Békés County lies in the South-East part of Hungary, bounded by Hajdú-Bihar County on the North, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Csongrád Counties on the west, and the Romanian border on the south and the east. Its seat is Békéscsaba. Characteristic tourist micro-regions: North-Békés (Körös-Sárrét, the center of which is Szeghalom), Central-Békés (Békéscsaba-Gyula-Békés triangle), South-Békés (Orosháza and its catchment area), and West-Békés (Szarvas-Gyomaendrőd axis)
Békés County is situated on the Great Plain, its territory is even. Between the Körös and the Maros, as well as the Körös rivers-Berettyó area it is almost perfectly even. The metres above sea level varies between 81 and 106 meters. The highest points are in the south-east part of the county, at the Csanádi-upland in the region of Battonya, where certain heaps are higher than 106 meters. Its lowest point is between Szarvas and Békésszentandrás, next to the Hármas-Körös, at about 81 meters. (source: Wikipedia)
It has a continental climate with rather cold winter and hot summer. Precipitation balance is better than the average of the Great Plain, since only 60-70 kilometers from the area, the mountains (Codru-Moma Mountains, Bihor Mountains, Vladeasa Mountain) of the Apuseni Mountains, reaching the height of more than 1800 meters can be found. Therefore the amount of yearly precipitation jumps to 550-600 mm. The number of mean yearly sunshine hours is high, comparing to the rest of the country.
The area is covered with a sandy-loess deposition. The most valuable natural resource is natural gas, about one fifth of the supply of the country.
The natural vegetation was originally the forest-grove steppe, but these areas were broken by the end of the 19th Century. At the times of the great river controls, the area lost its natural shape, and has become plow-land and cultural landscapes. Forest area of the county has reduced to 25 thousand hectares, which is mostly in the northern part of the county (Mályvád forests and floodplain of the Körös rivers). Wildlife has adapted to these changes, however many types of small games can be found in the territory.
Outermost settlements as per cardinal directions:
the northernmost settlement of the county is Bucsa (Szeghalom micro-region)
the southernmost settlement of the county is Battonya (Mezőkovácsháza micro-region)
the easternmost settlement of the county is Körösnagyharsány (Sarkad micro-region)
the westernmost settlement of the county is Békésszentandrás (Szarvas micro-region)
In general, the county is the larder of Hungary. The biggest amounts of corn, wheat and barley is grown here. The Bánkút wheat, very popular until 1974 was bred here. Békés County is in the lead of growing vegetables and fruits as well. A significant amount of livestock is present (pigs, cattles, poultry, sheep etc.)
