Nitra
Nitra (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈɲitra] ⓘ; also known by other alternative names) is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. It is located 95 km east of Bratislava. With a population of about 78,353, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia; it was the political center of the Principality of Nitra. Today, it is a seat of a kraj (Nitra Region), and an okres (Nitra District).
For the historical entity, see Principality of Nitra. For chemicals, see Nitro (disambiguation). For the river, see Nitra (river).
Etymology[edit]
The first mention of Nitra dates back to the 9th century. The name of the city is derived from the Nitra River. The name is Indo-European, but the question of its pre-Slavic or Slavic origin has not been satisfactorily answered. Nitra might be derived from the old Indo-European root neit-, nit- 'to cut' or 'to burn' using the derivational element -r- (see also slash-and-burn agricultural technique).[4] The same root is still present in the Slovak verb nietiť 'to make a fire', but also in other Indo-European languages like Latin nitere 'to burn' or in German schneiden 'to cut'.[5] Another view to the origin of the name is related to Latin Novi-iter or Neui-iter 'new territory behind the limes'.[6] The hypothetical Latin name could have been adopted by the Quadi and later by the Slavs.
The first written records also contain the suffix -ava (Nitrava). Particularly in older literature, the suffix is interpreted as deriving from the Proto-Germanic root *ahwa 'water'.[7] However, the suffix -ava can be found also in numerous toponyms with a clearly Slavic origin and without any relationship to rivers. The existence of hydronym Nitrava remains hypothetical[8] and all versions with the suffix are related to a location, not a river. Thus, the form Nitrava can refer to a larger property or territory around the Nitra River.[9] Both forms were probably used concurrently and were already recorded in the 9th century[4] (Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: in loco vocata Nitraua, but in 880 ecclesie Nitrensis).
The name in different languages includes Latin: Nitria, German: Neutra (ⓘ), and Hungarian: Nyitra and Nyitria.
Geography[edit]
Topography[edit]
Nitra lies at an altitude of 190 metres (623 ft) above sea level and covers an area of 100.48 square kilometres (38.8 sq mi).[44] It is located in the Nitra River valley in the Danubian Lowland, where the bigger part of the city is located. A smaller part is located at the southernmost reaches of the Tribeč mountains, more precisely at the foothill of the Zobor mountain 587 metres (1,926 ft). It is around halfway between Slovak capital Bratislava, 92 kilometres (57 mi) away and central Slovak city of Banská Bystrica, 118 kilometres (73 mi) away. Other towns in the surroundings include Trnava to the west (53 km), Topoľčany to the north (35 km), Levice to the east (42 km), and Nové Zámky (37 km) and Komárno (71 km) to the south. A national natural reservation called Zoborská lesostep is located within the city's boundaries.
Climate[edit]
Nitra lies in the humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. It is characterized by a significant variation between hot summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is located in the warmest and driest part of Slovakia.
Economy[edit]
GDP per capita in 2008 for the whole Nitra region was €10,508, which was below Slovakia's average (€12,395).[51]
Nitra's enterprises were brewery, grain mill, food processing plants and other food-related industries. In the new free trade economy after 1989, and after entering European Union and Euro currency club only the wine bottling plant is left. Out of the factories started under the communist regime 1948–1989, the plastic processing plant is still doing well. The most prevalent industries are electronics and car parts, concentrated in the new business park.
The city plans to have in 2011 a balanced budget of 42 mil€. .[52]
The flight operator Aero Slovakia has its head office on the grounds of Nitra Airport.[53]
Government[edit]
The city is governed by mayor (Slovak: primátor) and the city council (Slovak: mestské zastupiteľstvo). The mayor is the head of the city and its chief executive. The term of office is four years. The current mayor is Marek Hattas. The city council is the legislative body, with 31 council members.
The city is divided into 13 urban districts (boroughs): Dolné Krškany, Horné Krškany, Staré Mesto, Čermáň, Klokočina, Diely, Párovské Háje, Kynek, Mlynárce, Zobor, Dražovce, Chrenová and Janíkovce.
Education[edit]
Nitra is the seat of two universities: University of Constantinus the Philosopher, with 13,684 students, including 446 doctoral students.[54] and of the Slovak University of Agriculture, with 10,297 students, including 430 doctoral students.[55] The city's system of primary education consists of 14 public schools and three religious primary schools, enrolling in overall 6,945 pupils.[56] Secondary education is represented by five gymnasia with 3,349 students,[57] 8 specialized high schools with 3,641 students,[58] and 5 vocational schools with 3,054 students.[59][60] Schools in the city include the United Catholic School.
Nitra used to be the site of the Jewish school Yeshiva of Nitra, the last surviving yeshiva in occupied Europe during World War II, associated with famous rabbis Chaim Michael Dov Weissmandl and Shmuel Dovid Ungar. The yeshiva was moved to Mount Kisco, New York, US, after the second world war, where it still exists.
Transportation[edit]
Nitra is connected to Bratislava, Trnava, Žiar nad Hronom, Zvolen and Banská Bystrica by a freeway (E58). There are also first-class road connections to Topoľčany, Zlaté Moravce (labelled as "Highway of Death"),[61] Vráble and Nové Zámky.
The Nitra railway station forms part of the railway line between Nové Zámky/Šurany and Prievidza, which passes through Nitra, but is not a main line. There is a railway junction a short distance north of the town, connecting the city with Leopoldov, Topoľčany and Radošina. Nitra has one train connection with Prague via Piešťany, Trenčín, Uherský Brod, Olomouc and Pardubice. This connection is operated by Arriva (AEx).
Nitra also has its own recreational airfield; it hosts the factory of the Aeropro Eurofox ultralight. However, the closest international airport is Bratislava Airport.
Local public transport is based on buses with 28 lines, covering the whole city, as well as extending to the neighbouring municipalities of Lužianky, Nitrianske Hrnčiarovce, Štitáre, Ivanka pri Nitre and Branč (as of April 2016).[62]
