From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Great Hungarian Plain (also known as Great Alföld, Alföld, or Pannonian Plain) is a plain occupying the southern and eastern part of Hungary, some parts of eastern Slovakia (Východoslovenská nížina - Eastern Slovak Lowland), southwestern Ukraine (Zakarpats'ka nyzovyna - Transcarpathian Lowland), western Romania (various names), northern Serbia (various names), and eastern Croatia (various names). It is the largest part of the Pannonian Plain.

Contents 1 Name 2 Boundaries 3 Geography 3.1 Plain in Hungary 3.2 Plain in Serbia 3.3 Plain in Croatia 3.4 Plain in Slovakia 3.5 Plain in Ukraine 3.6 Plain in Romania 4 See also 5 External links

In Hungarian, the plain is known as Alföld ['ɑlføld̪] or Nagyalföld, in Slovak as Veľká dunajská kotlina, in Romanian as Câmpia Tisei, in Serbian as Panonska nizija or Панонска низија, in Croatian as Panonska nizina, and in Ukrainian as Тисо-Дунайська низовина.

Its boundaries are the Carpathians in the north and east, the Transdanubian Medium Mountains and Croatian mountains in the southwest, and approximately the Sava river in the south.

Its territory is 52,000 km² within Hungary so it comprises approx. 56% of the country. Its total territory is 100,000 km². The highest point of the plain is Hoportyó (183 m), and the lowest point is Tisza river. Its terrain range from flat to rolling plains.

The most important Hungarian writers inspired by and associated with the plain are Ferenc Móra and Zsigmond Móricz as well as the poets Sándor Petőfi and Gyula Juhász.

Among the Hungarian scientists born in the plain are Zoltán Bay physicist, János Irinyi chemist, inventor of the noiseless match, János Kabay pharmacologist, Gábor Kátai physician and pharmacist and Frigyes Korányi physician and pulmonologist.

The most important river of the plain is Tisza.

The notable cities and towns with medicinal baths are Berekfürdő, Cserkeszőlő, Gyula, Hajdúszoboszló, Szentes and Szolnok.

Among the cultural festivals and programmes characteristic of the region are the Csángófesztivál (Csángó Festival) in Jászberény, the Cseresznyefesztivál (Sweet Cherry Festival) in Nagykörű, the Gulyásfesztivál (Goulash Festival) in Szolnok, the Hídi Vásár (Bridge Fair) in Hortobágy, the Hunniális at Ópusztaszer, the Szabadtéri Játékok (Open-air Games) in Szeged, the Várjátékok (Castle Games) in Gyula, the Virágkarnevál (Flower Carnival) in Debrecen and the Fishherman's Soup Boiling Festival in Baja.

The part of the plain located in Hungary comprises the following areas:

• Mezőföld
• Sárrét
• Sárköz
• Drávamellék
• Kiskunság
• Jászság
• Pest Plain
• Heves Plain
• Borsodi-Mezőség
• Bodrogköz
• Tiszahát
• Szatmár Plain
• Maros-Körös köze
• Körös-vidék
• Nagykunság
• Hortobágy
• Hajdúság
• Nyírség

In Serbia, the plain is mostly divided into 3 large geographical areas known as the Bačka, Banat and Syrmia, most of which are located in the Vojvodina province.

In Croatia, the plain includes several geographical regions such are Slavonia, Syrmia, Baranja, etc.

Part of the plain located in Slovakia is known as Eastern Slovak Lowland.

Part of the plain located in Ukraine is known as Transcarpathian Lowland.

In Romania, the plain includes various regions like Banat and Crişana.

• Euro-Asian Steppe
• Pannonian Basin
• Little Alföld
• Vienna Basin
• Puszta

• Körös Regional Archaeological Project: Neolithic and Copper Age archaeology in the Great Hungarian Plain