Government: Parliamentary Republic

Capital city: Warsaw (1.689.000 inha., 2.200.000 with the suburbs)

Other cities: Lódz 780.000 inha. (1.000.000 with the suburbs), Krakow 760.000 inha., Breslavia 639.000 inha., Poznan 577.000 inha., Gdansk 462.000 inha. (755.000 with the suburbss), Stettino 415.000 inha., Bydgoszcz 372.000 inha., Lublino 358.000 inha., Katowice 323.000 inha. (2.600.000 with the suburbs)

Ethnic groups: Poles 97%, Germans, Ukrainians, Belorussians and others 3%

Bordering countries: Germany on the WEST, Czech Republic and Slovakia on the SOUTH, Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine on the EAST, Russia (Kaliningrad) on the NORTH

Main mountain: Rysy 2499 m

Main rivers: Vistula 1047 Km, Warta 808 Km, Oder 742 Km (in Poland, in total 854 Km), Western Bug 587 Km (in Poland, in total 772 Km)

Main lakes: Sniardwy 114 Km², Mamry 104 Km², Lebsko 71 Km², Dabie 56 Km²

Main island: Wolin 265 Km²

Climate: Oceanic - continental

Languages: Polish (official), German, Ukrainian, Belorussian

Religion: Roman Catholic 90,5%, Orthodox 1,5%, others 8%

Currency: Zloty polacco

soups

·         Barszcz: a soup of beetroots and special shaped ravioli, stuffed with  mushrooms or meat

·         Zurek: a soup of sour rye flour, served with hard-boiled egg and cold meat  cut into pieces.

·         Chlodnik: a curdled milk cold soup with beetroot leaves, spring onions and other vegetables, like cucumbers and radishes

·         Ogorkowa: a soup of cucumbers in brine

·         Kapusniak: a soup of cabbages in brine

Traditional dishes

·         Pierogi: squared ravioli, usually stuffed with cheese, fruit, mushrooms, cabbages, and many other things.

·         Bigos: it's the oldest and the most famous dish, it's a stew of meat, cabbages and  sauerkraut, dried prunes and other spices.

·         Golabki: cabbage rolls stuffed with meat or rice

·         Pyzy: big potato gnocchi stuffed with meat or not

·         Karp: a carp in brine or fried

·         Game: roast hare, venison, wild boar and wild birds 

Desserts

·         Makowce: caks with poppy seeds

·         Pierniki: honey cakes

·         Mazurki: cakes made of pastry and dried fruit

·         Serníki: cakes with ricotta

Sport :
Football