Physical Geography of the Great Hungarian Plain

The Great Hungarian Plain is the largest macro-region in the Carpathian Basin. In the chapter, the evolutionary models of the region will be described, and also a general picture will be drawn on the evolution of its lithology, morphology, hydrology, climate and vegetation. In a meso-scale, the general descriptions of landscape parameters will be given, typifying the landscapes into two groups: meso-regions formed on alluvial fans and meso-regions formed on floodplains and floodplain levels. Quite detailed analysis is on the most important environmental values and risks of the Great Hungarian Plain. In a separate subchapter, the changes in human impact on the macro-region during the last millennia will be introduced. Detailed studies discuss the descending level of groundwaters, the different ways of mitigating flood hazard and risk, and in connection with these topics, the ways of possible solutions, their weak points and probable consequences will be presented. The river channel regulation and flood protection works in the Tisza River’s system are analysed in detail, and also the environmental consequences of these works are presented, as these works caused the greatest environmental change in the Great Hungarian Plain.