Atlas of the Carpathian Macroregion PAVEL PTÁČEK, ALEŠ LÉTAL, FLAVIO V. R UFFINI and KATHRIN RENNER Abstract This article presents selected topics of the Atlas of the Carpathian Macroregion. By means of over 40 maps and fi gures of the most important socio-economic and natural indicators as well as concise interpretations, the Atlas shows the developments over the last 20 years as well as visualising disparities within this heterogeneous and changing region. The University of Olomouc and EURAC research elaborated this Atlas together within the scope of the Carpathian Project (EU INTERREG III B CADSES). The atlas represents an extensive harmonised database focused primarily on the socio-economic aspects of the Carpathian space. It presents the region’s advantages and potentials, and addresses the challenges of region in an innovative and coordinated manner. The Atlas of the Carpathian Macroregion contributes to the overall analysis of the Carpathian region and facilitates the implementation of the Carpathian Convention by the policy makers. In addition, the Atlas of the Car- pathian Macroregion represents a tool helping to develop the follow-up activities in the Carpathian space providing comprehensive and concise information base for areas such as population development, tourism development, cultural heritage, transborder cooperation etc. Carpathian Macroregion, atlas, maps and fi gures, socio-economic and natural indicators Zusammenfassung Atlas der karpatischen Makroregion Dieser Artikel behandelt ausgewählte Themen des Atlasses der karpatischen Makroregion. Anhand von mehr als 40 Karten und Abbildungen der wichtigsten sozio-ökonomischen und natürlichen Indikatoren mit kurzen prägnanten Interpretationen zeigt der Atlas die Entwicklungen im Verlauf der letzten 20 Jahre und veranschaulicht dabei die Disparitäten innerhalb dieser heterogenen und sich verändernden Region. Die Uni- versität von Olomouc und die EURAC-Forschung erarbeiteten diesen Atlas gemeinsam im Rahmen des Karpaten-projektes (EU INTERREG II B CADSES). Der Atlas bildet eine umfassende harmonisierte Datengrundlage, die hauptsächlich die sozio-ökonomischen Aspekte des Kar- patenraumes erfasst. Er zeigt die Vorteile und Potentiale der Region und beschreibt in innovativer und koordinierter Form die Herausforderun- gen der Region. Der Atlas der karpatischen Makroregion trägt zur Gesamtanalyse der Karpatenregion bei und erleichtert den Politikern die Umsetzung der Karpatenkonvention. Ferner ist der Atlas der karpatischen Makroregion ein Instrument, das durch eine umfassende und solide Informationsgrundlage für Bereiche wie Bevölkerungsentwicklung, Tourismusentwicklung, Kulturerbe, grenzüberschreitende Kooperation usw. zur Entwicklung von Folgemaßnahmen in dem Karpatenraum beiträgt. Karpatische Makroregion, Atlas, Karten und Abbildungen, sozio-ökonomische und natürliche Indikatoren Introduction nomic prosperity without the loss of its Carpathian Macroregion delimita- This article presents selected topics of natural and cultural characteristics. The tion the Atlas of the Carpathian Macroregion. Atlas was elaborated in the context of the The Carpathian Macroregion (CM) ex- This large mountain region represents International Framework Convention on tends for approximately 450,000 km2 one of the most important biodiversity the Protection and Sustainable Develop- and stretches beyond the area of the hotspots in Europe. At the same time ment of the Carpathians. The conven- Carpathian Mountains. It includes eight the region experiences comprehensive tion, agreed under the lead of UNEP/ countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, changes in all sectors since the collapse REC-Vienna, aims towards a sustainable Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slo- of the old political system. The Atlas development of the Carpathian mountain vakia and the Ukraine. The Macroregion attempts to document those changes as region. The University of Olomouc and is defi ned according to the administra- well as showing the current situation. EURAC research elaborated this Atlas tive regions of the Carpathian area in By means of over 40 maps and fi gures together within the scope of the Car- order to have a larger analytical database of the most important socio-economic pathian Project (EU INTERREG III B and to enable the participation of region- and natural indicators as well as concise CADSES). The Carpathian project in- al governments and their entire adminis- interpretations, the Atlas shows the de- tegrated European spatial development trative areas within the project. Each of velopments over the last 20 years as well policies with the management of the Car- the Carpathian countries has a distinct as visualising disparities within this het- pathians’ fragile mountain ecosystems administrative division originating from erogeneous and changing region. in a transnational context. Some repre- its individual historical development and The main challenge for the Carpathi- sentative maps and topics were selected contemporary view of effective adminis- an Region is to manage those signifi cant to give a better picture of Carpathian tration. Despite considerable differences changes to achieve a sustainable eco- Macroregion. in number, size and autonomy level of in- 108 Europa Regional 17(2009)2 Fig. 1: Administrative division (NUTS 3) of the Carpathian Macroregion Source: Atlas of the Carpathian Macroregion dividual administrative units, a compari- are the kraje, in Hungary, the megyék, in called the Tisia Massif (in the Danube son is possible through the EU NUTS Poland, the województwa, in Romania, basin). The folding of the mountains oc- (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for the judeţe, in Slovakia, the kraje and in curred in several stages and was com- Statistics) and LAU (Local Administra- the Ukraine, the oblasti. pleted in the Tertiary. The Southern Car- tive Units) systems, which are defi ned in pathians folded during the fi nal phase. all Carpathian countries aside from Ser- Natural Conditions bia and the Ukraine. For Serbia and the The Carpathian Macroregion is most sig- Geology Ukraine, data from local administrative nifi cantly infl uenced by the Carpathian The Carpathians are made up of three units were used where available. Austria mountain chain. The name “Carpathi- geological belts. The outer fl ysch belt is is a federal country comprised of nine ans” was fi rst recorded as Karpates composed of sedimentary rocks such as self-governing regions (Bundesländer). oros in the second century by the Greek sandstone, claystone and pudding stone. The other Carpathian countries are uni- astronomer and geographer Ptolemy. The central belt consists of metamor- tary states with varying levels of decen- Similar to the Alps, the Carpathians phic and igneous rocks and it is here tralisation. The lowest units are always have risen from a Mesozoic geosynclinal that the highest peaks of the mountain self-governing municipalities. Between sea. The curved shape of the Carpathian range are found. The inner belt is com- the municipality and state level are one range is due to the presence of older, posed of mainly volcanic rocks, typical or two hierarchical levels of administra- more resistant parts of crust. These are of the Western Carpathians. In the East- tive territorial units, out of which one the Bohemian Massif in the northwest, ern Carpathians, the fl ysch belt is more level (NUTS2 or NUT3) is typically self- the Ukrainian shield in the northeast and developed. The central belt only occurs governing: in the Czech Republic they the Moesian platform in the southeast, within the massifs near the Romanian- 109 Ukrainian border. The inner volcanic the largest inner basin of the Carpathi- one of the most pressing environmental belt is strongly represented, running ans. The lower Danube lowland Câmpia problems. The most extensive and se- continuously from the Slovak Vihorlat Română (or Vlaška nizija) is the collec- vere wind erosion occurring in Romania to Romania. The Southern Carpathians tive name given to the lowlands along the and Ukraine (steppe formation – collec- lack both the outer fl ysch and the inner lower Danube from the Iron Gate. tive open fi elds). Moderate wind erosion volcanic belt. This entire area has risen areas exist in southern Moravia (Czech since the Pliocene by approx. 1,000 m Climate and Hydrology Republic) and Hungary. Water erosion, and the tectonic lift continues in some The climate of the Carpathians and its such as sheet and rill erosion, occurr less areas. It is mainly in the Eastern Car- surrounding lowlands and basins is rath- in this region. pathians where the dynamic develop- er continental. The Carpathian mountain ment becomes apparent in earthquakes. range, however, is more humid than the Seismic Activity The area of Carpaţii de Curbură in the lowlands and basins. Precipitation lev- The seismic hazard map (SHAP) shown Arc Carpathians experiences frequent els rise with altitude and decrease from in Figure 3 was taken from the SHAP of seismic activity. A catastrophic earth- west to east. The western regions record the larger Europe-Africa-Middle East quake (magnitude 7.2) with its epicen- an average annual precipitation of 700- region,itself part of the global GSHAP tre at Munţii Vrancei hit the region on 800 mm, while the southeastern regions hazard map. The seismic hazard values March 3, 1977, claiming over 2,000 lives. average 350-400 mm and mountainous indicate peak ground acceleration with On the inner side of the curved Carpathi- areas average 1,000-1,200 mm (up to a 10 % probability