Charakterystyka geograficzna Śląska

• Authors: Gerard Kosmala

Title variants

EN

The geographical properties of Silesia

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

This article contains basic geographical information about Silesia, useful as a starting point for further historical analysis. Silesia is a region of Central Europe, located on boarders between nations. At different points in its history it used to be a part of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. The rough outline of the shape of Silesia was formed in the Paleozoic Era, finally reaching its ultimate form in the Cenozoic Era. Same holds true for both the Sudeten Mountains as well as the entire tectonic foreland, which was shaped by a glacier. Silesian land always was, and still is, rich in mineral resources, such as: building rocks, coal, and copper. Only some of which can be found in abundance. The shape of the terrain results from the overall structure of the hydrographical network which, with the exception of the eastern frontiers, is symmetrical, with the river Oder, which flows from the southeast to the northwest, being the axis of symmetry. Reservoirs have been built upon many rivers for both energy related and retention purposes. Due to utter and complete lack of lakes these reservoirs are the largest bodies of water in Silesia. Temperate, transitory climate with an annual average of 600-700 mm of rainfall and average annual temperature of 8 ºC results in conditions favourable for plant vegetation. Considering the abundance of fertile land one can easily understand why the agricultural scenery dominates the landscape. This, along with the development of industry at the base of the Sudeten Mountains, as well as the south-eastern part of Upper Silesia, constitutes the reason for the comparatively small amount of woodland areas. Silesia is an area heavily altered by human activity. The dominant landscape is culturally harmonious, with the exception of industrial districts, which often are the sight of more long-lasting changes, which are often irreversible.

Keywords

EN

SILESIA; GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION; NATURAL CONDITIONS

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Wrocławski. Wydział Nauk Historycznych i Pedagogicznych. Instytut Historyczny
• Journal: Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 67
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 7–30

Contributors

author

Gerard Kosmala

• Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach, Zakład Turystyki Aktywnej i Przygodowej, ul. Mikołowska 72A, 40-065 Katowice