Location:

Central Europe, east of Germany, historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain 

Area:

total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Mexico, more or less like Spain

Land boundaries:

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:

491 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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Population:

38,536,869 (July 2006 est.)