Total area: 312 685 km2 Population: 38 633 912 (July 2001) Capital: Warsaw (1 716 855) Time: Winter GMT +1 hour , Summer GMT +2 hours Language: Polish Currency: Zloty (PLN; symbol zł) = 100 groszy. Notes are in denominations of zł200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. The new coins are in denominations of zł5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 groszy. Ethnic groups: Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, others 2.7% Religion: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% Government: republic, parliamentary democracy Member of: European Union, NATO Location: Central Europe, east of Germany, 52 00 N, 20 00 E Land boundaries: 2,888 km Border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Kaliningrad (Russia) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km Coastline: 491 km Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Highest point: Rysy 2,499 m Lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable land Land use: arable land 47%, permanent crops 1%, permanent pastures 13%, forests and woodland 29%, other 10% Electricity: 220 AC, 50 cycles; plugs with two round pins Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0900-1300 in main cities. In smaller towns, banking hours are more limited. Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in larger establishments. Cash can be obtained from Visa credit and debit cards at banks and from ATMS. Maestro cards are also accepted by some ATMs. Flag: The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white and the lower one red. The two colors are defined in the Polish constitution as the national colors. A variant of the flag with the national coat of arms in the middle of the white stripe is legally reserved for official use abroad and at sea. Current Polish law does not restrict the use of the national flag without the coat of arms as long as the flag is not disrespected. Coat of arms: It is a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield. National anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego ("Dąbrowski's Mazurka") is the national anthem of Poland. It is also known by its original title "Song of the Polish Legions in Italy", or by its incipit, "Poland Is Not Yet Lost" or "Poland Has Not Yet Perished".