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POLAND – PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Offical name:
Rzeczpospolita Polska (The Republic of Poland).
Motto:
The phrase Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna ("God, Honor, Fatherland") is unoffical but often used.
Location:
Poland is located in Central Europe, east of Germany.
Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N , 20 00 E
Climate:
Moderate, similar to that of Germany. Cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent snow precipitation; mild, sometimes hot summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms.
In September the weather is generally fine and sunny, and temperatures vary from 100C to 260C but rain and/or storms are also possible.
Terrain:
Mostly flat plain, mountains along the southern border.
Member of:
NATO, European Community.
Visas for visitors:
For citizens of the European Community countries, Andora, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahama, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Island, Izrael, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malyasia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nikaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Salvador, San Marino, Seyschele, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, U.S.A., Venezuela and Vaticane visas are not required. Citizens of all other countries must obtain visas in Polish embassies or consulates. Poland joined the Schengen agreement several years ago, and free transfer from neighbouring European Community countries is possible.
Ethnic groups:
Polish 96.7 %, national minorities (German, Ruthenian, Belarusian, Lithuanian and others) - 3.3 %.
Languages:
Polish is the oficial and commonly used language. All people use the standard language; dialects may be encountered in Highlands and in some rural regions. English and German are the most common second languages spoken in Poland, though some middle-aged people may also be contacted in Russian.
Alphabet:
Latin, extra letters: ą, ę, ł, ć, ń, ó, ś, ź, ż.
Religions:
Roman Catholic – about 95%, Protestant, Greek Catholic, Orthodox, and Armenian minorities 5%
Time zone:
Poland is located in the same time zone as France and Germany, i.e. winter: UTC+1, summer: UTC+2.
Units system:
Metric. The application of the SI system is mandatory.
Currency:
1 zloty (plural: zlotys) = 100 groszy (singular: grosz). Banknotes come in of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 PLN denominations. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 groszy, and 1, 2, 5 zlotys. Exchange rate 1 Euro = 4.15 zloty (variable exchange rate). Currencies may be exchanged at a bank or a currency exchange office.
Electric current:
Alternate current, 230 V, 50 Hz. Sockets are identical with those in Germany.
Telephone system:
Developed fixed-line system completed with mobile-cellular service. Cellular coverage is generally good with rare gaps in the eastern zone of the country. International code: 48. Internal direct dialing with automatic extensions.
Internet country code:
.pl
Main airports:
Warszawa/Warsaw (Warszawa-Okęcie), F. Chopin (codes: WAW, EPWA).
Kraków/Cracow (Kraków-Balice), Jan Paweł II (codes: KRK, EPKR).
Car drives:
On the right.
Car driving regulations:
Generally do not differ from regulations encountered in European Community countries.
Maximum driving speed:
Cities and villages: 50 km/h.
Motorways outside cities and villages: 90 km/h.
Motorways: 130 km/h.
Acceptable alcohol concentration for car driving persons:
0 %.
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