Poland explained to kids

Poland is a country located in Central Europe. It has a population of over 38 million people and covers an area of 312,679 square kilometers (120,726 square miles). Poland is a republic, and its capital and largest city is Warsaw. Other major cities include Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, and Gdańsk. Poland is bordered by the Baltic Sea to the north, Belarus to the east, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, and Germany to the west. The country has a variety of landscapes, including the Carpathian Mountains in the south, the Baltic coastal regions in the north, and the plains of Mazovia in the center. The climate of Poland is mostly temperate, with cold, cloudy winters and hot, dry summers. Poland has a long history, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The country was first united under the rule of Mieszko I in the year 966. In the late Middle Ages, Poland became one of the largest and most powerful countries in Europe. However, following centuries of foreign invasions and partitions, Poland lost its independence in the late 18th century. The country was regained in 1918, but lost again in World War II. Poland became a communist state after the war, but regained democracy in 1989. Poland is a member of the European Union and NATO, and has a variety of cultural and historical attractions. These include the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and the medieval city of Kraków. Poland is also home to a number of World Heritage Sites, including the Historic Centre of Warsaw and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.