Poland is a nation in Central Europe and is formally known as the Republic of Poland. It has a total area of 312,696 km2 and is divided into 16 administrative divisions known as voivodeships. Poland is the fifth-most populated member of the European Union with a population of over 38 million. The largest city and capital of the country is Warsaw. Kraków, Wroclaw, ód, Pozna, Gdask, and Szczecin are some further significant cities.
Poland’s area spans the Central European Plain, from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains in the south, and has a moderate transitional climate. The Vistula River is Poland’s longest river, while Mount Rysy, which is part of the Tatra Mountain Range in the Carpathians, is Poland’s highest point. The nation is bordered to the northeast by Lithuania and Russia, to the east by Belarus and Ukraine, to the south by Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and to the west by Germany along with Sweden and Denmark, where it shares sea borders.
A bicameral legislature made up of the Sejm and the Senate governs Poland, a parliamentary republic. Its economy ranks fifth in terms of nominal GDP and sixth in terms of real GDP in the European Union; it is a developed market and a medium power (PPP). It offers extremely high living standards, security, and economic freedom in addition to free university education and a universal healthcare system. 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in the nation, 15 of which are cultural. The World Trade Organization, NATO, and the European Union are all organizations that Poland is a founding member of (including the Schengen Area).
TRENDING FASHION IN POLAND
ACCESSORIES IN POLAND
TRIBES IN POLAND AND THEIR FASHION
The Goplans
The Goplans or Goplanes, also known as Glopeani in Latin and Goplanie in Polish, were an early West Slavic tribe that lived in the Kujawy region’s center, with their likely capital at Kruszwica. According to Kmietowicz, the Bavarian Geographer (845) overheard them and noted their possible namesake, Lake Gopo (as Glopeani). Around the lake, numerous ruins of little fortresses have been discovered. In the tenth century, the tribe was assimilated by the Polans.
The Silesians
The Lechitic/Polish group of West Slavs, known as the Silesians, were a tribe that lived in Lower Silesia, close to the La Mountain and the Laza River, on both banks of the Oder, and up to the vicinity of the contemporary city of Wroclaw. When they constructed a fort on Ostrów Tumski, which at the time was an island in the Oder, in the ninth century or earlier, they were the first people to live permanently on the site of Wrocaw.
TOURIST AND HISTORICAL PLACES IN POLAND
Sowiski sand Dune – the 500 hectares of “moving dunes” here, in northern Poland’s Sowiski National Park, are regarded as a natural curiosity. Their name refers to the fact that during the year, as winds and waves batter the beach, the dunes truly change shape and travel along the 32 kilometers of beachfront.
Schindler’s Factory – Schindler’s former office and a large portion of the former factory floor are now a section of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow. A portion of the building has been transformed into the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Morskie Oko Lake – the lake, which is tucked away in the Tatra National Park and surrounded by Swiss pines and high mountains, is a popular spot for tourists of all ages. It can be reached by taking an easy but lengthy paved stroll through forested shady areas. The lake’s color changes throughout the year, going from a dark blue to a more delicate turquoise.
Malbork Castle – it formerly had the greatest Gothic structure in all of Europe, it is still the biggest castle in terms of land area.
Lazienki Park – one of Poland’s biggest urban parks, occupying 76 hectares of the city’s core. Lazienki was originally built in the 17th century as a garden with baths for a nobleman. The gardens around the Palace on the Isle are currently accessible to the general public.
Krakow Cloth Hall – the Hall, which was built during the Renaissance, has traditionally been the center of Polish trade with other countries. It was where most foreign traders gathered in the 15th century to trade rare spices from the East.
The Crooked Forest – it lies close to the hamlet of Gryfino, is a (perhaps) amazing natural wonder that defies explanation. Several pine trees stand alone in this location, each bending northward and growing at a 90-degree angle at the base.
The Biskupin Settlement – frequently referred to as “the Pompeii of Poland,” is a reconstruction of the ancient prehistoric settlement that flourished in the same location around the late Bronze Age.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps – a different kind of must-see is the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II—Birkenau concentration camps. The camps, which are roughly an hour’s drive west of Krakow, provide a depressing glimpse into the past.
Wolf’s Lair – deep in the Masurian woodlands is where Hitler’s top-secret military headquarters are located. When it was in use, it had three fortified security zones surrounding it that were guarded by heavily armed forces and land mines.
Wieliczka Salt Mine – it is one of the oldest and longest-running salt mines in the world, and after ceasing commercial production in 1996, it has evolved into a tourist destination.
Wawel Royal Castle – it is a castle with a diverse architectural style; it was built with Renaissance and Baroque components alongside old ones. The castle has always played a significant role in Polish history and was one of the first locations in the country to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wawel Cathedral – the current Wawel Cathedral, a fascinating fusion of Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic, and Neoclassical elements, was constructed in the 14th century in the wake of a devastating fire that destroyed older structures. The first Wawel Cathedral was constructed over a thousand years ago.
Warsaw Rising Museum – the museum has done an amazing job of capturing the spirit of the revolt, which was a massive effort by a group of civilians striving to overcome the enemy with scant resources and weapons.
Warsaw old market place – the Old Town Market Place, which is the oldest area of Warsaw, dates to the thirteenth century. Despite the Nazis destroying 85% of the region during World War II, it has subsequently been restored to retain its original appearance.
MUSIC IN POLAND
Poland, a Slavic nation, has a rich and varied traditional music scene. It has historically been influenced by a variety of European musical styles. The earliest evidence of music in Poland dates to the thirteenth century. There have been several handwritten scripts discovered about polyphonic chanting. The screenplays in Germany were written in the same manner as other western and European writers. Later, Polish musicians concentrated on baroque liturgical music. Opera also began to gain popularity in Poland, and some Poles began to write Polish opera. During these times, certain Polish traditional dances like the polonaise and mazurka, which are kinds of Polish folk music, evolved.
Some musicians in Poland include:
Kazik Staszewski
Kayah
Some artwork in Poland include:
MEALS IN POLAND
Pierogi – one of Polish national recipes that is made of dumplings that are stuffed with a sweet filling.
Kotlet Schabowy – it is made by coating pork chopped in the mixture of all purpose flour and breadcrumbs and fried.
Kluski Slaskie – potato dumpling usually served with juicy like vegetables.
Flaki – this special beef tripe is made with flavoured ingredients like celery roots and carrots.
Golabki – it features cabbage wraps filled with minced beef or pork.
Kisiel – this drink comprises juice of berries thickened with cornstarch or potato starch.
Pierogi
Kotlet Schabowy
Kluski Slaskie
Flaki
Golabki
Kisiel
Befszytk Tatarski – famous Mongolian food and appetizer that is popular in Poland and other European countries.
Zurek – a traditional Polish soup usually served during Easter.
Placki Ziemniaczane – this meal is made of eggs, wheat, salt, onion and pepper.
Gulasz – this delicious meal popular meal in Poland is made from pork or other beef.
Bigos – it is a stew containing the meat that is always available in the forest.
Paczki – it is fried doughnuts filled with fruit or cream and smothered with sugar.
Befszytk Tatarski
Zurek
Placki Ziemniaczane
Gulasz
Bigos
Paczki
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND HABITAT PROTECTION IN POLAND
31% of Poland’s territory is covered in forests, with the Lower Silesian Wilderness being the largest. The most prevalent conifers are pine, spruce, and fir, whereas the most prevalent deciduous trees are oak, maple, and beech. Coniferous trees make up an estimated 69% of all forests.
Poland has 81 habitats and 336 species represented in its Natura 2000 areas. Depending on the site’s location, the local biodiversity, the designation being utilized, and the attributes the site is intended to protect, different species and ecosystems are protected in different sites. With 301 sites having more than 20 features, only 1 feature is protected across 76 sites.
The wisent, white stork, and white-tailed eagle are recognized as Poland’s national animals, while the red common poppy is the unofficial floral emblem. Poland’s flora and fauna are those of continental Europe. The European bison, the heaviest land animal in Europe, as well as the Eurasian beaver, the lynx, the gray wolf, and the Tatra chamois are some of the species that are most protected. The last aurochs, which died in Poland in 1627, lived in the area and are now extinct. Most woodlands are home to game species such red deer, roe deer, and wild boar. Additionally, Poland is an important location for migratory bird breeding, and it is home to around a quarter of the world’s population of white storks.
EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN POLAND
Poland has a temperate transitional climate that ranges from an oceanic climate in the north and west to a continental climate in the south and east. There is an alpine climate on the steep southern edges. Poland has mild winters with an average temperature of 1 °C (30.2 °F) in December and warm summers with a mean temperature of roughly 20 °C (68.0 °F) in July. Lower Silesia in the southwest of Poland is the hottest and sunniest region, and Suwaki in Podlaskie province, in the northeast, where cold fronts from Scandinavia and Siberia affect the climate, is the coldest. Summer months get greater precipitation, with June to September seeing the heaviest amounts.
GENDER EQUALITY IN POLAND
Polish progress toward gender equality. Poland receives a score of 56.6 on the Gender Equality Index for 2021 from EIGE.
Some prominent women in Poland include:
Anna Fotyga – polish politician who is currently serving as a member of European parliament.
Elzbieta Ewa Bieṅkowska – Polish politician who served as Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Transport.
Katarzyna Hall – Polish teacher, educational and social activist, and local government clerk.
Jolanta Fedak – Polish politician who served as Minister of Labour and Social Policy.
Anna Fotyga
Elzbieta Ewa Bieṅkowska
Katarzyna Hall
Jolanta Fedak
Elzbieta Jakubiak – Polish politician who served as Minister for sports and Tourism.
Danuta Dmowska – Polish politician, former fencer and World Champion, who also served as Minister of Sports.
Anna Moskwa – Polish politician who has been serving as Minister of Climate and Environment.
Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska – Polish politician and member of the Sejm for Civic Platform.