BÁCS-KISKUN - Geography and history
The largest Hungarian county
Bács-Kiskun has the largest territory of any Hungarian county, occupying 46% of the Southern Great Plain region. For centuries Hungarians have lived peacefully side-by-side here with Romanians, Germans, southern Slavs, and Slovaks
Significant development took place in this region in the 19th century. It was mostly due to the far-reaching changes in transport, such as the extension of the railways, that it was made possible for the region to become more integrated into both national and international commerce. Agriculture was the primary beneficiary of this process, although other sectors were affected as well. At the end of the last century, the small and medium-sized landowners formed such an effective horticultural industry that they were able to ride out the world economic crisis of the time. Not even the decades following the Second World War were able to extinguish the spirit of private enterprise; of the 40 000 farmsteads that existed after the war, and a lot of them escaped collectivisation and still survive today.
The county's present administrative territory was established on 1 January 1950 by amalgamating parts of former counties. The county has 14 towns and 103 villages. Of the fourteen towns, eight are located roughly along the northern-southern medial line of the county. The 103 villages generally have bigger territory and more inhabitants than those in Transdanubia and Upper Hungary. Kecskemét, the county capital, occupies the largest area (321 square kilometres), while Kalocsa is the smallest town (53 square kilometres). Of the villages, the two extremes are represented by Újtelek (10 square kilometres) and Szabadszállás (165 square kilometres); the latter was declared a town in 1995.
A flat but diverse region
Bács-Kiskun covers an area of 8 445 square kilometres, 9% of the country's land, and lies between the rivers Danube and Tisza. The Danube is the western border of the county, while the Tisza forms the eastern border over a 30 kilometres stretch. Bács-Kiskun borders six Hungarian counties as well as Yugoslavia.
Even though its territory is flat, in terms of relief and other natural features it is still more heterogeneous than other parts of the Great Plain. It can be divided into three regions: the plain by the Danube, the sand tableland between the Danube and the Tisza, and the Bácska loess tableland in the south-west. The highest point of the county, the ?Olomhegy? near Keleshalom is 174 metres above sea level, and Kalocsa, the lowest town, is located only 80 metres lower.
Bács-Kiskun's weather is determined partly by its continental climate and partly by the county's geographical characteristics. Bács-Kiskun is one of the sunniest parts of Hungary. A significant part of the county has over 2 000 hours of sunshine annually (2 051 in Kecskemét and 2076 in Baja). The average temperature is 10-10.5 degrees Celsius, but there are large fluctuations in temperature. The precipitation is not so favourable in the northern and the middle part of the county.
Poor water resources
The region's geological structure offers potential for the development of hydrocarbon and geothermal energy. Drilling for hydrocarbons began a few decades ago but led mostly to the discovery of thermal waters. However, significant deposits were discovered in the central and southeastern part of the county (in the Szank-Zsana-Kiskunhalas region) whose exploitation increased the county's role in Hungary's crude oil and natural gas production. The only other raw materials are clay and gravel, which are used in the construction industry.
There are great variations in the incidence of thermal waters in the county, with the middle and eastern parts having the best supplies. Thus, for example, in the Tiszakécske area, the temperatures in the thermal wells are above 75°C, while in other parts of the county, the temperatures are only about 35-50°C. Thermal waters are utilized mainly in public baths, but also in agriculture in some areas.
Bács-Kiskun's central areas have quite poor water reserves and it is only on its borders that the rivers Danube and Tisza assure a good supply. On the alluvial plains of these rivers, alkaline lakes and other seasonal lakes are common. Many of them are quite shallow, and in prolonged dry spells they dry up, leaving natron visible in the silt.
The central location has benefits, but also brings problems
The county has an important place in Hungary's food industry and exports. The flexible structure of its economy has been able to cope with the challenges of the transition period and, consequently, the county has gained more economic independence and has attracted considerable foreign capital. Bács-Kiskun's central geographical location, with sound traditions in research and education, should ensure continuing development in the future.
On the other hand, there is the ageing of the population, the unfavourable demographic balance, and the characteristic settlements structure with a high proportion of people living in detached farmsteads where the development of an infrastructure is very difficult. The level of domestic and international transit traffic is very high due to the county's central position and the road network is inadequate both in quantitative and qualitative terms.
One of the region's biggest problems is that of the water supply in the areas on the sand tableland. The desertification of the area threatens the region's traditional agriculture.
The tourist industry, based on the unique natural features, on the architectural heritage and the varied cultural life and recreational opportunities, has the potential to inject new blood into the economy.
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