POLAND. POLAND – SIZE & EXTENT the ninth biggest country in Europe the total length of the...

POLANDPOLAND

POLAND – SIZE & EXTENTPOLAND – SIZE & EXTENT

the ninth biggest country in Europe

the total length of the coast line = 3511 km

the extent from the North to the South = 649 km

the extent from the West to the East = 689 km

POLAND IN EUROPEPOLAND IN EUROPE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONGEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

BALTIC SEA

CZECH REPUBLIC

GERMANY

SLOVAKIA

RUSSIA LITHUANIA

BELARUS

UKRAINE

BALTIC SEA COAST HEL SPIT

VISTULA SPIT

GDAŃSK BAY

POMERANIAN BAY

WOLINISLAND

UZNAMISLAND

VISTULA LAGOON

SZCZECIN LAGOON

SUDETES

CARPATHIANS

POLAND’S TOPOGRAPHYPOLAND’S TOPOGRAPHY

mostly a lowland country

the average altitude above sea-level is 173 metres post-glacial landscape in the north of the countrythe Sudetes in the south- east

the Carpathian mountains in the south

WATER NETWORKWATER NETWORK

the longest river of Poland is The Vistula (Wisła -1047km long) which flows from the Ram Mountain (Barania Góra) the second longest river is The Oder (Odra - 854 km long - 742 km is in Poland)

WISŁA

ODRA

CLIMATIC DIVERSITYCLIMATIC DIVERSITY Polska lies in the moderate warm transitional climatic zone

western part of the country – maritime climate features caused by the closeness of the Atlantic Ocean (warmer winter, cooler summer, more rainfall)eastern part of the country – continental climate features (frosty winter, warmer summer, less rainfall)

average year temperature = about 60C

average year temperature = about 80C

average ammount of rainfall is 600 mm

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION:ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION:Poland is divided into:

16 voivodeships

(provinces)

379 powiats

(counties)

2 478 gminas

(municipalities)

MOST POPULATED CITIES IN MOST POPULATED CITIES IN POLANDPOLAND

6. Gdańsk

5. Poznań

4. Wrocław

1. Warszawa

2. Łódź

3. Kraków

ETHNIC GROUPSETHNIC GROUPS

The Poles are descended from various ethnic groups. Each group have their own culture, history and , often, their own dialect.

Two ethnic groups live in the north of Poland:

The population of Poland is not entirely uniform considering the cultural aspect.

KASHUBIANS KURPS

KASHUBIANS KASHUBIANS

Kashubian songs are part of their rich tradition. They even have their own unique music notes.There are also schools where teaching is conducted in the Kashubian language

Kashubians occupy part of the Pomeranian Lake District teritory and the region of Pomerania

Kashubian coat of arms and flag

KASHUBIANS KASHUBIANS

Kashubian language musical primer

KASHUBIANS KASHUBIANS

Traditional Kashubian outfit

woman’s costume: * white , lace decorated blouse , pleated skirt, trimmed with black bands sewn onto the bottom of the skirt, specific fancywork on the blouse sleeves and the apron;

* black cloth bodice and bonnet ebroidered with golden thread

KASHUBIANS KASHUBIANS

Traditional Kashubian Outfit:

For men:white shirt, light cream trousers, dark blue or navy blue embroidered jerkin, red belt, boots, black felt hat with red ribbon

KURPIE KURPIE

They have created a peculiar architecture and decorative art style.

The Kurpie cutouts and furniture are commonly known and valued.

The Kurps live in northern Mazovia.

The region is also famous for its grand Easter palms.

KURPIEKURPIE

Traditional cabin of the Kurpie region

KURPIE KURPIE

Interior of the traditional Kurpie house

KURPIE KURPIE

Traditional Kurpie region outfit

woman’s costume:

• white blouse with round collar, red, black or green bodice trimmed with red band

• plain, checked or striped skirt decorated with coloured bands

• black bonnet perked up with artificial flowers, beads and ribbons

• white, linen apron decorated with white lace

• black leather boots or made of phloem

KURPIE KURPIE

Traditional Kurpie region costume

Man’s costume:

• brown or gray russet coat

• white trousers with red stripes

• black hat with red ribbon

• satchel

KURPIE KURPIE

Kurpie region cutouts

KURPIE KURPIE Famous Kurpie Easter palms

NORTHERN POLANDNORTHERN POLAND

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

SEASIDE LANDSCAPESEASIDE LANDSCAPEHEL SPIT

length 34 km, width from 150 to 300 metres

Sand bar peninsula with wind-sculpted forest dunes

200/300 years ago there used to be a chain of tiny islands

SEASIDE LANDSCAPESEASIDE LANDSCAPE

founded in 1967

1977 - recognised by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve

SŁOWIŃSKI NATIONAL PARK

SEASIDE LANDSCAPESEASIDE LANDSCAPE

there are the largest shifting sand dunes in Central Europe - they are 40 m high (desertic landscape)

coastal lakes, bogs, meadows, peat bogs, coastal forests and sand bar shifting dunes are the characteristic features of the park

SŁOWIŃSKI NATIONAL PARK

SEASIDE LANDSCAPESEASIDE LANDSCAPE

the highest active cliffs measure up to 90 metres

high cliffs are the characteristc feature of the coast (post-glacial hills- moraines)

CLIFF COAST

TRICITYTRICITY

GDAŃSK GDYNIA SOPOT

TRICITY

GDAŃSKGDAŃSK

Neptun Fountain and Artus Court

GDAŃSKGDAŃSK

medieval port crane called Żuraw (in the foreground) over Motława River

GDAŃSKGDAŃSK

View of St. Mary’s Basilica

GDAŃSKGDAŃSK

Oliwa Cathedral with its famous organ

GDAŃSKGDAŃSK

World War II Monument at Westerplatte

GDYNIAGDYNIA

View of Marina

GDYNIAGDYNIA

Music Theatre

GDYNIAGDYNIA

Dar Pomorza Museum (left) & ORP Błyskawica (right)

GDYNIAGDYNIA

Cliff in Orłowo

GDYNIAGDYNIA

Joseph Conrad monument

Fountain in Kościuszki Square

SOPOTSOPOT

Pier – the longest construction made of wood in Europe

SOPOTSOPOT

Leaning House

SOPOTSOPOT

Grand Hotel

SZCZECINSZCZECIN

View of Chrobry’s Enbanmkments

SZCZECIN

SZCZECINSZCZECIN

Castle of Pomeranian Princes

SZCZECINSZCZECIN

Royal Gate

LAKELANDLAKELAND

it stretches from the north up to the lowlands in the south , it covers the area of the latest glacial age; early glacial landscape

it is characterized by post-glacial hills overspread with forests and lakes

MASURIAN LAKELAND

POMERANIAN LAKELAND

GREAT POLAND LAKELAND

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND

there are two largest lakes in Poland - Śniardwy and Mamry

in the northern part of the region there is the deepest lake in Poland - Lake Hańcza is 108.5 m deep

LAKE

ŚNIARDWY

LAKE

MAMRYLAKE HAŃCZA

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND

historic viaducts can be admired here (length - 200m /height 36m)

STAŃCZYKI

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELANDGIERŁOŻ

‘Wolf’s Lair’ was also the location of the famous assassination attempt against Hitler

the ruins of the most famous and the most secret object of World War II are situated in the area , called ‘Wolf’s Lair’

Hitler’s headquarters in Gierłoż also draw sightseers

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND

The sanctuary with the monastery is one of the most importantbaroque monuments in northern Poland

Święta Lipka - called ‘Częstochowa of the North’

There is Our Lady’s Sanctuary - 100, 000 pilgrims come here every year

ŚWIĘTA LIPKA

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND

sanctuary interior

organ

ŚWIĘTA LIPKA

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND TEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLESTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES

The largest Gothic castle in Poland

MALBORK

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELANDTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES FROMBORK

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND TEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLESTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES GNIEW

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND TEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES GOLUB DOBRZYŃ

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELANDTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLESTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES

LIDZBARK WARMIŃSKI

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND TEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLESTEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLES

RESZEL

MASURIAN LAKELANDMASURIAN LAKELAND GRUNWALD The Battle of Grunwald took place on 15 July

1410 with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ranged against the Knights of theTeutonic Order. It was one of the biggest and most important battles in Medieval Europe.

TORUŃTORUŃ

Town Hall and monument of N.

Copernicus(Mikołaj Kopernik)

TORUŃTHE TOWN OF NICOLAUS COPERNICUS THE TOWN OF NICOLAUS COPERNICUS

TORUŃTORUŃ

Leaning Tower Mikołaj Kopernik’s House

TORUŃTORUŃ

Ruins of the Tutonic Knights Castle

POMERANIAN LAKELANDPOMERANIAN LAKELAND

significant differences of the ground level height are a specific feature of the region, the landscape itself looks like low mountains there is the highest point in the low plains (part of The North European Plain) - Wieżyca

WIEŻYCA

POMERANIAN LAKELANDPOMERANIAN LAKELAND

there is a house put upside down – built as a metaphor of the contemporary world in which traditional values have been distorted

SZYMBARK

POMERANIAN LAKELANDPOMERANIAN LAKELAND

Museum – Kashubian Etnographic ParkThe Museum presents architecture of past Kashubian and Kociewian Districts .There are approximately 40 buildings like:7 farmyards, 2 manor houses, 5 cottages, 4 nobleman houses, a village school with a classroom, a church, a sawmill, a windmill, a smithy. Interiors and crofts are furnished with original farming and dwelling equipment.

the oldest Polish museum in the open air founded in 1906

Manor house – 2nd half of the XVIII century

WDZYDZE KISZEWSKIE

POMERANIAN LAKELANDPOMERANIAN LAKELAND

windmill – built in 1876

church - 18th century

WDZYDZE KISZEWSKIE

GREAT POLAND LAKELANDGREAT POLAND LAKELANDGNIEZNO – FIRST CAPITAL OF POLAND

The Assumption Cathedral – one of the Polish culture treasures , dates back to 14th century, surrounded by 14 chapels built in 14th/18th century. The most valuable monuments are the famous bronze Gniezno doors (12th century) and the silver coffin with St. Adalbert’s relics.

GNIEZNO

GREAT POLAND LAKELANDGREAT POLAND LAKELAND

they were made in about 1175 in Gniezno during the reign of Mieszko III the Old and are one of the most significant work of romanesque art in Poland.

are a set of bronze doors in the Gniezno Cathedral. They are decorated with eighteen scenes from the life of St. Adalbert.

GNIEZNO DOORS

GREAT POLAND LAKELANDGREAT POLAND LAKELAND

the most known archeological reserve from the Bronze Age in Central Europe

excavation works were started in 1934 and soon wooden settlement constructions were excavated there

the settlement was built over 2700 ago

BISKUPIN

GREAT POLAND LAKELANDGREAT POLAND LAKELAND

GREAT POLAND LAKELANDGREAT POLAND LAKELAND

ROGALIN

18th century baroque palace of the Raczyński family, now the Raczyński Art Gallery, housing a permanent exhibition of Polish and international paintings (including Paul Delaroche and Claude Monet) also known for its 1000 year old oak trees

GREAT POLAND LANDLAKEGREAT POLAND LANDLAKE

the castle – second half of 14th century

KÓRNIK

POZNAŃPOZNAŃ

Old Town with Town Hall

POZNAŃ

POZNAŃPOZNAŃ

Town Hall interior

Poznań Goats (Kids) on The Town Hall

POZNAŃPOZNAŃ

Emperor’s Castle

BIAŁYSTOKBIAŁYSTOK

The Branicki Family Palace

BIAŁYSTOK

KRUSZYNIANY and BOHONIKIKRUSZYNIANY and BOHONIKIKRUSZYNIANY

TATAR TRAIL

wooden mosque from 18th century

KRUSZYNIANY and BOHONIKIKRUSZYNIANY and BOHONIKIBOHONIKI

mosque built by Tatars in 1883

mizar – Muslim cemetery

BIEBRZA RIVER NATIONAL PARKBIEBRZA RIVER NATIONAL PARK

the biggest national park in Poland

it protects wide and almost unchanged valley peat bogs with their unique variety of plant, bird and other animal species, and natural ecosystems

BIEBRZA RIVER NATIONAL PARK

BIEBRZA RIVER NATIONAL PARK BIEBRZA RIVER NATIONAL PARK

Flora and fauna

BIAŁOWIESKI NATIONAL PARK - BIAŁOWIESKI NATIONAL PARK - Białowieża Primaeval Forest

BIAŁOWIESKI NATIONAL PARK the European bison – the biggest land mammal of Europe is the park symbol