European grouping of territorial cooperation TRITIA, Ltd.
European grouping of territorial cooperation TRITIA, Ltd.
Žilina Self – governing Region is situated in the north – west of Slovakia and it is the third largest Slovak region. It borders on the Czech Republic in the west and Poland in the north. It shares borders with three other Slovak regions – Trenčín, Banská Bystrica and Prešov regions. It comprises 5 historical regions (Horné Považie, Kysuce, Liptov, Orava a Turiec) and 11 districts (Bytča, Čadca, Dolný Kubín, Kysucké Nové Mesto, Liptovský Mikuláš, Martin, Námestovo, Ružomberok, Turčianske Teplice, Tvrdošín a Žilina).
Decisive sectors of the Žilina region economy are industry and construction. Industrial nature of the region is influenced by closeness of industrial areas in the Czech Republic and Poland as well as the lack of fertile soil. The development of the regional economy structure has been marked by strenghtening the service sector in recent years. There are 14,057 businesses registered in Žilina region as of 31 December 2011.
One of the strengths of Žilina region is its nature. More than half the region is covered by areas with various degrees of environmental protection including its four national parks – the Tatra National Park, National Park of Nízke Tatry, National Park of Veľká Fatra and National Park of Malá Fatra. Varied nature offers uncountable options for summer and winter sports and recreation. Among the most important ski resorts are Veľká Rača, Vrátna Free Time Zone, Martinky Winter Park, Jasenská dolina, Snowland Valčianska dolina, Skipark Ružomberok, Jasná, Ski Park Kubínska hoľa and Zverovka - Spálená. Rich sources of mineral and thermal waters led to the development of spas represented by facilities in Rajecké Teplice, Turčianske Teplice and Lúčky, as well as to construction of aquaparks such as Spa&Aquapark Turčianske Teplice, Thermal Park Bešeňová, Aquapark Liptovský Mikuláš and Meander Park Oravice. Enormous sports and recreation options are offered and the dams of Oravská priehrada and Liptovská Mara.
