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Top 8 Poland Facts

Interested in Poland or want to know more about it to impress a certain someone? Then this article is for you!

1. Poland is the one of the largest countries within Europe!
Poland is not a small country, it is actually one of the largest countries. Poland is larger than Italy and the United Kingdom.

2. The name Poland (or more like Polska) has a meaning!
The name originates from the name or tribe, “Polanie” which quite literally translates to “people living in open fields”.

3. Polish history is EXTREMELY complicated
If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you might wanna start reading Polish medieval history. You’ll get confused many times (try to read about the 1138-1320 period).

The early years were not easy for Poland. The country has been invaded or fought for freedom more than 40 times during the rebellion. Poland even disappeared from the world map between 1772 and 1795.

4. Poland’s constitution was the 2nd in the world to be enacted
Poland passed its first written constitution in the spring of 1791, which was the second valid legal document of this kind in the world. However, it only took effect for 14 months and 3 weeks before Poland was divided up more than 100 years ago.

5. Kerosene lamps were invented in Poland!
In 1853, Ignacy Lukasiewicz launched the first modern street lamp in Europe. However, his lamp invention was first used in Lviv, Ukraine. There is also a street in Warsaw that still uses the same street lights.

6. Marie Curie is actually Polish! Not French!
I mean this fact stands out on its own but her name was – before marriage – was Marie Sklowdowska before marrying the frenchman named Pierre Curie.

7. Poland is actually highly diverse with terrain!
With almost 800km of seashore, diverse nature, mountain chains such as the Tatra and Caparthian mountains, Poland is no stranger to different terrain. Even with Dunes on in the Pomerania region!

8. Europe’s heaviest animals live in Poland! And no, it’s not me!
The 380,000 acres (150,000 hectares) of Białowieża primeval forest in Poland is the last ancient forest in Europe and home to 800 European bison, the heaviest terrestrial animal in Europe.