Silesian Voivodeship
The Silesian Voivodeship, Polish WojewĂłdztwo śląskie, with its capital Katowice is one of the 16 provinces of the Republic of Poland. She went to the local government reform in 1999 from the provinces Voivodeship Katowice, Częstochowa and Bielsko- Biała and takes the central southern part of Poland one. With around 4.7 million inhabitants within 12,294 km ² Silesia is the most densely populated province. The metropolitan area around the cities of Katowice and Gliwice arose as a result of the coal industry in the 19th century.
To Silesian Voivodeship includes parts of the historical regions of Silesia and Lesser Poland (and thus Galicia).
The name of the province goes back to the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. The Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship consisted of only a part of Upper Silesia, making a distinction between Upper Silesia and Lower Silesia in the name was not necessary.
- 3.1 industry
- 3.2 Natural Resources
- 3.3 motorways
- 3.4 Rail transport
- 3.5 Airports
- 3.6 Tourism
- 4.1 Independent Cities
- 4.2 counties
- 6.1 External links
- 6.2 footnotes
Coat of arms
Description: In a completely blue golden eagle.
Geography
Location
The Silesian Voivodeship, which does not coincide within their borders with the geographical regions of Silesia and the Silesian Voivodeship Autonomous, occupies the central southern part of Poland. In their upper courses Oder, Vistula and Warta river flowing through this province. It borders the provinces of Opole, Łódź, Holy Cross, Lesser Poland and south to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Largest cities
- Or
- Vistula
- Warta
Economy and Transport
Expressed in comparison with the EU GDP in purchasing power standards reached the province in 2006 an index of 55.5 (EU-27 = 100). In the course of structural change and the decline of heavy industry, the number of unemployed, especially in the secondary sector rose sharply. However, it could be created in recent years in other economic sectors new jobs, which is why the unemployment rate has declined significantly. After the voivodships Mazovia and Wielkopolska it has the lowest unemployment rate in Poland (December 2009).
Industry
Coal mining, iron and heavy metal works, electrical industry, mechanical engineering and automotive industries are the main branches of the indigenous industry. The Silesian Voivodeship is the most industrialized part of Poland.
Mineral resources
- Hard coal
- Iron, zinc and lead ores
Highways
Across the Silesian Voivodeship, from west to east, the A4 (Breslau Upper Silesia - Cracow) and from north to south, the planned A1 motorway runs.
Rail transport
Operator of the rail network in Poland is PKP SA (Polish State Railways AG). The largest rail transport hub of the province is located in Katowice.
Airports
On the edge of the voivodship is Katowice International Airport.
Tourism
Much of the province has a share in low mountain ranges, where the hilly terrain merges with the Beskydy in the south, a tourist area with ski resorts, such as Szczyrk, Ustroń, Wisła. Popular among hikers and climbers is also the mountains of the Cracow - Częstochowa Upland, which is known also for its historical ruins from the 14th and 15th century, ( the Eagle's Nest route ) are accessible to tourists by the Szlak Orlich Gniazd.
The industrial heritage of the area is opened up more and more touristy. The road leading to interesting technical monuments industrial monuments.
Administrative divisions
The Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 17 counties, with 19 cities remain acyclic. Although some of them form under their name also a county, it does not belong to itself.
Independent Cities
Counties
(Residents on June 30, 2006)