Upper Silesian Industrial Region

This article is about the industrial region. For the geographic area, see Katowice urban area and Katowice metropolitan area. For the political and economic association of local municipalities, see Metropolis GZM.

The Upper Silesian Industrial Region (Polish: Górnośląski Okręg Przemysłowy, pronounced [gurnɔˈɕlɔ̃skʲi ˌɔkrɛŋk pʂɛmɨˈswɔvɨ], Polish abbreviation: GOP [gɔp]; German: Oberschlesisches Industriegebiet) is a large industrial region in Poland.^[1] It lies mainly in the Silesian Voivodeship,^[1] centered on Katowice.

The location of Katowice in Poland

Bobrek-Centrum coal mine in Bytom

ArcelorMittal ironworks in Sosnowiec

Jaworzno III Power Plant

It is situated in the northern part of Upper Silesian Coal Basin, a home of altogether 5 million people (Katowice-Ostrava metropolitan area). In the south-west it borders the Rybnik Coal Area (Polish: Rybnicki Okręg Węglowy, ROW).^[1] Covers 3,200 km² and about 3.5 million people.^[1]

The Upper Silesian Industrial Region is located in the province of Upper Silesia and Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland in a basin between the Vistula and Oder rivers.

Upper Silesian Industrial Region is an area with enormous concentration of industry. Dominates here:^[1]

• Mining industry (more than a dozen active coal mines, mainly as Katowicki Holding Węglowy, Kompania Węglowa, JSW, Węglokoks)
• Iron and steel industry (more than a dozen active iron and nonferrous metals)
• Transport industry (example General Motors Manufacturing Poland and Fiat Auto Poland, Alstom Konstal, Bumar-Łabędy)
• The energy industry (more than a dozen plants)
• Mechanical engineering
• Chemical industry

See also

• Metropolis GZM
• Rybnik Coal Area