Poland (Polska, Rzeczpospolita Polska) is a major European state (capital city is Warsaw), an area is more than 300 thousand square kilometers. Location of modern boundaries largely determined after the Second World War, they became smaller than the length of almost 2 thousand km. In the north of the border of Poland is washed by the Baltic Sea, Russia and Lithuania is the northern neighbors. To the east, Poland is bordered by Ukraine and Belarus, southern neighbors are Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and Western is Germany.

The terrain of Poland can not be called monotonous. If, in the northern part of the country and its center lowlands with broad sandy beaches on the Baltic coast is dominated, than mountain ranges of Sudetenland and the Carpathians tower already in the south of Poland. Numerous forests and thousands of lakes and rivers attached the special charm of the Polish highland and lowland landscapes.

For Poland is characterized by mild climate, which provides ocean air masses. From the west winds bring cool and rainy in summer and heavy snowfalls in winter, while in the east - hot summers and frosty winter. Weather is very unstable, rainy and on overcast days often give way to sunny and clear. Although spring is usually early, May characterizes the last frost, autumn comes late.

Founders of Poland is considered the dynasty Pyastov, uniting several tribal principalities. The first credible evidence tell us about the ruler Mieszko I, who ruled the country in the mid-10th century. His son was one of the greatest kings of Poland, creating around himself a powerful nation. But after his death, Poland disintegrated into separate principalities, and in the 13 century, was attacked by Mongol-Tatars. However, in the late 14 century, Casimir III the Great was able to strengthen the central government, which contributed to the national revival. During his rule the legal and monetary system was created, a set of laws put into effect, the first Polish university opened. His daughter Jadwiga strengthened position in the international arena, joining in the territory of Lithuania and gained with a number of significant victories. At the age of 16 the peak of the Polish power accounted, a united states became known as the The Polish