "tree and pragmatics") The mountainous southern fringes are situated within an [alpine climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_climate).[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[219](../../219/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland is characterised by warm summers, with a mean temperature of around 20 °C in July, and moderately cold winters averaging -1.2 °C in January.[\[201\]](../../page/6/#ref-201 "note 201")[220](../../220/ "tree and pragmatics") In summer, maximum temperatures can reach 40 °C, while in winter in the Tatra Mountains and Bieszczady Mountains they can even drop below -30 °C.[221](../../221/ "tree and pragmatics") The warmest and sunniest part of Poland is [Lower Silesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Silesia) in the southwest and the coldest region is the northeast corner, around [Suwałki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suwałki) and [Olecko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olecko) where the climate is affected by [cold fronts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_front) from [Scandinavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia) and [Siberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberia).[\[202\]](../../page/6/#ref-202 "note 202")[222](../../222/ "tree and pragmatics") [Precipitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_%28meteorology%29) is more frequent during the summer months, with highest rainfall recorded from June to September.[\[203\]](../../page/6/#ref-203 "note 203")[223](../../223/ "tree and pragmatics") There is a considerable fluctuation in day-to-day weather and the arrival of a particular season can differ each year.[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[224](../../224/ "tree and pragmatics") [Climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change) and other factors have further contributed to interannual [thermal anomalies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature_anomaly) and increased temperatures; the average annual air temperature between 2011 and 2020 was 9.33 °C, around 1.11 °C higher than in the 2001–2010 period.[\[202\]](../../page/6/#ref-202 "note 202")[225](../../225/ "tree and pragmatics") Winters are also becoming increasingly drier, with less [snowfall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowfall).[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[226](../../226/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Biodiversity Main article: [Geography of Poland § Biodiversity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Poland#Biodiversity) [Phytogeographically](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytogeography), Poland belongs to the Central European province of the [Circumboreal Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumboreal_Region) within the [Boreal Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_Kingdom).[227](../../227/ "tree and pragmatics") The country has four [Palearctic ecoregions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palearctic_realm) – Central, Northern, Western European [temperate broadleaf and mixed forest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_broadleaf_and_mixed_forest), and the [Carpathian montane conifer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_montane_conifer_forests).[228](../../228/ "tree and pragmatics") Forests occupy 31% of Poland's land area, the largest of which is the [Lower Silesian Wilderness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Silesian_Wilderness).[\[204\]](../../page/6/#ref-204 "note 204")[229](../../229/ "tree and pragmatics") The most common [deciduous trees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous_trees) found across the country are [oak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak), [maple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple), and [beech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beech); the most common conifers are [pine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine), [spruce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce), and [fir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fir).[\[205\]](../../page/6/#ref-205 "note 205")[230](../../230/ "tree and pragmatics") An estimated 69% of all forests are [coniferous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coniferous).[\[206\]](../../page/6/#ref-206 "note 206")[231](../../231/ "tree and pragmatics") The [flora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora) and [fauna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauna_of_Poland) in Poland is that of [Continental Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europe), with the [wisent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_bison), [white stork](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_stork) and [white-tailed eagle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_eagle) designated as national animals, and the [red common poppy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_rhoeas) being the unofficial floral emblem.[\[207\]](../../page/6/#ref-207 "note 207")[232](../../232/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the most protected species is the [European bison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_bison), Europe's heaviest land animal, as well as the [Eurasian beaver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_beaver), the [northern lynx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_lynx), the [Eurasian wolf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_wolf) and the [Tatra chamois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_chamois).[\[189\]](../../page/6/#ref-189 "note 189")[233](../../233/ "tree and pragmatics") The region was also home to the extinct [aurochs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurochs), the last individual dying in Poland in 1627.[\[208\]](../../page/6/#ref-208 "note 208")[234](../../234/ "tree and pragmatics") Game animals such as [red deer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_European_red_deer), [roe deer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_deer), and [wild boar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_European_boar) are found in most woodlands.[\[209\]](../../page/6/#ref-209 "note 209")[235](../../235/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland is also a significant breeding ground for [migratory birds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_birds) and hosts around one quarter of the global population of white storks.[\[210\]](../../page/6/#ref-210 "note 210")[236](../../236/ "tree and pragmatics") Around 315100 ha, equivalent to 1% of Poland's territory, is protected within 23 [Polish national parks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_Poland), two of which – [Białowieża](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Białowieża_Forest) and [Bieszczady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bieszczady_National_Park) – are [UNESCO World Heritage Sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Poland).[\[211\]](../../page/6/#ref-211 "note 211")[237](../../237/ "tree and pragmatics") There are 123 areas designated as [landscape parks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_Park_%28Poland%29), along with numerous [nature reserves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserve) and other [protected areas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Poland) under the [Natura 2000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natura_2000) network.[\[212\]](../../page/6/#ref-212 "note 212")[238](../../238/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Government and politics Main article: [Politics of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Poland) Poland is a [unitary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state) [parliamentary republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_republic)[\[4\]](../../page/6/#ref-4 "note 4") and a [representative democracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_democracy), with [a president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Republic_of_Poland) as the [head of state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state).[\[217\]](../../page/6/#ref-217 "note 217")[239](../../239/ "tree and pragmatics") The executive power is exercised further by the [Council of Ministers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Ministers_of_the_Republic_of_Poland) and the [prime minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_the_Republic_of_Poland) who acts as the [head of government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government).[\[217\]](../../page/6/#ref-217 "note 217")[240](../../240/ "tree and pragmatics") The council's individual members are selected by the prime minister, approved by parliament and sworn in by the president.[\[217\]](../../page/6/#ref-217 "note 217")[241](../../241/ "tree and pragmatics") The head of state is elected by [popular vote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_election) for a five-year term.[\[218\]](../../page/6/#ref-218 "note 218")[242](../../242/ "tree and pragmatics") The current president is [Karol Nawrocki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karol_Nawrocki)[\[219\]](../../page/6/#ref-219 "note 219") and the prime minister is [Donald Tusk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Tusk).[243](../../243/ "tree and pragmatics") Poland's [legislative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislature) assembly is a [bicameral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism) parliament consisting of a 460-member lower house ([Sejm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejm)) and a 100-member upper house ([Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_the_Republic_of_Poland)).[\[220\]](../../page/6/#ref-220 "note 220")[244](../../244/ "tree and pragmatics") The Sejm is elected under [proportional representation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation) according to the [d'Hondt method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Hondt_method) for vote–seat conversion.[\[221\]](../../page/6/#ref-221 "note 221")[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") The Senate is elected under the [first-past-the-post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post) electoral system, with one senator being returned from each of the one hundred constituencies.[\[222\]](../../page/6/#ref-222 "note 222")[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") The Senate has the right to amend or reject a statute passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm may override the Senate's decision with a majority vote.[\[223\]](../../page/6/#ref-223 "note 223")[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") With the exception of ethnic minority parties, only candidates of [political parties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Poland) receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can enter the Sejm.[\[222\]](../../page/6/#ref-222 "note 222")[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") Both the lower and upper houses of parliament in Poland are elected for a four-year term and each member of the Polish parliament is guaranteed [parliamentary immunity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_immunity).[\[224\]](../../page/6/#ref-224 "note 224")[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") Under current legislation, a person must be 21 years of age or over to assume the position of deputy, 30 or over to become senator and 35 to run in a presidential election.[\[224\]](../../page/6/#ref-224 "note 224")[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") Members of the Sejm and Senate jointly form the [National Assembly of the Republic of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_of_the_Republic_of_Poland).[\[225\]](../../page/6/#ref-225 "note 225")[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") The National Assembly, headed by the [marshal of the Sejm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal_of_the_Sejm), or [marshal of the Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal_of_the_Senate) in their absence, is formed on three occasions – when a new president takes the [oath of office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office); when an indictment against the president is brought to the [State Tribunal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Tribunal_%28Poland%29); and for a declaration of the president's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to the state of his health.[\[225\]](../../page/6/#ref-225 "note 225")[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") According to [International IDEA's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Institute_for_Democracy_and_Electoral_Assistance) Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices and Democracy Tracker, Poland performs in the mid-range on overall democratic measures, with particular weaknesses in civic engagement and judicial independence.[\[226\]](../../page/6/#ref-226 "note 226")[\[227\]](../../page/6/#ref-227 "note 227")[\[228\]](../../page/6/#ref-228 "note 228")[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Administrative divisions Main article: [Administrative divisions of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Poland) Poland is divided into 16 provinces or states known as [voivodeships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voivodeships_of_Poland).[\[229\]](../../page/6/#ref-229 "note 229")[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") As of 2022, the voivodeships are subdivided into 380 counties ([powiats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powiat)), which are further fragmented into 2,477 municipalities ([gminas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gmina)).[\[229\]](../../page/6/#ref-229 "note 229")[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") Major cities normally have the status of both gmina and powiat.[\[229\]](../../page/6/#ref-229 "note 229")[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") The provinces are largely founded on the borders of [historic regions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_historical_regions), or named for individual cities.[\[230\]](../../page/6/#ref-230 "note 230")[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") Administrative authority at the [voivode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voivodes_of_Poland_%28since_1999%29)ship level is shared between a government-appointed governor (voivode), an elected regional assembly ([sejmik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voivodeship_sejmik)) and a [voivodeship marshal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voivodeship_marshal), an executive elected by the assembly.[\[230\]](../../page/6/#ref-230 "note 230")[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") - class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:85%;"[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Voivodeship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voivodeships_of_Poland); [Capital city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Poland); Area; Population[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") - [in English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language); [in Polish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_language); km2[\[231\]](../../page/6/#ref-231 "note 231"); 2021[\[231\]](../../page/6/#ref-231 "note 231")[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Greater Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Poland_Voivodeship); Wielkopolskie; [Poznań](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poznań); 29,826; 3,496,450[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Kuyavian-Pomeranian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuyavian-Pomeranian_Voivodeship); Kujawsko-Pomorskie; [Bydgoszcz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bydgoszcz) & [Toruń](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toruń); 17,971; 2,061,942[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Lesser Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Poland_Voivodeship); Małopolskie; [Kraków](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraków); 15,183; 3,410,441[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Łódź](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Łódź_Voivodeship); Łódzkie; [Łódź](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Łódź); 18,219; 2,437,970[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Lower Silesian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Silesian_Voivodeship); Dolnośląskie; [Wrocław](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrocław); 19,947; 2,891,321[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Lublin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lublin_Voivodeship); Lubelskie; [Lublin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lublin); 25,123; 2,095,258[267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Lubusz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubusz_Voivodeship); Lubuskie; [Gorzów Wielkopolski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorzów_Wielkopolski) &; [Zielona Góra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zielona_Góra); 13,988; 1,007,145[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Masovian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masovian_Voivodeship); Mazowieckie; [Warsaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw) [corpus](../../../Warsaw/ "in our corpus"); 35,559; 5,425,028[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Opole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opole_Voivodeship); Opolskie; [Opole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opole); 9,412; 976,774[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Podlaskie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podlaskie_Voivodeship); Podlaskie; [Białystok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Białystok); 20,187; 1,173,286[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Pomeranian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomeranian_Voivodeship); Pomorskie; [Gdańsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gdańsk); 18,323; 2,346,671[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Silesian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silesian_Voivodeship); Śląskie; [Katowice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katowice); 12,333; 4,492,330[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Subcarpathian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcarpathian_Voivodeship); Podkarpackie; [Rzeszów](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rzeszów); 17,846; 2,121,229[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Holy Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Świętokrzyskie_Voivodeship); Świętokrzyskie; [Kielce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielce); 11,710; 1,224,626[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") - [Warmian-Masurian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warmian-Masurian_Voivodeship); Warmińsko-Mazurskie; [Olsztyn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olsztyn); 24,173; 1,416,495[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") - [West Pomeranian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Pomeranian_Voivodeship); Zachodniopomorskie; [Szczecin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szczecin); 22,905; 1,688,047[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/6/) - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/2/) - next →: [page 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Poland/page/4/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)