BORSOD-ABAÚJ-ZEMPLÉN - Geography and history
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is the second largest county in Hungary, with a land area of 7 247 square kilometres. In the north, it borders the Slovak Republic and the River Tisza constitutes the southern and south-eastern border. Miskolc, the county capital, is the region's economic, communications, and transport centre, and is situated at the foot of the Bükk Mountains. The E71 international road route which crosses the county links Hungary with the Slovak Republic and Poland. Budapest is two hours from Miskolc by the Inter-City railway service.
Heavy industry in the heart of nature
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén has both unspoilt natural areas and centres of heavy industry. The Great Plain and the highlands meet here, and over the centuries this has had a strong influence on the development of the region's economy. Industrialisation commenced after the Second World War when heavy industrial plants were established in the county, something that is still characteristic of the county's economic profile. The Borsod industrial region enjoyed a level of government support in the last few decades. This advantage has today turned into a hindrance as, with the problems experienced in private industry, the county has become a 'crisis region'.
There is variety in the county's settlement structure. In the Sajó valley around Miskolc medium-sized villages dominate, while in the northern part small villages are in the majority. There are 357 settlements in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén - the highest number of any county. Over half the population lives in the 20 cities, while four-tenths of the villages have populations below 500.
The "Hungarian Ruhr"
Owing to its climatic conditions, geographical situation, and natural resources, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is one of the most diversified counties in Hungary. The county's northern areas are mountainous and hilly, dissected by valleys and basins, while the south is flat. The highest points lie in the Bükk and Zemplén Mountains at 959 and 896 metres, respectively. The continental climate is significantly moderated by the county's relief. 38 % of the county's land area is plough-land, about 17% is grassland, while 23% is covered by forests.
The industrial cities of Miskolc, Ózd, Tiszaújváros, and Kazincbarcika are in the Borsod industrial region in the Sajó Valley. On account of the concentration of heavy industry, this area was known as the "Hungarian Ruhr". Sátoraljaújhely, Sárospatak, Szerencs, and Tokaj constitute a string of historic cities at the meeting of the Zemplén Mountains and the Great Plain. The other small cities are of a more agricultural character.
Many natural resources
Brown coal has been mined in the Sajó valley since the second half of the 19th century, while in the last few decades open-cast mining of the considerable lignite deposits of the Bükk foothills began. The main body of the Bükk Mountains and the Aggtelek karst consists of limestone and dolomite, used as decorative stones on buildings, but also mined for use in burnt lime and cement manufacture. The other mineral resources to be found in the county are: plaster-anhydrite, marl, andesite, bentonite, kaolin, silica, perlite, rhyolite tufa and zeolite. The Sajó and Hernád valleys provide river gravel and sand.
Among the natural features of the county are the beech, oak, and pine forests that cover most of the highlands and the mineral, medicinal, and thermal waters. The county's rivers (the Sajó, Bódva, Hernád, and the Bodrog) belong to the River Tisza's catchment area, and reservoirs have been built to tap the water of the smaller rivers (the Rakaca and the Lázbérc).
The county's terrain and climatic conditions generally make it unsuitable for agriculture, except in the flatter areas. However, the volcanic soils around Tokaj are excellent for wine-growing.
Problems caused by heavy industry
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén's natural features are very favourable: it is rich in minerals, its geographical position renders it an important transit route, and it has a variety of tourist attractions (national parks, historical and natural sites, and health resorts). There remains tremendous scope for the fuller exploitation of these resources.
The industrial sector that has traditionally played an important role in the county's economy still has a lot to be proud of, especially in the chemical branch, where world quality products are made and exported. Further assets of the county include the well-developed industrial infrastructure.
The biggest problem, however, is posed by the extended crisis in the earlier over-developed heavy industry. The contraction in almost all branches of industry has led to high levels of unemployment - the county's most pressing current problem. In addition to this, the provision of infrastructure is very uneven.
Economic recovery is held back by the lack of capital, and the quality of business services is inadequate. Despite the fact that the county has plenty of unspoilt natural areas, there are very serious environmental problems in the heavy industrial regions.
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