Which Countries Border Poland?
The Republic of Poland in Central Europe borders the Baltic Sea to the north, the Czech Republic to the South, Slovakia to the south, Ukraine to the east, Germany to the West, Belarus to the East, Lithuania to the Northeast, and Kaliningrad Oblast which is a Russian Federation semi-enclave also to the Northeast. In total, these borders amount to either 2181.6or 2225.8 miles. Due to the political situation of Poland, some of the lengths of these borders may change depending on the source of information. In addition to the borders, Poland also has a coastline that is 478.5 miles long. Below is a brief description of the borders.
Poland-Ukraine Border
The Poland-Ukraine state border measures 332 miles or 329 miles depending on the source. The two territories agreed to a Polish-Ukrainian border briefly following the 1919 Polish-Ukrainian War but the demarcations changed when the Soviet Union occupied Ukraine the following year. In 1992, after the fall of the USSR, Poland and Ukraine re-established the border. Movement across the border points started in 1992 but became common in the early 2000s. The annual average number of people crossing the border was 3 million and 12 million in 1992 and 2000 respectively. This border is one of the most crossed eastern borders of the EU, mostly by Ukrainian citizens. Majority of the movement across the border involves trading, tourism, and labor. Both Ukraine and Poland police the border because it is a smuggling route and a home to about 8 million people. The active border crossing points are Medyka-Shehyni, Dołhobyczów-Uhryniv, Korczowa-Krakovets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, Zosin-Ustyluh, Krościenko-Smilnytsya, Dorohusk-Yahodyn, Hrubieszów-Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Krościenko-Khyriv, Przemyśl-Mostyska II, and Werchrata-Rava-Ruska.
Poland- Germany Border
The Oder–Neisse line is the international borderline between Poland and Germany. The line measures 290 miles. The Potsdam Conference of 1945 demarcated this line along the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers from the Baltic Sea to the Czech Republic. This border has been volatile since the 14th century but disappeared after some time during the annexation. After the Second World War, the USSR prevailed upon the US and UK to agree on the border without consulting either Germany or Poland thus further aggravating the volatility. The USSR insisted on the boundary to compensate Poland for the territories it lost to the USSR following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. This border opened partially between 1971 and 1980 then it was closed. After the fall of communism, the border opened to the European community but with heavy policing until Poland joined the EU and the Schengen Agreement relaxed border controls.
Poland-Belarus Border
The Polish-Belarusian border measures 247.7 miles, 260 miles, or 258 miles depending on whether the source is Russia, Poland, or Belarus. The figures vary because Poland is an EU member while Belarus is a Union State (Union State of Russia and Belarus). The border runs from Lithuania and ends at the triple border point of Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine. There are several strict border crossing points here because this border is also an EU border. Trains cross the border at Wysokie Litewskie – Czeremcha, Hrodna - Kuźnica Białostocka, Brest – Terespol, and Swislocz – Siemianówka. Road crossing points are Berestovica – Bobrovniki, Brest – Terespol, Bruzgi - Kuźnica Białostocka, Damachava – Sławatycze, Kazlovichy – Kukuryki, and Peschatka – Połowce. Crossing points Haurylin – Meykshany, Liasnaia – Rudavka, and Perarou – Białowieża are mainly for pedestrians.
Poland-Russia Border (Kaliningrad Oblast)
Today, the Poland-Russia border is an almost straight line measuring 144 miles long, 14 miles of which are in the Baltic Sea. This border has remained unchanged since the post-World War II agreement, however, in 2004, the border formed the boundary between the EU and Commonwealth of Independent States. At the time of demarcation in 1945, the Poland-Russia border was longer as it included the then USSR territories of Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. After the fall of the USSR, the border reduced to the present but this did not affect Poland’s borderline. By 2008, there were three train crossing points; Braniewo-Mamonovo, Głomno-Bagrationovsk, and Skandawa-Zheleznodorozhny. By 2010, road crossing points had grown to three namely Bezledy-Bagrationovsk, Gołdap-Gusev, Grzechotki-Mamonovo, and Gronowo-Mamonovo. Currently, Poland is constructing several crossing points to meet EU standards.
Poland – Lithuania Border
Since the independence of Lithuania from the USSR in 1990, the border with Poland exists from the tripoint border of Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), and Lithuania to the to the Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania tripoint. In total, the border measures 65 miles. Military and other strategic agencies call the border the Suwalki gap since it is narrow and one of the toughest pieces of land to defend. Before 1990, different borders existed and changed from time to time because of occupations and regimes. After the second world war, Poland and Lithuanian SSR had a border that slightly differs from the current one, however, different and longer borderlines existed during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Second Polish Republic, and Polish-Lithuania border conflict. In 2007, Poland and Lithuania joined the Schengen Area and removed passport as a requirement to cross the border. Current road crossing points include Budzisko–Kalvarija, Ogrodniki–Lazdijai, and Berżniki–Kapčiamiestis. The rail crossing point is Trakiszki–Šeštokai.
Poland – Czech Border
The Poland – Czech border remains one of the most contested in the region since the 1950s. The current demarcation happened in 1975 but officially, it has existed since January 1, 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. This border measures 494.6or 490.9 miles depending on whether the source is from Poland or the Czech Republic. The border starts at the tripoint border of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland and runs through the Sudetes mountain range, through several regions before ending at the tripoint border of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. This border may also change soon after the Czech Republic recently proposed to hand over some disputed areas to Poland for the sake of cooperation. Even though Poland and the Czech Republic signed a border agreement in 1993, the border areas did not become economically and socially competitive, therefore, there exists an active cooperation program that seeks to remove obstacles to the integration of the area with Europe. Other initiatives include activities like the Polish-Czech Friendship Days, Cultural Festivities of Upper Silesia, and Filipov International Pilgrimage. Crossing most Poland-Czech border points by road during winter is difficult due to the region also being mountainous.
Poland – Slovakia Border
Poland and Slovakia established the border on January 1, 1993, after the independence of Slovakia. The most recent review and demarcation happened in 2005. Just like the other borders, the Poland – Slovakia border is also controversial. The current measurement is 336.2or 335 miles depending on the source on either side. This border connects several mountainous regions in Poland and Slovakia, therefore, physical features form part of the demarcations. These regions are Voivodeships of Silesia, Lesser Poland, and Subcarpathia in Poland and Žilina and Prešov regions in Slovakia. The border separating the countries run from west to east, starting at the tripoint border of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland passing through the High Tatra mountains and ends at another tripoint border of Slovakia, Ukraine, and Poland. The highest point in Poland, Mount Rysy, is within this border although part of the mountain is also in Slovakia. In 2004, this border became an internal EU border and in 2007, it became a Schengen Area internal border. Poland and Slovakia have several cross-border social, economic, and political initiatives to foster good relationships. The two parties continue to better relations owing to Poland being in favor of Slovakian independence and the presence of a high population of Catholics in the two countries. Some major challenges in the border region include transport infrastructure and economic development. These countries also cooperate within the Višegrad Group, the Tatry Euroregion, and the Carpathian Euroregion.
