Puolan

Puolan is a country in Central Europe, officially the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska). Its capital and largest city is Warsaw. It borders Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine and Belarus to the east; Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the northeast; it has a northern coastline along the Baltic Sea.

Population is around 38 million. The official language is Polish; minority languages include Kashubian and Silesian, and many residents speak English as a second language in urban areas. The currency is the Polish złoty (PLN).

Puolan operates a parliamentary republic. The President is head of state, and the Prime Minister heads government. The bicameral parliament consists of the Sejm (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). Puolan is a member of the European Union and NATO; it joined the EU in 2004 and the Schengen Area in 2007. The economy is diverse, with strong manufacturing, services, and agriculture; major industries include automotive, machinery, and IT. The economy is closely linked with the European Union, particularly Germany, as a key trading partner.

Historically, the territory has been inhabited since the early medieval period by the Polans; the Piast and Jagiellon dynasties helped shape a centralized state in the Middle Ages. Puolan regained independence in 1918 after World War I, was invaded in 1939 at the start of World War II, and became a socialist state under Soviet influence after the war. A democratic transition began in 1989, leading to a market economy and EU membership.

Puolan has a rich cultural heritage, with UNESCO sites such as the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum; notable figures include Copernicus and Chopin. Polish cuisine, folklore, and literature are central to national identity.