Every day at 6pm in The Club with Sam listen to Europe Explorers!

Today we’re exploring… Poland!

The north of Poland, stretching to the Baltic Sea, consists almost entirely of lowlands, while the Carpathian Mountains (including the Tatra range) form the southern border. The Masuria region forms the largest and most-visited lake district in Poland.

The Polish state is over 1 000 years old. In the 16th century Poland was one of the most powerful countries in Europe. With victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, King Jan III Sobieski of Poland was able to break the Ottoman siege of Vienna and end the threat of a possible occupation of western Europe.

Poland is rich in natural mineral resources, including iron, zinc, copper and rock salt. The Wieliczka salt mine, constructed in the 13th century, contains an entire town below ground with a sanatorium, theatre, church and café! Everything from stairs to chandeliers is made from salt.

Poland’s current constitution dates from 1997. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The 460 members of the lower house of parliament (the Sejm) and the 100 members of the senate, are directly elected by a system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms.

Famous people:
Copernicus – astronomer
Chopin – the composer
Maria Curie-Sklodowska – scientist
Roman Polanski – film-maker
Krzysztof Kieslowski – film-maker
Pope John-Paul II

Cuisine:
Poland’s traditional dishes include beetroot soup, cabbage rolls (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice) and pierogi (dumplings stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms, for example).

Facts:

• Political system: Republic
• Capital city: Warsaw
• Language: Polish
• National day: 11 November- regaining independence from Austria and Germany (1918)
• Total area: 312 679 km²
• Population: 38.1 million
• Currency: zloty

How to say Hello:
Czesc

Map:

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