The Republic of Poland is located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine to the east; and Russia and the Baltic Sea to the north. The population, over 38.5 million strong, occupies an area of 312,000 square kilometers. Poland’s landscape is very diverse. The Carpathian and the Sudety Mountains stretch in the south. Lowlands and uplands occupy the central part of the country. The northern part of Poland, comprising of Pomeranian and Masurian Lakelands, is gently undulating, relatively well forested and covered by hundreds of lakes; still further to the north are the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea coast. Poland’s national emblem is a white eagle with a golden crown on a red background. The national flag is white and red. The people of Poland use the Polish language. Its capital and the largest city is Warsaw, which has a population of over 1,700,000 and is located upon the longest Polish river, the Vistula.