Poland is located in the cetre of the European continent. The following coordinates denote the location: -> 54o 50'N North -> 49o00'N South -> 14o07'E West -> 24o08'E East. BASIC INFORMATION: Political system: Republic Capital: Warsaw, 1.7 million inhabitants Currency: 1 złoty / 100 groszy Area of Poland: 312 651 tyś km2 Population: 38 655 million International organisations memberships: NATO, OECD, European Union (May 2004) Religions: 91% Catholic, 1.5% Orthodox, 1% Protestant, 6.5% others GPD per capita: $4000 Poland is a low lying country, mean height above sea level is 173m Highest point: Rysy in the Tantras 2499m Lowest point: Żuławy -1.8m Longest river: Wisła (Vistula) 1092km Usage of lands: cultivation lands - 48%, meadows and pastures - 13%, forests - about 28%, other - about 11% Climate: moderate with tendencies towards considerable seasonal fluctuations in consecutive years.