Vojvodina

I

Introduction

Vojvodina, province in northern Serbia which enjoyed autonomous status from 1946 to 1989. Vojvodina is bordered on the north by Hungary, on the west by Croatia, on the east by Romania, and on the south by the Serbian region of Sumadija. The capital city of the province is Novi Sad; the only other important city is Subotica. The area of Vojvodina is approximately 21,506 sq km (8,304 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

Vojvodina is situated in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain and includes some of the richest agricultural land in the former Yugoslavia. Major rivers are the Danube, Tisza, and Tamis. The Fruska Gora Ridge (with elevations up to 593 m/1,946 ft) fills the south-west corner of the province, and portions of the southern Carpathian Mountains occupy the south-east. There are oil and gas deposits in eastern Vojvodina, but no other important mineral resources.

III

Population

Vojvodina’s population is 2,013,889 (1991). More than 60 per cent of the population of the province are ethnic Serbs. Ethnic Hungarians, comprising about 17 per cent of the population, are the second largest nationality group. Ethnic Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, and Ruthenes (see Ruthenia) also live in the region.

IV

Economy

Vojvodina has some of the richest agricultural land in Serbia. Major crops are wheat, maize, sugar beet, hemp, and sunflowers. Livestock includes cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. Horticulture and grape cultivation are also important. Local industry includes large-scale food processing, textiles, machinery, petrochemicals, mineral fertilizers, and cement production. There has traditionally been commercial navigation on the Danube, although this was partially obstructed by the United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro (imposed in May 1992 and finally lifted in October 2000).