Banská Bystrica Region

Banská Bystrica Region
Banskobystrický kraj
Region

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Banska Bystrica Region
Country Slovakia
Capital Banská Bystrica
Government
 • Governor Marian Kotleba
Area
 • Total 9,454 km2 (3,650 sq mi)
Highest elevation 2,046 m (6,713 ft)
Lowest elevation 135 m (443 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 655,359
 • Density 69/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Website www.vucbb.sk

The Banská Bystrica Region (Slovak: Banskobystrický kraj, pronounced [ˈbanskobistritskiː ˈkraj]; Hungarian: Besztercebányai kerület, pronounced [ˈbɛstɛrt͡sɛbaːɲɒi ˈkɛrylɛt]) is one of the Slovak regions in the country of Slovakia in Europe. It is the largest of all Slovak regions by area. It was established in 1923; its borders were last adjusted in 1996. Banská Bystrica region consists of 514 municipalities, 24 of which have the status of town. Administrative center is its seat Banská Bystrica, the largest town of the district. Other important towns are Zvolen and Brezno.

Geography

It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km². The region is prevailingly mountains, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the Low Tatras in the north, where the highest point, Ďumbier, is located. Some of the mountain ranges in the west include Kremnica Mountains, Vtáčnik and Štiavnica Mountains. The Javorie and Krupina Plain ranges are located in the centre. The Slovak Ore Mountains are running from the central areas to the east, along with its subdivisions (e.g. Poľana, Veporské vrchy, Muránska planina and Spiš-Gemer Karst). Lower lying areas are located in the south, represented by the Southern Slovak Basin, running along the borders with Hungary. Major rivers are the Hron in the northern half, Ipeľ in the south and centre, Rimava and for short length Slaná in the east. As for administrative division, the region borders Žilina Region in the north, Prešov Region in the north-east, Košice Region in the east, Hungarian Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county in the south-east, Nógrád county in the south and Pest county in the south-west, Nitra Region in the west and Trenčín Region in the north-west.

Demographics

The population density in the region is 69.32 inhabitants per km², which is the lowest of all Slovak regions and much lower than the country's average (110 per km²). The largest towns are Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Lučenec and Rimavská Sobota. According to the 2014 census, there were 655,359 inhabitants in the region, with a majority of Slovaks (83.7%), but there is a substantial Hungarian minority (11.8%) along the border with Hungary, as well as smaller minorities of Roma (2.3%) and Czechs (<1%).[1]

Administrative division

The Banská Bystrica Region consists of 13 districts (okresy).

There are 513 municipalities, of which 24 are towns (in bold), where the 56% of the region's population live.

References

  1. ↑ POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2001 - Tab. 3a
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