Statistická ročenka Pardubického kraje 2003
Characteristics of the Pardubický Region
The Pardubický Region is located in the East of Bohemia. The position of the Region is further determined by the neighbouring Regions: Středočeský, Královéhradecký, Olomoucký, Jihomoravský and Vysočina. The Královéhradecký, Liberecký and Pardubický Regions together form a NUTS 2 territory – The Northeast. A part of the northeast border of the Region is also the national border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The borders of the Region are further formed by southern parts of Orlické hory (the Eagle Mountains) and westernmost parts of the Hrubý Jeseník Mountain Range. The highland parts of Železné hory (the Iron Mountains) together with Žďárské vrchy (the Žďár Hills) line the south and southeast, while the Labe (Elbe) River and the Labe lowland are situated in the central and western parts. Orlické hory, Žďárské vrchy, and Železné hory are protected landscape areas.
The area of 4 519 km2 (5.73% of the CR’s area) ranks the Region fifth smallest among the Regions of the CR. Agricultural land makes 60.7% of the total area, with arable land making 44.6% of agricultural land. Forest land covers 29.4% of the Region’s area. The highest point of the Region is the Králický Sněžník Mount (1 424 m above sea level), which is the third highest point in the CR. The whole of the Králický Sněžník Mount area, involving remains of original vegetation and moorland, has been declared a national nature reserve. The lowest point of the Region is the surface of the Labe River at Kojice (202 m above sea level), near the western border of the Region.
The quality of the environment varies throughout the Region, owing to a great diversity in natural conditions, settlement, industrial and agricultural activities. It is the foothill and upland areas lacking any rather large settlements of central and northern parts of the Ústí nad Orlicí District and southern parts of the Chrudim District that suffer from the impact of human activities in the least degree. The greatest degree of that impact is seen in the area of concentrated industrial activities, settlement and traffic – the Pardubice area. Here, the environmental damage, resulting particularly from chemical and power industry (the Paramo and Synthesia chemical works, the Opatovice and Chvaletice power plants), has grown to involve the most serious environmental problems within the whole CR.
Regarding water management, the Pardubický Region is an extraordinary important area with excessive water supplies, whose significance reaches beyond the regional level, of ground water as well as surface water drawn from watercourses. The Region involves many headstreams, without any inflow pollution from other catchment areas. A rather low degree of wastewater pollution is seen in middle and lower parts of watercourses, except for the Labe River and the upper course of the Svitava River. The three largest water surface areas are the Seč Reservoir (on the Chrudimka River), the Bohdaneč Pond (on the Opatovice River Channel) and the Pastviny Dam (on the Divoká Orlice River). Some parts of the Region are under large-scale protection measures, i.e. they involve water protection zones, or natural water accumulation protected areas (CHOPAV). The ground water supplies are connected particularly with synclines of the Czech Cretaceous Basin in eastern Bohemia (the Ústí nad Orlicí District and the Svitavy District) and with the Labe quaternary sediments (the Pardubice District).
The Pardubický Region comprises four Districts (Chrudim, Pardubice, Svitavy, and Ústí nad Orlicí), and 452 municipalities as at 1 January 2003, which is the sixth highest number of municipalities among the 14 Regions in the CR). The average cadastral area of municipality 10.0 km2 is the third smallest in the CR and the average mean number of population 1 119 inhabitants ranks the Region tenth in the CR. And it is the cooperation among municipalities that is the basis for the gradual process of forming micro-regions, which is one of the Region’s strengths that should contribute to its overall development. Of the Region’s population, 14.1% live in municipalities under 500 inhabitants, which is by two thirds higher than the national average. There is seen a gradual increase in the share of municipalities of the population between 500 – 1 999, which now makes 23.4%, being by one third higher than the national average. The percentage of population living in municipalities of 2 000 – 9 999 inhabitants is 21.5% in the Region, which is by one tenth higher than the national average. The percentage of population living in municipalities of over 10 000 inhabitants makes 40.9%, which is about by one third lower than the national average. In the Region’s capital Pardubice, there live 17.7% of the population of the Region.
The Region’s population was 506 534 as at 31 December 2002, which is about 5% of the CR’s total population. In comparison with previous years there is a slight constant decrease – comparing to 2001, the decrease is by 1.3. The following Districts rank among the most populated: Pardubice, Ústí nad Orlicí, Chrudim and Svitavy, respectively. The following towns rank among the most populated: Pardubice, Chrudim and Svitavy. Regarding the distribution of the population by age in 2002 when compared to 2001, there was a decrease in the under 15 age group, which was influenced by the decrease in births, while an increase was observed in the 65+ age group (by 3.3). The ratio of 65+ population to that under 15 (the dependency ratio) amounted to 87.3 in 2002 (in 2001 it was 85.1) The dependency ratio for females in 2002 was 109.1, while for males it was only 66.6. This big difference is caused mainly by lower age of males at death but also by higher share of boys born.
One of the fundamental requirements to reverse the disadvantageous demographic development is to stimulate housing construction. In 2002, the Pardubický Region ranked second in terms of the number of completed multi-dwelling buildings per 1 000 inhabitants (the first was the Capital City of Prague). The highest number of dwellings within the Region was completed in the District of Pardubice (556 dwellings); on the contrary, the lowest number of completed dwellings in 2002 was in the District of Chrudim (only 170 dwellings) followed by the District of Svitavy (263).
The 2002 average registered number of employees was 129 301 F/T equivalent persons, which is by 1.6% less than the 2001 figure. Regarding the number of employees in relation to the breakdown by industrial activities a high percentage of employees is reported in industry (46.3%), education (10.5%), agriculture (7.8%), and human health activities (7.3%). Taking a long-term view, the trend of restructuring of the Region’s economy is observed, with the transfer from the primary and secondary spheres to the tertiary sphere taking place. The average monthly gross wage in the Pardubický Region has been experiencing a continual increase over last years, amounting to CZK 13 539, which makes 85.4% of the national average. Regarding industrial breakdown, the highest average wages were paid by bank and insurance houses (CZK 24 720). Drawing an inter-region comparison, as for average gross wages of the employed in industry the Pardubický Region is the last.
The registered unemployment rate was 8.66% as at 31 December 2002 (the seventh place among the Regions), which is by 0.73% higher than the 2001 rate. The highest unemployment rates are reported in the Svitavy District (12.41%) and the Chrudim District (10.01%). The registered number of the unemployed amounts to 21 865 persons and makes 4.3% of the unemployed in the whole CR. Almost one third of job applicants is formed by the 20-29 age group. Females make about half (51.2%) of the unemployed; persons with a reduced capability to work make 15.5%. Regarding educational attainment, most of the job applicants are observed among persons with secondary vocational education (44.1%) and basic education (27.5%). There were eleven job applicants per vacancy in the Region (which is by over 50% more than in 2001); regarding persons with reduced capability to work, there were 47 job applicants per vacancy.
In 2001, the purchasing power standard GDP per inhabitant was 50.5% of the EU average, while in 2000 it was 49.9% of the EU average. Five branches of industry make a significant contribution to the Region’s GDP, comprising 77.6% of the Region’s gross value added. The decisive role is played by the manufacturing industry, whose share in gross value added of the Region in 2001 was 34.3%. High share in gross value added was observed also at the following groups: Public administration and defence, compulsory social security (14.0%) and Wholesale and retail trade (12.4%). Among other important branches were Transport, storage and communications (8.6% of gross value added of the Region) and Construction (8.2%). In 2001 two more branches reported a gross value added share that exceeded 7% of the Region's gross value added: the group Real estate, renting and business activities (7.2%) and Agriculture, hunting and forestry (7.1%).
Regarding transport, there is more than 500 km of rail tracks in the Region. The most important track is a part of the international rail highway E040 (connecting Paris, Nuremberg, Prague and Vienna) and the rail highway E061 as well (connecting Berlin, Prague, Brno and Vienna). This track goes through the Region via the following towns and cities: Chvaletice, Přelouč, Pardubice, Choceň, Ústí nad Orlicí and Česká Třebová. In Česká Třebová the track divides to go on either to Olomouc and Ostrava, or to Svitavy and Brno. In Pardubice, tracks of national relevance link to the main track, providing the connection to Liberec, and to Havlíčkův Brod via Chrudim and Hlinsko. Current road network comprises the total of 3 581 km (roads classified into class I: 445 km; roads classified into class II: 913 km; roads classified into class III: 2 223 km). The most important route is the road No. I/37 coming from the north via Pardubice and Chrudim towards Ždírec nad Doubravou. In Chrudim, it meets the road No. I/17 leading from Čáslav, via Heřmanův Městec, Hrochův Týnec to Zámrsk. The Southeast of the Region has its main intersection point at Svitavy. The road No. I/35 leads northwestwards via Litomyšl, Vysoké Mýto, and Holice towards Hradec Králové. In future, the expected extension further eastwards of the current highway route Prague – Poděbrady should be the turning point in the road transport matters. The speed-traffic road R35 should link to the proposed highway route northwards from Pardubice, being thus the backbone road in the Region. As for the air transport, the international airport in Pardubice plays the principal role, providing both military and civil air traffic operation and being one of the five backbone airports of the country. Other, and smaller, airports in the Region are intended rather for sporting aviation, though some of them can operate general air traffic or serve as alternate military airdromes. In terms of water transport, only a short navigable part of the Labe River is in use. The establishment of a new large river port in Pardubice along with adjacent free trading zone significantly promotes this kind of freight transport. In summer 2000, river transport of persons was commenced on a regular seasonal basis to operate on the route Kunětice – Pardubice – Přelouč.
Regarding education, there was reported in 2002 the total of 325 nursery schools in the Pardubický Region, with 15 155 children enrolled in 668 classes. Other educational establishments comprise: 239 basic schools (2 354 classes, 50 566 pupils), 20 grammar schools (7 203 pupils), 42 secondary technical schools (10 958 full-time students), 32 secondary vocational schools (9 345 pupils) and 11 higher professional schools (1 352 full-time students). There is also the University of Pardubice comprising four faculties.
As for health care, the Pardubický Region involved the following establishments in 2002: 10 hospitals (2 545 beds), 11 specialised therapeutic institutions (1 524 beds), in that 7 therapeutic institutions for long-term patients (522 beds) and 98 pharmacies and health care goods shops. Besides the establishments mentioned above, there are other various independent health establishments in the Region (e.g. GP’s consulting rooms, specialist’s consulting rooms, establishments run by a person with non-medical university education, independent laboratories, etc.). The 2002 F/T equivalent number of physicians was 1 637 (974 physicians at non-government establishments). There were 310 inhabitants per physician in 2002.
The Pardubický Region has a great potential for the development of tourism. One can find there lowland as well as mountainous landscape, agreeable climate as well as many places fit for bathing, water sports, hiking, cycling tourism and winter sports. Agrotourism is winning popularity throughout the whole Region (in the foothill areas, in particular), especially the estates devoted to traditional horse breeding play a primary role. To be specific, the Králický Sněžník Mount area, for instance, both on the Czech and Polish side of the border offers many possibilities of international cooperation as well as unique natural surroundings that should be preserved for future generations. The area has a great potential in terms of recreation activities, which has not been fully acknowledged, yet. Both the Czech Republic and Poland see the area as rather peripheral and problematic regarding economic development. It is the development of tourism that could help to solve the undesirable economic situation in the area to a great extent. In 2002, there was the total of 379 accommodation establishments in the Pardubický Region, providing service to about 257 thousand guests. The average number of overnight stays was 3.7 and the average length of stay 4.7 days. The number of collective accommodation establishments, beds in them and number of guests are in the Pardubický Region the lowest in the inter-region comparison.
Various cultural activities logically go hand in hand with tourism. The most important cultural attraction is perhaps the Castle of Pardubice where one can see the exhibits of the Východočeské muzeum (Museum of East Bohemia) and the Východočeská galerie (Gallery of East Bohemia). Other cultural attractions include Muzeum loutkářských kultur (the Puppet Museum) in the Chrudim District, and Památník dr. Emila Holuba – Africké muzeum (the Dr. Emil Holub Memorial - Museum of Africa) in Holice. In addition, the Pardubický Region is also a Region of music. It is not only Pardubické hudební jaro (the Pardubice Music Spring) and famous Komorní filharmonie (the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra) representing our country at the international level, but also Smetanova Litomyšl (Smetana’s Litomyšl), the festival of classical music, or other music festivals held in Polička. Východočeské divadlo (the Theatre of East Bohemia) in Pardubice is the most well known theatre with a permanent ensemble. Přelouč has hosted for several years the awarding ceremony of Cena Františka Filipovského (the Prize of František Filipovský) for dubbing.
Regarding sports activities, the Pardubice Horserace Course, where the Velká Pardubická Steeplechase is held, is the best known. Motor sports fans are certain to recall the speedway race Zlatá přilba České republiky (the Golden Helmet of the Czech Republic). Moreover, the Pardubický Region ranks on the top in connection with other sports, too. It is the ice hockey with the Pardubice extra league team breeding players of international quality; it is the tennis courts frequently remembered by almost every Czech famous tennis player, because the Championship of the Czech Republic for young competitors opens professional career for the talented youth.
Regarding the Pardubický Region in the light of the European Union, there is the currently operating CBC Phare Program, which started in 1994. An important achievement is that in 2000 the Program was enlarged to involve the CR-Poland border area and that within the scope of the programme a fund of small-scale non-investment projects was created, applying to the Euroregion Glacensis border. Thus, the Pardubický Region, with some of its municipalities involved in the Euroregion, has the opportunity to take part.
In the end, here are several points, for which the Pardubický Region is unique:
· the lowest net money income of households per person
· the lowest average gross monthly wage of the employees in industry
· the lowest average gross monthly wage of technical, medical and pedagogical workers
· the lowest number of accommodation establishments
· the second highest number of completed multi-dwelling houses per 1 000 inhabitants
· the second lowest number of abortions per 100 births
· the second highest poll at local authority elections
· the third lowest number of divorces per 1 000 inhabitants
· the third highest share of agricultural land in total area of the Region
· the fourth highest share of employees in research and development per 1 000 inhabitants.