Ústí nad Labem Region

Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústecký kraj
Region

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Coordinates: 50°31′N 13°51′E / 50.51°N 13.85°E / 50.51; 13.85Coordinates: 50°31′N 13°51′E / 50.51°N 13.85°E / 50.51; 13.85
Country Czech Republic
Capital Ústí nad Labem
Districts Děčín District, Litoměřice District, Louny District, Most District, Teplice District, Ústí nad Labem District
Government
 • Governor Oldřich Bubeníček
Area
 • Total 5,334.52 km2 (2,059.67 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,113 m (3,652 ft)
Population (03/2011)
 • Total 852,554
 • Density 160/km2 (410/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code CZ-US
Vehicle registration U
Website http://www.kr-ustecky.cz/
Districts of Ústí nad Labem Region

Ústí nad Labem Region or Ústecký Region (Czech: Ústecký kraj), also Region Aussig (after the German name of the capital), is an administrative unit (Czech: kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical land of Bohemia and the whole country. It is named after its capital Ústí nad Labem. It covers the majority of the former North Bohemia province and is part of the broader area of North Bohemia.

The region neighbors with the Liberec Region (east), the Central Bohemian Region (south), Plzeň Region (shortly in the southwest), the Karlovy Vary Region (west) and Saxony (Germany, in the north). The region is divided into seven districts: Děčín District, Chomutov District, Litoměřice District, Louny District, Most District, Teplice District and Ústí nad Labem District; and further into 16 ORP districts (administrative districts of the municipalities with extended competence).

The area of the Ústí region comprises a unique mixture of very different types of landscape. Between the high escarpment of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory) range and the picturesque Bohemian Central Uplands (České středohoří) with many volcanic hills, we can find vast areas devastated by surface coal mining (the North Bohemian Basin), partly being recultivated into an artificial landscape with ponds, plains and groves. The Elbe river runs through the Central Uplands in a winding gorge of the Porta Bohemica. Southern part of the region is flat and fertile (Polabí), while in the northeast there are sandstone formations of the so-called Bohemian Switzerland, including the monumental Pravčická brána (gate).

The location predestines the region a significant position in the international economic and cultural co-operation. The geographical position (proximity to Prague and Germany) is therefore a significant factor in region’s development.[1]

Population

As of June 30, 2013 the region had 826,037 inhabitants. It ranks fifth in the Czech Republic. Population density is higher than the national average, and the region is the fourth most densely populated in the country. The most densely populated areas of the region are the areas on the brown coal basin while areas with a lower population density are the Ore Mountains and the Louny District and Litoměřice District, in which predominantly smaller country settlements are placed. The largest municipality is Ústí nad Labem, the region's seat, with 95,477 inhabitants.

The Ústí nad Labem region is notable for its relatively young population; the average age is 39.8 years. The Ústí nad Labem Region ranks second-highest in the Czech Republic in the number of live births per 1,000 inhabitants together with the Liberec Region (11.5), but also has one of the highest mortality rates (10.6 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants). The Ústí nad Labem Region ranks second nationally in the number of divorces per 1,000 inhabitants (3.4) and first in the number of abortions per 100 live births (47.5).

The region has 46 cities, in which 80.7% of its inhabitants reside, and 354 villages. 54% of the region's villages have a population greater than 500, but only 5.8% of the region's inhabitants live there.[2]

The composition of the population according to nationality:

Cities and towns The table below shows the population of the largest cities and towns of the region as of 31 December 2012.

Name Population[3] Area (km²) District
Ústí nad Labem 93,747 94 Ústí nad Labem
Most 67,490 87 Most
Teplice 50,330 24 Teplice
Děčín 50,289 118 Děčín
Chomutov 49,187 29 Chomutov
Litvínov 25,406 41 Most
Litoměřice 24,316 18 Litoměřice
Jirkov 20,230 17 Chomutov
Žatec 19,203 43 Louny
Louny 18,575 24 Louny
Kadaň 18,030 66 Chomutov
Bílina 15,852 32 Teplice
Varnsdorf 15,730 26 Děčín
Klášterec nad Ohří 15,027 54 Chomutov
Krupka 13,390 47 Teplice
Roudnice nad Labem 13,005 17 Litoměřice
Rumburk 11,147 25 Děčín

Other significant towns and villages of the Ústí nad Labem Region

Geography

České středohoří

The Region has a total area of 5,335 km2 which accounts for 6.8% of the territory of the Czech Republic. From the geographical point of view the region’s surface is very diverse.

The area along the German borders is dominated by the Ore Mountains (Czech: ‘’Krušné hory’’) the Sandstone Rocks of Labe (or Labské pískovce) and the Lužice Mountains. The Ore Mountains are geologically very old and they are formed of volcanic rocks or Palaeozoic schist.

In contrast, the south-eastern part of the region is formed by the plains that originate from Mesozoic era (Czech Cretaceous Formation, Czech: ‘’ Česká křídová tabule’’). The Bohemian Central Uplands (Czech: ‘’České Středohoří’’) and the Říp Mountain (which is, according to a legend, associated with Czech ancestors coming to Bohemia) are both located in this area. The Bohemian Central Uplands (with its highest peak Milešovka) originated from a volcanic activity in the Tertiary and has a unique landscape with many contrasts and picturesque secluded spots.

The highest point of the region (1225 m) lies on the hillside of Klínovec, which is the highest peak of the Ore Mountains. However, the top of the mountain is located in the territory of the Karlovy Vary Region. Not taking into account bottoms of surface mines, the lowest point of the region (and at the same time of the Czech Republic) is with 115 m above the sea level the surface of the Elbe River at Hřensko.

The Elbe River is the largest watercourse on the territory of the Region. Other significant rivers in the region are Ohře (Eger), Bílina, Ploučnice and Kamenice, all being tributaries of Elbe. The largest water area is the Nechranice reservoir built on the Ohře River in the western part of the region. Furthermore, a number of mineral and thermal springs can be found in the area.[4]

Economy

SHD Most tower in Most

In 2010, the region’s gross domestic product accounted for 6.6% of the national GDP. The regional GDP per capita was 83.4% of the national average. The regional employment is approximately 362 thousand people. In 2013, the average wage in the region was CZK 22,172 (EUR 870). The unemployment rate was 11%.[5]

The Ústecký Region is one of the most industrialized areas in Central Europe. The economy used to be based on metallurgy and the chemical industry, though at present it is more heterogeneous. The region's traditional branches of industry are chemicals and petrochemicals, engineering and thermal energy.[6] Historically, economic importance of the Ústí nad Labem Region was based on its reserves of raw materials, especially deposits of brown coal, quality glass and foundry sands and building stone. The brown coal basin stretches under the hillsides of the Ore Mountains from Ústí nad Labem to Kadaň.

The region is considered part of the so-called Black Triangle, an area of heavily industrialization and environmental damage on the three-way border of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.[7]

In terms of economic structure, a number of distinct areas can be defined within the region. Firstly, an area with highly developed industrial production is concentrated in the foothills of the Ore Mountains (the Chomutov, Most, Teplice and partially also Ústí nad Labem District). Important economic sectors are the energy industry, coal mining, mechanical engineering, and chemical and glass industry. Secondly, the area around Litoměřice and Louny is known for their production of hops and vegetables. The areas along the Elbe River and Ohře River are well-known fruit growing regions and sometimes they are referred to as the Garden of Bohemia. Recently, the area around Most has become a known wine-growing region, in which wine is grown mainly on lands that were reclaimed after brown coal mining. Thirdly, the area of the Ore Mountains with its sparse population has limited economic activities. Similarly, in the area of Děčín is neither an area with concentration of heavy industry nor an agricultural area.

In recent years the region has been experiencing an influx of foreign investment in various branches, namely in the automotive, chemical, engineering, electrical engineering and food industries. The focus is shifting towards light industry and is becoming more environmentally friendly.[8]

Among the most important employers of the region are: Mostecká uhelná společnost (coal mining company), Severočeské doly (coal mining company), Chemopetrol (petrochemical company), and Krajská zdravotní, a.s. (healthcare provider).[9]

Some main European roads and railway lines connecting Berlin via Prague to Vienna or Budapest, together with the Elbe (Czech: ‘’Labe’’) water way, cross Ústí nad Labem Region. The region is also crossed by the motorway D8 which connects Prague with the German border. Road I/13 is another important route connecting Karlovy Vary Region with Chomutov, Most, Teplice, Ústí nad Labem, Děčín and Liberec Region.

Agricultural land covers nearly 52% of the region’s area, forests 30% and water areas 2%.[10] Agricultural production is focused on hops, fruits and vegetables.

Places of interest

References

  1. ↑ The Usti Region, Available online at: http://www.kr-ustecky.cz/EN/
  2. ↑ The Usti Region, Available online at: http://www.kr-ustecky.cz/EN/
  3. ↑ Bilance počtu obyvatel ve městech v roce, Available online at: http://www.czso.cz/xu/redakce.nsf/i/bilance_poctu_obyvatel_ve_mestech_v_roce_2012
  4. ↑ Characteristics of the Ústecký Region, Available online at: http://www.czso.cz/eng/redakce.nsf/i/xu
  5. ↑ Charakteristika kraje, Available online at: http://www.czso.cz/xu/redakce.nsf/i/charakteristika_kraje
  6. ↑ Usti nad Labem, Available online at: http://www.czechinvest.org/en/usti
  7. ↑ http://www.umwelt.sachsen.de/umwelt/download/luft/Bericht_Luftqualitaet_Schwarzes_Dreieck_2002.pdf page 9
  8. ↑ Usti nad Labem, Available online at: http://www.czechinvest.org/en/usti
  9. ↑ Characteristics of the Ústecký Region, Available online at: http://www.czso.cz/eng/redakce.nsf/i/xu
  10. ↑ Characteristics of the Ústecký Region, Available online at: http://www.czso.cz/eng/redakce.nsf/i/xu
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