Geography & environment — Poland
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Poland: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
52 00 N, 20 00 E
- Total Area
120,728 Square Miles 312,685 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
117,473 Square Miles 304,255 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
3,255 Square Miles 8,430 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,893 Miles 3,047 Kilometers
- 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
- Coastline
273 Miles 440 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
- Highest Point
2,499 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Rysy 2,499 m
- Lowest Point
-2 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
- Natural Resources
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
- Irrigated Land
447 Square Miles 1,157 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
Poland’s climate is continental European. Winters can be severe, with heavy snows possible from December through March. Winter temperatures in Warsaw average about -3.9ºC to 0ºC. The lowest temperature in recent years was - 30ºC. Spring is usually cold and rainy. Summer can bring temperatures topping 37ºC, but a few days at about 32ºC is more typical. Autumn is usually cloudy and can be quite cold. Yearly rainfall averages about 59.69 centimeters.
- Terrain
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
- Location
Central Europe, east of Germany
- Total Area
120,728 Square Miles 312,685 Square Kilometers
- 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
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
- 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
- Environment - International Agreements
- 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, 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