波兰英文介绍.doc

Poland?lies?at?the?heart of Europe. This land of low plains has long provided a route between eastern Europe and western Europe, and between northern Europe and southern Europe. As a result, Poland has been invaded many times. Facts About Poland Official name Republic Capital Warsaw Official language Polish Population 38,500,000 people Rank among countries in population 32nd Major cities Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow Area 121,000 square miles313,000 square kilometers Rank among countries in area 68th Highest point Mount Rysy 8,199 feet/2,499 meters Currency Zloty POLAND’S STORMY STORY Poland’s?history?goes back 1,000 years. During that time, the country’s size and shape changed many times as a result of wars. Poland has even been chopped up and given away to other countries. For more than 100 years, from 1797 to 1918, there was no Poland. Germany, Austria, and Russia each had part of the country. Poland?became?a?country again in 1918, but not for long. In 1939, German tanks rolled into Poland. Germany’s invasion of Poland started World War II (1939-1945). Germany and the Soviet Union (Russia) soon divided Poland between them. After?World?War?II?ended in 1945, Poland regained its independence. But the Soviet Union controlled what Poland did. It made sure Poland had a communist government. Poland finally became an independent democracy in the early 1990s. POLAND’S COUNTRYSIDE Much?of?Poland?consists of low, rolling plains. Poland’s name comes from its first settlers, the Polanie or “plains dwellers.” Forests of spruce and pine trees cover about a quarter of the land. Mountains rise in southern Poland. The countryside has many farms. The?Baltic?Sea?borders Poland to the north. Resorts and beautiful beaches line the Baltic coast. Thousands of lakes dot the land near the coast. The coast and the lakes are popular vacation places. Ships come and go from ports on the Baltic Sea. Many?of?Poland’s?towns and cities date back to early times. If you visit Poland, you’ll see a mixtu