Silesian Metropolis

This article is about the political and economic association of local municipalities. For the geographic urban area, see Katowice urban area and Upper Silesian metropolitan area. For the industrial region, see Upper Silesian Industrial Region.
Silesian Metropolis
Metropolia Silesia

Katowice Financial Center
Silesian Metropolis
Coordinates: 50°15′N 19°0′E / 50.250°N 19.000°E / 50.250; 19.000Coordinates: 50°15′N 19°0′E / 50.250°N 19.000°E / 50.250; 19.000
Country Poland
Voivodship Silesia
Council Zarząd GZM
Government
 • Head of Council Marcin Krupa
Area
 • City 1,586.16 km2 (612.42 sq mi)
Population (30 June 2015)
 • City 2,204,325
 • Density 1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
 • Urban 2,746,000
 • Metro 5,294,000
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s) +48 32
Vehicle registration SD, SG, SH, SI, SJ, SK, SL, SM, SO, ST, SW, SY, SZ, SBE, SBL, SGL, SPI, SRS, SMI, STA
Economy service industries, business
Highway E40 / A4:
Berlin-MAUS-Kiev
E75 / A1:
Tricity-MAUS-Bratislava
Railway Berlin-MAUS
Vienna-MAUS
Prague-MAUS
Hamburg-MAUS
Bratislava-MAUS-Warsaw
Airport Katowice International Airport
Website www.gzm.org.pl

The Silesian Metropolis (Polish: Metropolia Silesia),[1][2] formally Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia (Polish: Górnośląski Związek Metropolitalny) is an association of municipalities composed of 14 adjacent cities in the Polish Province of Silesia. The seat of the city council is Katowice, the largest district of the Silesian Metropolis. It is often confused as a term referring the local conurbation in a geographical context, the Katowice Urban Area and Upper Silesian metropolitan area.

The Silesian Metropolis as a Katowice area lies within one of the largest urban areas in European Union. Its population is 2,204,325 (2015), within an urban zone, with a population of 2,746,460 according to Eurostat[3] and also part of the wider Silesian metropolitan area, with a population of 5,294,000 according to the European Spatial Planning Observation Network.[4]

It was created by local authorities with little or no actual public discourse. The intent to form the union was formally stated by the mayors of the participating cities, who signed a declaration to this effect on 9 January 2006 in Świętochłowice.[5] The Union's registration was signed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration of the Republic of Poland (Polish: MSWiA) on 8 June 2007 with the city of Katowice.[6][7]

In 2006 and 2007, the union planned to unite these cities into one entity, "Silesia".

The aim of the union is the creation of a strong metropolitan center with pooled resources, an internationally competitive profile and unified management of common infrastructure.

Goals

Night photograph of a school
School in Katowice at night

The main goals of the union include the following:

The effects of the union's activity include: improvement in managing the consortium, strengthening its economic muscle and increasing the competitive standing of the cities of the MAUS, coordination of public relations and promoting the member cities, and underscoring the importance of the region.

Geography

Location

The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia spans urban communities in the historical regions of Upper Silesia (the south-eastern part of Silesia) as well as Lesser Poland's Zagłębie Dąbrowskie, Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland, within the northern portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin between the Vistula and Oder rivers, basically resembling just a part of the medieval Duchy of Bytom and annexing the later industrial area, formerly occupied by the Silesian-American Corporation to the east of it. Nine million people live within 100 km of Silesian Stadium at the MAUS center. Six European capitals are located within 600 kilometres from MAUS: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw.

Districts

Outside of the area, the formation of the union appears to have less support than within it. Originally 17 cities were to enter into the union; due to technicalities in Polish law which could have prevented its legalization, only 14 of the 17 cities (that is, those with the legal status of an urban county) proceeded with forming the union.

Map of district of Silesian Metropolis

The constituent cities in decreasing order by population are as follows (data of 2008):[8]

DistrictPopulationArea (km²)Density (km²)
Katowice312,201164.671,896
Sosnowiec222,58691.062,444
Gliwice197,393133.881,474
Zabrze189,06280.402,352
Bytom184,76569.442,661
Ruda Śląska144,58477.731,860
Tychy129,77681.641,590
Dąbrowa Górnicza128,795188.73682
Chorzów113,67833.243,420
Jaworzno95,520152.67626
Mysłowice74,91265.751,139
Siemianowice Śląskie71,62125.52,809
Piekary Śląskie59,06139.981,477
Świętochłowice54,52513.314,097
Total1,978,4791,2181,624.4

The borders between the constituent cities have been for decades artificial, and sometimes absurd; for example, one side of a street would belong to one city and the other to another. Nationally, the union strives to address several problems including:

Bordering cities

Cities bordering directly on the Silesian Metropolis (2008) are shown below.[8] Some of these cities (Będzin, Czeladź and Knurów) declared their willingness to join the Silesian Metropolis, but due to legal issues canceled their candidacy.

CityPopulationAreaDensity
Tarnowskie Góry60,97583.72 km²728/km²
Będzin58,63937.37 km²1,569/km²
Chrzanów39,45238.32 km²1,030/km²
Knurów39,44933.95 km²1,162/km²
Mikołów38,69879.20 km²489/km²
Czeladź34,07216.38 km²2,080/km²
Łaziska Górne21,94220.07 km²1,093/km²
Trzebinia20,12831.94 km²630/km²
Bieruń19,46440.67 km²479/km²
Pyskowice19,10430.89 km²618/km²
Radzionków17,16313.20 km²1,300/km²
Lędziny16,26231.48 km²517/km²
Wojkowice9,36812.79 km²732/km²
Imielin8,01028.00 km²286/km²
Sławków6,86636.67 km²187/km²
Total409,592534.65 km²766.1/km²
Total with MAUS2,388,0711752,65 km²1195,25/km²

Agglomeration

MAUS is the centre of the largest urban area in Poland and one of largest in the European Union; the Katowice urban area has a population of 2.7 million. The area flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries, thanks to industry and natural resources. The conurbation consists of about 40 neighbouring cities, and the Silesian metropolitan area includes over 50 cities with a total population of 5 million. Katowice is also in the middle of a 7-million-population megalopolis, stretching from the Kraków region through Katowice to the Ostrava region.

Climate

The area has a humid continental climate. The average temperature is 8.2 degrees Celsius (average −1.5 °C (29 °F) in January, and 18 °C (64 °F) in July). Annual rainfall averages 608 mm. The area's characteristic light breezes blow at about 2 m/s from the west, through the Moravian Gate.

Climate data for Katowice, central district of Silesian Metropolis
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 1
(34)		 3
(37)		 7
(45)		 13
(55)		 19
(66)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 18
(64)		 13
(55)		 6
(43)		 2
(36)		 12.4
(54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 3.0
(37.4)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.5
(56.3)		 16.0
(60.8)		 18.0
(64.4)		 17.5
(63.5)		 13.5
(56.3)		 9.0
(48.2)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 8.2
(46.8)
Average low °C (°F) −4
(25)		 −4
(25)		 −1
(30)		 3
(37)		 8
(46)		 11
(52)		 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 9
(48)		 5
(41)		 0
(32)		 −3
(27)		 4.0
(39.2)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 3.04
(1.197)		 2.92
(1.15)		 3.24
(1.276)		 3.68
(1.449)		 5.29
(2.083)		 5.95
(2.343)		 7.37
(2.902)		 5.11
(2.012)		 4.49
(1.768)		 3.52
(1.386)		 3.76
(1.48)		 3.28
(1.291)		 60.85
(23.957)
Source: MSN Weather[11]

Economy

MAUS is an area of heavy concentration of industry, including coal, steel, energy, automotive, machinery and chemical. Over the last two decades, the service industry has become increasingly important.

Industry

Silesia City Center - a large shopping mall in Katowice, on the grounds of the old Gottwald coal mine

MAUS is still a prominent center of Poland's coal and metal industries, and home to about a dozen coal mines operated by Katowice Coal Holding ((Polish) Katowicki Holding Węglowy) and Coal Company ((Polish) Kompania Węglowa); several steel processing plants (Huta Baildon, Huta Ferum, Huta Batory, Huta Pokój, Huta Florian, Huta Jedność, Huta Zabrze and Huta Zgoda); a foundry of nonferrous metals (Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice); about a dozen power and generating plants (Chorzów, Halemba, Jaworzno, Łagisza, Będzin, Chorzów, EC Nowa, Katowice, Miechowice, Szombierki, Szopienice, Tychy and Zabrze); two automotive plants (FSM and General Motors Manufacturing Poland); two plants producing military vehicles (Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne SA maker of the KTO Rosomak, and Zakłady Mechaniczne "Bumar-Łabędy" SA, maker of the PT-91 main battle tank), several chemical companies (including fertilizers and paints) and other industrial establishments.

Katowice Business Centre (Katowickie Centrum Biznesu)

Business and commerce

Katowice is a large and dynamic business and trade-fair centre. Tens of international exhibitions take place every year on the Katowice International Fairgrounds and at the Spodek arena. Katowice is also the site of the second-largest business centre in Poland (second to the Warsaw business centre). Skyscrapers are located along Chorzowska and Korfantego streets in the city centre. The newest office buildings in Katowice are the Chorzowska 50 and Altus Skyscraper. Several other large office buildings are currently under construction (as of 2011). Katowice and MAUS house the Katowice Special Economic Zone (Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna).

Transport

Public Transport

Tram in Silesian Metropolis

Public transportation consists of four branches. Additional services are operated by private companies and the state-owned railways (regional rail).

Trams

Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram systems in the world, in existence since 1894. The system extends more than 50 kilometers east-west, covering the following cities of the union and adjacent communities: Katowice, Będzin, Bytom, Chorzów, Czeladź, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Gliwice, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Świętochłowice, and Zabrze.

Trolleybuses

Trolleybuses in Tychy are operated by MZK Tychy.

Buses

Buses and trams connect at the KZK GOP.

Roads

Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa (Express road S86)

The area lacks a good circular road system; most east-west and north-south traffic goes directly through the city centre.

Airports

Terminal B waiting room at Katowice International Airport

The MAUS area is served by Katowice International Airport, located some 30 km north of Katowice's centre. With over 20 international and domestic destinations, it is by far the biggest airport in Silesia (with about 2.5 million passengers served in 2008). As of 2011, it is the third-busiest airport in Poland and growing rapidly. In July 2007 Terminal B was added, increasing the airport's capacity to 3.6 million passengers per year. Besides passenger traffic, the airport is also Poland's second-largest cargo airport, limited only by the size of the existing cargo terminal. Airlines operating from the airport include: Air France, Centralwings, EuroLOT, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa and Wizz Air. There are proposals to convert the sport-aviation-serving Katowice-Muchowiec Airport into a city airport, a second international airport for lower, business-oriented traffic.

Railways

Standard gauge

Train transportation in the region is inexpensive and fairly efficient. The main railroad station is the Katowice Central Station with numerous regional, national and international passenger destinations. There are direct connections to Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Prague, Zilina (in Slovakia), Budapest, Kiev and Moscow. There are two other major hubs (Gliwice and Sosnowiec) and many smaller stations.

Katowice Central Station at night

Silesian rail has a long and proud tradition, starting in 1846 when the first railroad (the Upper Silesia Railway, at that time called Oberschlesische Eisenbahn) reached the area. MAUS still contains some of the main railway nodes and exchange points of Silesia and Poland.

Broad gauge

A Broad gauge railway line, Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa, is notable for its ability to transport goods directly between the area covered by the Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Narrow gauge

The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia also inhabits an area which is home to the longest network of narrow gauge railway in Europe. 785 mm (2 ft 6 9⁄10 in) lines are found only in the Upper Silesia region. Former industrial trains today provide a service for tourists from Bytom to the local 'lake district' and other attractions. A 900 mm (2 ft 11 1⁄2 in) recreational line 4.2 km long still operates in the Amusement-Recreation Park in Chorzów, Upper Silesia.

Water transport

Education

University of Silesia Department of Law and Administration
Silesian Library in Katowice

The area is the second-largest academic centre in Poland (after Warsaw).[12] At the Silesian Metropolis works more than 40 universities and institutions on the rights of the university, which educates 11% of the national number of students.[13] The most important institutions of post-secondary education are:

Culture

Katowice, Silesian Theatre

Theatres

Music

Bytom, Silesian Opera

Cinemas

Museums

Katowice, Silesian Museum
Bytom, Upper Silesian Museum

Media

Spodek in Katowice

Performance series

Art galleries

Nature and recreation

Parks

Dinosaur Valley, Silesian Zoological Garden in Silesian Central Park (reconstructions of prehistoric reptiles)

Nature preserves

Tourism

Castles and palaces

Historical churches

Cathedral in Katowice

Sports

Katowice and other district of the Silesian Metropolis has a long sporting tradition and hosted the highly successful international championships (continental and the world), therein final of EuroBasket 2009 and 1975 European Athletics Indoor Championships, 1975 European Amateur Boxing Championships, 1976 World Ice Hockey Championships, 1957, 1985 European Weightlifting Championships, 1974, 1982 World Wrestling Championships, 1991 World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, 2011 Women's European Union Amateur Boxing Championships, 2014 FIVB Men's World Championship and some other.

The Silesian Stadium is located in the center. It was a national stadium of Poland, more than 50 international matches of Poland national football team were played here as well as around 30 matches of UEFA competitions. There were also a Speedway World Championship, Speedway Grand Prix of Europe and many concerts featuring international stars.

Tourists can relax playing tennis or squash, doing water sports also sailing (for example — in Dolina Trzech Stawów), horse-riding (in Wesoła Fala and Silesian culture and refreshment park), cycling or going to one of numerous excellently equipped fitness clubs. Near the city center are sporting facilities like swimming pools (for example "Bugla", "Rolna") and in neighbourhood — golf courses (in Siemianowice Śląskie).

Best-known clubs

Other clubs

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Metropolia Silesia - official page
  2. ↑ Miasta Metropolii Silesia promują się w Mediolanie - page of local government
  3. ↑ "CityProfiles: Katowice". The Urban Audit. Retrieved 2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ "Study on Urban Functions (Project 1.4.3)" - European Spatial Planning Observation Network, 2007
  5. ↑ Uchwały Rady Miejskiej w Świętochłowicach w 2006 roku (en: Resolutions of the City Council in Świętochłowice in 2006), Świętochłowice 2006
  6. ↑ (Polish) www.esil.pl - "Rejestracja Górnośląskiego Związku Metropolitalnego", 27 June 2007
  7. ↑ [http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.mswia.gov.pl%2Fdownload.php%3Fs%3D4%26id%3D5&ei=STpfUK2JAo7JswaqkYHIBA&usg=AFQjCNEfvRHU2qhPbChvI7MhLNjCJMWeNQ "Wykaz Związków Międzygminnych"] - Ministry of Interior and Administration, 2012
  8. 1 2 (Polish) Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2008 - Central Statistical Office in Poland
  9. ↑ (Polish) Pozytywny wizerunek regionu Źród³em sukcesu śl¹skich firm
  10. ↑ (Polish) http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/4/4370/m4370104.jpg.
  11. ↑ "Local weather forecast: Katowice".
  12. ↑ (English) http://www.gzm.org.pl/eng/images/plansze/edu2.jpg
  13. ↑ "Metropolia Silesia: Edukacja" - Official page of Silesian Metropolis
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