Földrajzi Közlemények

A KÍNAI KARSZTVIDÉKEK KÜLÖNLEGES KARSZTOS MÉLYEDÉSEI, A TIANKENGEK 2. RÉSZ

2026-08-21T13:43:03+00:00

In the last decades, expeditions by karst and cave researchers have explored several huge depressions in the vast karst regions of China, reminiscent of classic dolines. However, due to their extreme extent they have been introduced as a new term in karst morphology under the name ”tiankengs” (”heavenly pits” or ”sky holes”). Tiankengs are giant dolines with steep walls and a depth of at least 100 m; their area both at the top and the bottom varies between 10,000 and 350,000 m2, and their volume exceeds 1,000,000 m3 (however, the biggest, Xiaozhai, has a volume of almost 120 million m3 ). Most of them were formed as a result of the collapse of a large underground cave, whose roof was increasingly dissolved by underground rivers from underneath until it finally collapsed, forming a massive doline. Another, a smaller part of the tiankengs, has been formed by erosion. Tiankengs exist also in other parts of the world, among others at the Mulu Karst in Borneo (Sulawesi) and in New Guinea, but most of them can be found in the South China Karst Region. The first part of this paper delt with some famous tiankengs in the Xingwen karst region (Sichuan Province), while this second part analyses the Wulong Karst region (Chongqing Municipality) including the famous Three Natural Bridges area. Their tiankengs are good examples of the origin and development of erosional tiankengs.

ÚJ BEVÁNDORLÓK A VIDÉKI MAGYARORSZÁGON: ÉLETSTÍLUS-MIGRÁCIÓ HOLLANDIÁBÓL

2026-08-21T13:43:04+00:00

This paper analyses the rapid growth of Dutch migration to Hungary through a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research. It shows that Dutch migrants are predominantly above 50, economically inactive, and often dependent on pensions or disability benefits from the Netherlands. Spatially, they are underrepresented in Budapest and strongly concentrated in rural villages in Southern Transdanubia, especially in Baranya County. While their migration is partly driven by classical lifestyle motivations (e.g., attractive climatic conditions and slower pace of everyday life), economic and cultural considerations play a central role, including their perceived financial vulnerability and concerns with social and political dynamics in the Netherlands. While local stakeholders in rural Hungary often emphasise Dutch immigration’s contribution to housing renewal and rural revitalisation, the findings also reveal that Dutch immigrants’ fiscal contributions to broader economic development are limited, their integration into local society mostly remains weak, and their vulnerability related to ageing and care is increasing. The study highlights Hungary’s growing role within the European networks of lifestyle migration and raises questions about the long-term sustainability of this migration stream.

A SZUBURBANIZÁCIÓ TÉRBELI ÉS IDŐBELI FOLYAMATAI A HAZAI VIDÉKI NAGYVÁROSOK KÖRNYÉKÉN, KÜLÖNÖS TEKINTETTEL A 2011 UTÁNI FOLYAMATOKRA

2026-08-21T13:43:06+00:00

The suburbanization processes that emerged in Hungary during the 1990s have played a significant role in restructuring the spatial distribution of the population around the major cities, including areas within their administrative borders. In a previous study, we identified the main stages of suburbanization in Hungary, distinguishing a first and second growth phase separated by an intermediate phase of decline. The publication of sub-municipal data from the 2022 census now makes it possible to extend the analysis of suburbanization trends to the most recent period. Accordingly, this paper examines the spatial and temporal dynamics of suburbanization based on population change in the 14 largest regional suburban zones between 1990 and 2022, with special focus on the period following the 2011 census. The aim of the study is to explore the current role of central inner areas, other inner areas, and inhabited outskirts in population growth. In addition, the paper assesses how recent sub-municipal-level processes relate to trends identified at the level of independent settlements and to developments observed over the preceding two decades. The results indicate that other inner areas and inhabited outskirts continue to play a significant role in the new phase of the process, although the rate of population growth is lower than in earlier periods. Furthermore, sub-municipal-level data confirm that, in the current phase, geographical location and socio-economic development have become increasingly important determinants of the intensity of suburbanization around the examined major cities.

A HELYI IDENTITÁS ÉS A MINDENNAPI TÉRHASZNÁLAT RÉTEGEI A VÁROSSZÖVETBEN: ÓBUDA ÁTALAKULÁSA

2026-08-21T13:43:07+00:00

The study examines the relationship between local identity and the use of space in a central urban arena, focusing on the complex stratification of historical and social layers. Applying the palimpsest concept as an analytical framework integrated with relationist space theories, the paper aims to unravel how spatial function changes interact with local identity and the persistence or erasure of specific community narratives. Focusing exclusively on the historical area of Óbuda (Budapest, Hungary), the research investigates the structural reasons behind how material layers, official discourses, and collective memories overwrite one another. The paper argues that critically uncovering these invisible socio-spatial layers contributes to a reflexive local understanding, which fundamentally supports place-attached community agency and provides a methodological shift from descriptive local history to critical urban geography. Keywords: local identity, use of space, palimpsest, Óbuda, urban narratives