A topographic map of Poland, showing clearly the Vistula river valley and its tributaries, which make up the rich agricultural heartland of the country. The Carpathian mountains are visible in the southern part of the country. Poland's major cities all sit astride waterways, allowing for rapid trade and communication.
http://www.sras.org/img/87cdbe4b7acf28ef75ffea30a9089276.png
http://www.sras.org/img/87cdbe4b7acf28ef75ffea30a9089276.png
A land utilization map of Poland, showing the agricultural heartland that makes up the center of the country. Again, centered on the Vistula and Oder rivers, it's clear how much the country depends on grains and potatoes for its economic potential. Forests are visible throughout the country, particularly on the German border.
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/poland_land_1977.jpg
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/poland_land_1977.jpg
A climate map of Poland. The weather in the country is very mild in general, with small areas of subarctic and tundra climate visible in the southern part of the country, in the Carpathian mountains. The suitability of the country for easy human settlement can be seen from this.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Poland_koppen.svg/837px-Poland_koppen.svg.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Poland_koppen.svg/837px-Poland_koppen.svg.png
The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the second university to be founded in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in continuous existence. Founded in 1364, the university has been a pillar of Polish culture since that time.
http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/6/6239/z6239216V,Uniwersytet-Ekonomiczny-w-Krakowie.jpg
http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/6/6239/z6239216V,Uniwersytet-Ekonomiczny-w-Krakowie.jpg
An aerial view of Warsaw, capital city of Poland. The city stretches off into the distance, and is flanked by forests and rivers. The broad, flat expanse of the northern European plain stretches off into the distance.
http://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/i-was-flying-3000ft-above-ground-in-warsaw-poland-to-make-the-photos-no-one-did-before-4__880.jpg
http://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/i-was-flying-3000ft-above-ground-in-warsaw-poland-to-make-the-photos-no-one-did-before-4__880.jpg
An aerial photo of farmland in the central Polish plain. The long strips of land use look strange to an American eye, but this is the traditional way of farming in Poland. Irrigation is mostly drawn from long irrigation canals running alongisde roads, as can be seen in this photo with the rows of houses.
http://blog.polishorigins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/polish-farmland-approaching-krakow2.jpg
http://blog.polishorigins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/polish-farmland-approaching-krakow2.jpg
A coal-fired power plant in southern Poland. Rich coal deposits can be found in the southern mountains of the country, and these are used extensively for power, despite the pollution that can be seen billowing forth from the smokestacks.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xBOm42xJVG0/Un6OL6zc5vI/AAAAAAAABXI/imqjbgd6eXY/s1600/polandcoal-articlelarge.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xBOm42xJVG0/Un6OL6zc5vI/AAAAAAAABXI/imqjbgd6eXY/s1600/polandcoal-articlelarge.jpg
Gdansk, formerly Danzig, is Poland's largest port. A formerly German city, Gdansk is today thoroughly Polish and a major driver of Poland's economy. Situated in an excellent position on the Baltic Sea, Gdansk provides an excellent outlet for Poland's agricultural and industrial output to places far afield.
https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article6124757.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/Gdansk.jpg |
The Bialowieza Forest, along the border with Belarus to the east. A primeval place, largely untouched by humans, this forest is representative of what used to cover much of the country. At the same time, the forest is far from any river and would be painstaking to clear and farm, which has helped it to remain in this state.
https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/2016/06/05/forestry-experts-assess-threat-to-unesco-world-heritage-forest-in-poland/poland-forestjpg.jpg.size.custom.crop.1086x725.jpg
https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/2016/06/05/forestry-experts-assess-threat-to-unesco-world-heritage-forest-in-poland/poland-forestjpg.jpg.size.custom.crop.1086x725.jpg
A mountain lake high in the Carpathian Mountains. The water is tinted green with moss, but it can be seen even here that grasses and shrubs grow freely, and this area is suitable for sheepherding or hunting. Very little of the land in Poland cannot be used by man.
http://chimac.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/gasienicowa-valleytatra-mountainspoland-landscape-mountains-nature-poland.jpg
http://chimac.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/gasienicowa-valleytatra-mountainspoland-landscape-mountains-nature-poland.jpg
A wintry landscape on the central plain in Poland. Although winters here are mild compared to Poland's eastern neighbors, thanks to the effect from the nearby sea, Winter is harsh all the same and would make undeveloped life here quite difficult.
http://wildpoland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biebrza-landscape-poland-winter-03.jpg
http://wildpoland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biebrza-landscape-poland-winter-03.jpg