Rejony geograficzno-gospodarcze Podhala
- Year of publication: 2006
- Source: Show
- Pages: 192-208
- DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ksm200611
- PDF: ksm/10/ksm200611.pdf
Geographico‑Economic Regions of Podhale
The geographical region od Podhale covers nearly 2,000 km2 , i.e. 0,6 % of the total area of Poland. Within Podhale lie also the subregions of Orava (the Upper Orava) and Spisz (Spiskie Zamagurze), both being part of Hungary since colonization eve to the end of the First World War. “Podhale” as a geographical term was introduced and popularized in the prewar period by S. Leszczycki in his book entitled “Region Podhala” (1936). Its scope was that of the Nowy Targ poviat (district).
The considerable natural variety of Podhale and different history of its parts were reflected in their socio-economic and cultural development. The authors want to stress that Spisz was the province of Hungary over 6 centuries, and Orava – for 400 years. Although the language and Catholic religion were kept, ways ferent. The remaining parts of Podhale were connected with Poland, and due to economic expansion of Hungary, this perifrontier zone was managed also from the strategical point of view.
As regard the natural criteria and conditions of local societies development, Podhale is divided into 8 geographico-economic regions. These are: the Tatras, the Rocky (Skalne) Podhale, Nowy Targ Basin, Spisz, Orava, Gorce Mts., Ziemia Pienińska and Ziemia Rabczańska. Their borders are natural: these are mountain ranges, watersheds, river valleys or bogs, often with an accordance to geomorphological and geological structures.