Vysočina Region - Kraj Vysočina
Vysočina Region (www.kr-vysocina.cz) is composed of 5 districts - Havlíčkův Brod, Jihlava, Pelhřimov, Třebíč and Žďár nad Sázavou with relatively scarce population. Jihlava is the administrative centre of the region. The regional settlement structure is scattered. Vysočina Region has the second largest number of municipalities. The most numerous are villages with less than 500 inhabitants. About one fifth of the overall population lives in these villages, which is the highest percentage in the whole CR.
The region is situated in the central part of the country. Most of its territory is taken up by Czech and Moravian Highlands. A European watershed goes through the region, numerous rivers spring here (e.g. the Sázava, Svratka, Jihlava). Water reservoirs as sources of drinking water have been constructed on some of the rivers (Švihov on the Želivka supplying water to Prague, Vír on the Svratka for Brno); Dalešice waterwork on the Jihlava supports the operation of Dukovany power plant.
The regional raw-material basis is poor. The extraction of decorative and construction stone and brick clays are the most important.
The higher average altitude, wet and cold weather and lower - quality podzol earth have influenced the nature of agricultural production. The growing of potatoes and less demanding crops (oil and fodder plants) prevail.
Industrial production includes a varied mix of branches. Engineering and metal-working industries dominate. Further industries represented in the region include textile (flax processing) and branches linked to the local raw-material basis (stonecutting) and agricultural production (foodstuff industry).
Dukovany nuclear power plant (southeast of Třebíč) is an important facility generating one fifth of electricity produced in the Czech Republic.
Relatively scarce internal links are a typical feature of the region. All peripheral areas have strong links to the neighbouring regional centres. The electrification of the railway line, going through Žďár nad Sázavou, and the construction of the D1 motorway have supported the outward links and speeded up the connection of the region with Prague and Brno, significant economic centres.
There are two protected landscape areas in the region - Železné hory and Žďárské vrchy.
The region has not yet been sufficiently exploited for tourism, although its landscape and the environmental characteristics offer sound potential. The town of Telč, one of the most beautiful urban conservation areas, is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
With a view to tourism, the whole area of Vysočina Region Belongs to the Vysočina tourist marketing region.
Jihlava and Třebíč districts are recipients of assistance provided through the CBC projects co-financed by the EU.
