PolandResearcher: Darci Cummins

See The World Inc.

Welcome

Right now, in the next couple of minutes, you will learn everything (or nearly everything) about Poland! Pay attention! There will be a short quiz at the end. It will be easy…if you listen.

Geography Poland is the 69th largest country in the

world and the 9th largest in Europe Poland is slightly smaller than New

Mexico 312,679 sq kilometers(120,726 sq miles) Poland’s bordering countries include:

Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, Lithuania, and a Russian exclave

Geography Major Landforms Baltic Sea to the north Oder, Notec, Vistula, Warta,

and Bug rivers run throughout all of Poland

Bledow Desert lies in southern Poland

Carpathian, Sudeten, and Tatra mountains on the southern border

Highest point is Mt. Rysy (2,499 miles) located in the Tatra Mountains

Lowest point-Raczki Elblaskie in the Vistula Delta

GeographyThe capital and largest city in Poland

is Warsaw. It is located near the Vistula River. Another major city in Poland is Krakow. Krakow is near (less than 40 miles away from) Auschwitz concentration camp, which was established in 1940 and closed down in 1945. Millions were killed and millions of others were forced to work here during Hitler’s rule over Germany. Auschwitz was considered the worst concentration camp ever built and used.

GeographyPoland’s environmental situation has improved since

the expulsion of communist rule. However, Poland has yet to recover from the overuse of forests during World War II and the loss of 4 million acres of forestland after the war. As of the mid-1990s, 75% of Poland's forests have been damaged by airborne contaminants and acid rain. Air, water, and land pollution were the most recognized environmental problems in Poland in the 1990s. Air pollution is a result from hazardous concentrations of airborne dust and chemicals. Water pollution in the Baltic Sea is 10 times higher than in ocean water.

Geography

The climate in Poland is temperate continental with cold, cloudy, and severe winters with much precipitation. Summers are mild with frequent showers and thunderstorms.

GeographyIf I were going to Poland, I would

pack rain gear; rain boots, rain jacket, long pants, and a hat. I would also pack a heavy coat incase there is any severely cold weather. Occasionally there will be warmer weather, but not hot. If you go, prepare for colder weather!

Economy

Coal - Most important Natural Gas Oil Sulfur Copper Iron Ore Lead

Zinc Salt Bauxite Barite Gypsum Limestone Silver

Natural Resources

Economy

Poland has pretty much the same technology as the U.S. They use land lines and cell phones just like us. Computers are common in Poland. They are sort of like us in terms of technology.

Economy Exports Consumer Goods-13.7% Food-5% Fuels-10.7% Industrial Supplies-33.7% Machinery-23.8% Transportation-12.9% Other-0.2%

Economy Imports Machinery and Transport equipment-

38% Intermediate Manufactured Goods-

21% Chemicals-14.8% Minerals, Fuels, Lubricants, and related

materials-9.1%

Economy Polish currency is called zlotych Polish zlotych = 0.3154 US dollars So, around 3 zlotych would equal 1

dollar

Economy

Poland is a developing country according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

EconomyIn Poland, people make a lot of arts and crafts and sell them. For example:

Glass Enamelware

Hand-woven rugs Silverware

Jewelry Dolls in regional costumes

Woodcarvings Clay and metal sculptures

Government Poland has a Republican government

like the U.S. The president of Poland is elected

directly by the people to serve for 5 years and can be re-elected only once.

Government A little over 2 years ago, Poland’s

president Lech Kaczynski died in a tragic airplane crash along with his wife and 96 other important leaders of the world.

Bronisław Maria Komorowski has been the new president of Poland since August 6, 2010.

Lech Kaczynski

Bronisław Maria Komorowski

Government

Poland's national emblem is a white eagle, but the national bird is actually a white stork. Around 40,000 of them nest in Poland every year.

Government Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dabrowski’s

Mazurka) is Poland’s national anthem.

The lyrics were written by Józef Wybicki in 1797.

The composer of the music is unknown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nmFHUbVQtA&feature=player_detailpage

Culture Ethnic Groups Polish – 96.7% German – 0.7% Belarusian – 0.1% Ukrainian – 0.1% Other and

Unspecified – 2.7%

Religions Roman Catholic –

89.8% Eastern Orthodox –

1.3% Protestant – 0.3% Other – 0.3% Unspecified – 8.3%

Culture Total population - 38,415,284 Birth Rate – 9.96 births/1000

population Death Rate – 10.24 deaths/1000

population Population Growth Rate –

0.075%

Culture Languages Polish – 97.8% Other and Unspecified – 2.2%

Literacy Rates Male – 99.8% Female – 99.7% Total – 99.8%

CulturePoland was founded in the A.D. 900s

and was a powerful kingdom in the Middle Ages. By the 1800s, it had fallen victim to it’s stronger neighbors-Germany, Russia, and Austria. In 1939, German troops overran western Poland, causing World War ll to begin. During World War ll, Warsaw, the capital, was bombed to ashes.

CultureIn 1947, Poland became a communist

government, and not everybody was happy about this. Workers and farmers in 1980 formed Solidarity, a labor group that struggled peacefully for democratic change. The communist government finally allowed free elections in1989, forming a new democratic government. One year later, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected Poland’s first president.

Today, Poland is a democracy. Drawing closer to western Europe, in 2004, Poland joined the European Union.

CultureThe correct term for Polish people is

called Poles. My great-grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Poland when he was a little boy. So that makes me part Polish. Now I am going to pass around my great-grandfather’s immigration papers from when he immigrated here. Please be careful with them! My grandfather died a few years back so they are important to our family.

Any Questions?

Feel free to ask any questions!

Quiz is coming up next!

Quiz Time!

Answer these five following questions on the next slides. Don’t freak out, this is all based off of the PowerPoint. You will get a 100% if you were listening!

Question1

What is the capital of Poland?

A. Frankfort B. Kentucky C. Warsaw D. Krakow

Question 2 Near what large city was the

concentration camp called Auschwitz located?

A. Krakow B. Warsaw C. Nevada D. Purple

Question 3 What is Poland’s major

(most practiced) religion? A. Baptist B. Roman Catholic C. Pentecostal D. none of the above

Question 4 Who took Lech Kaczynski’s

place as president? A. President Bush B. President Obama C. President Komorowski D. Hitler

Question 5 What do Poles call their

currency and how much is it compared to our money?

A. Dollars B. Euro C. Birr D. Zlotych

Answers 1) C. Warsaw 2) A. Krakow 3) B. Roman Catholic 4) C. President Komoroski 5) D. Zlotych

Rawr

Sources http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/poland/plland.htm http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/poland/ http://www.broughton-jnr.lincs.sch.uk/for-children/geography/europe/polan

d http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_size_of_Poland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Landforms_of_Poland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_of_Poland http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Poland-ENVIRONMENT.html http://countrystudies.us/poland/48.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2054.ht

ml http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2875.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pl.html http://i-collect-it.com/collectible/2175/ http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Poland-FOREIGN-TRADE.html www.worldtravelguide.net

Sources http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-poland-1939-1945#ixzz1sy9z9og

9 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_main_imports_and_exports_of_Po

land#ixzz1sy8gPMkg http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Poland_a_developing_or_developed_country

#ixzz1sy6NBq00 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Poland http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_Poland's_national_bird#ixzz1sy4QD5X

g http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Komorowski http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_Poland http://rudebutgood.blogspot.com/2012/02/bronisaw-komorowski.html http://www.kair.polemb.net/?document=332 http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/polands-president-and-dozens-of-

officials-killed-in-plane-crash-33115.html www.polishforums.com The World and It’s People textbook