The importance of the Dniester, Tisza and Prut for the development of urban settlements of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The article shows the importance of the river system to the location and development of cities. The analysis includes only selected, major rivers, which are less than 50 km in length. Strong localization relationship towns to the network river is shown in the study area at first glance, because only four cities under consideration does not lie on rivers. Three major rivers of the Ukrainian Carpathians: the Dniester, the Tisza and the Prut play the particular role. Together comprise about 18% of the length of all the rivers of the study area (each approximately 6%), and focuses on them, including proportionally more cities. Over the river Tisza and the Prut is currently at 13% of all the cities throughout the investigated area, and only 5% on the Dniester. The total number of cities in the area of research grew by approximately 30% through all the separate historical periods. In the first period the rate is highest, as high as 38%. It seems, therefore, that the size of the surveyed rivers could have a significant impact on the actual process of settlement, especially in the early stages of urban development. Like the location of cities, it can be seen clearly in case of the rank (position in the region) riverside cities. Despite the numerical urban poverty, it should be stressed that all the periods covered by the average rate of development for cities on the Dniester is significantly higher than for the much more numerous centers bordering the Tisza, or Prut. This suggests an important role of the Dniester for the development of these centers. It is also intriguing that only in the case of the Dniester town situated on the sections with the largest flows are ( except for the period of the oldest), lower rates of development of cities located in the upper, less hydrated, his gear. Otherwise it is on the Tisza and Prut, where there is very clearly marked proportional relationship: a greater flow of rivers = higher ratio of urban development. It should be emphasized that the role of large Carpathian rivers Dniester, Prut and Tisza for the localization process and development of test cities of the region can not be overstated. It is on these three rivers are seeing very high concentration of urban centers, especially over their sections with the highest flow. A number of these cities experienced long periods of splendor, lasting for several periods. Some also played a dominant role during certain periods vary throughout the region