Zakarpattia
Zakarpattia Oblast (Ukrainian: Закарпатська область, translit. Zakarpats'ka oblast' ; also referred to as the Transcarpathian Oblast, Transcarpathia or Zakarpattya; Hungarian: Kárpátalja) is an oblast (province) in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Uzhhorod. Other important cities are Mukacheve and Chop (the border town home to various transportation infrastructure).
The earlier history of the area is elaborated at Carpathian Ruthenia, a former name for the geographic region.
The area of the oblast is 12,800 km².
Zakarpattia was part of Austria-Hungary until the latter's demise at the end of World War I. It then joined the newly formed Czechoslovakia, of which it formed one of the main regions, the others being Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. During the World War II Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the region was awarded to Hungary under the First Vienna Award, becoming one of its 'highland' territories. After the Soviet "liberation", Zakarpattia was annexed by the Soviet Union and became part of the Ukrainian SSR. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, it became part of independent Ukraine as the Zakarpattia Oblast.
Territorial Claims
There were suggestions prior to 1993 of the region rejoining Czechoslovakia, but this issue has been made largely superfluous with the latter's break-up.
Population
The current estimated population is 1.2 million people (as of 2004).
Although ethnic Ukrainians are in majority here (80.5%) [1], other ethnic groups are relatively numerous in Zakarpattia. The largest of these are Hungarians (12.1%), Romanians (2.6%), Russians (2.5%), Roma (1.1%), Slovaks (0.5%) and Germans (0.3%). Their languages and culture are respected by the provision of school education, clubs etc in their respective languages. Zakarpattia is home to approximately 14,000 ethnic Roma (otherwise known as Gypsies), the largest population of Roma in Ukraine). The first Hungarian College in Ukraine is in Berehovo, the II. Rákoczi Ferenc College. The Rusyn people living in Ukraine are not recognised as a distinct nation but rather as an ethnic group of Ukrainians. About 10,100 people (0.8%) identify themselves as Rusyns acoording to the last census.
Economy
Zakarpattia's economy depends mostly on trans-border trade, vinery and forestry.
The Zakarpattia Oblast is administratively subdivided into 13 raions (districts), as well as 5 cities (municipalities) which are directly subordinate to the oblast government: Berehove, Chop, Khust, Mukacheve, and the administrative center of the oblast, Uzhhorod.
The earlier history of the area is elaborated at Carpathian Ruthenia, a former name for the geographic region.
The area of the oblast is 12,800 km².
Zakarpattia was part of Austria-Hungary until the latter's demise at the end of World War I. It then joined the newly formed Czechoslovakia, of which it formed one of the main regions, the others being Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. During the World War II Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the region was awarded to Hungary under the First Vienna Award, becoming one of its 'highland' territories. After the Soviet "liberation", Zakarpattia was annexed by the Soviet Union and became part of the Ukrainian SSR. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, it became part of independent Ukraine as the Zakarpattia Oblast.
Territorial Claims
There were suggestions prior to 1993 of the region rejoining Czechoslovakia, but this issue has been made largely superfluous with the latter's break-up.
Population
The current estimated population is 1.2 million people (as of 2004).
Although ethnic Ukrainians are in majority here (80.5%) [1], other ethnic groups are relatively numerous in Zakarpattia. The largest of these are Hungarians (12.1%), Romanians (2.6%), Russians (2.5%), Roma (1.1%), Slovaks (0.5%) and Germans (0.3%). Their languages and culture are respected by the provision of school education, clubs etc in their respective languages. Zakarpattia is home to approximately 14,000 ethnic Roma (otherwise known as Gypsies), the largest population of Roma in Ukraine). The first Hungarian College in Ukraine is in Berehovo, the II. Rákoczi Ferenc College. The Rusyn people living in Ukraine are not recognised as a distinct nation but rather as an ethnic group of Ukrainians. About 10,100 people (0.8%) identify themselves as Rusyns acoording to the last census.
Economy
Zakarpattia's economy depends mostly on trans-border trade, vinery and forestry.
The Zakarpattia Oblast is administratively subdivided into 13 raions (districts), as well as 5 cities (municipalities) which are directly subordinate to the oblast government: Berehove, Chop, Khust, Mukacheve, and the administrative center of the oblast, Uzhhorod.
