Poland, Katowice

Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers (tributaries of the Oder and the Vistula). Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about 50 km from the Silesian Beskids (part of the Carpathian Mountains) and about 100 km from Sudetes Mountains.

Katowice has been the capital of Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999. Previously, it was the capital of the Katowice Voivodeship, and before then, of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesian Industry Area and the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union. Its population is 317,220 (2006), within a greater urban area populated by about 3.5 million people.

History

The area around Katowice, Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians from its earliest history. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piasts dynasty (until its extinction). From 1335 it was a part of the Czech lands.

The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal) deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on the coal mining and steel industries, which took off during the Industrial Revolution. But recently, due to economic reforms, there is a shift away from heavy industry, and towards small businesses.

Severe ecological damage to the natural environment occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist government in the People's Republic of Poland, but recent changes in regulations,procedures and policies of post-communist Polish governments have reversed much of the harm that was done.

Geography

In administrative terms, Katowice is an urban community in the eastern part of Upper Silesia, now in Silesian Voivodeship in south-west Poland, within the central portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. It borders the towns of Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Mysłowice, Lędziny, Tychy, Mikołów, Ruda Śląska and Czeladz.

Economy

Katowice is a large coal and steel centre. It has several coal mines (Wujek Coal Mine, Mysłowice-Wesoła Coal Mine, Wieczorek Coal Mine, Murcki Coal Mine, Staszic Coal Mine) organized into unions - Katowice Coal Holdingcompany (pl: Katowicki Holding Węglowy), two steelworks (Huta Baildon, Huta Ferum), and one foundry of non-ferrous metals (Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice).

Katowice is also a large business and trade fair centre. Every year in Katowice International Fair and Spodek, tens of international trade fairs are organized. Katowice has the second largest business centre in Poland (after Warsaw Bussines Centre).

Transport

Public Transport
The public transportation system of the Katowice and Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union consists of four branches - buses, streetcars, trolleybuses and the regional rail united in the KZK GOP.
Trams
Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest streetcar systems in the World, in existence since 1894. The system spreads for more than 50 kilometres (east-west) and covers fourteen districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union.
Railway
Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa (known by its acronym LHS, English: Broad gauge metallurgy line) is the longest broad gauge railway line in Poland. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the standard gauge for its railways, unlike Russia and the other former countries of the Soviet Union.