FACTS

Location: Central Europe, east of Germany

Area (only Total) total: 312,685 sq km

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Population: 38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Polish

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Warsaw

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)