| Abstract [eng] |
This paper presents the study of the spatial dispersion of non-residential areas of Lithuania as a reflection of the territorial organization of human activities. Non-residential territories are defined according to the official administrative division of Lithuanian territory (Lietuvos Respublikos ..., 1994). Corresponding to the low, these areas consist of the areas that do not have residential areas status (forest, water, etc.) and uninhabited settlements. The researched was based on data from the 2011 census and georeferenced spatial data set. Based on calculations, in 2011 non-residential areas occupied 17.6 thousand square kilometers, which accounts for approximately 27 percent of the total area of Lithuania. Territories without residential areas status took the largest part - 13 thousand square kilometers, which is 1/5 of the country's territory. There were a total of 4201 uninhabited settlements. They occupied 4.6 thousand square kilometers or 7 percent of the country's territory. The research showed that the proportion and distribution of non-residential areas depend on the features of the landscape and structure of the settlement system. For instance, the largest non-residential areas were calculated in the most forested district municipalities, such as Kazlu Ruda and Svencionys where more than half of the district municipality’s areas were uninhabited. Meanwhile, analysis of the dispersion of uninhabited settlements showed another pattern: uninhabited settlements took a smaller share in Western Lithuania than in Northeast Lithuania. This is because settlements in Eastern Lithuania are small due to the terrain, besides that this region is distinguished by a long depopulation period (dating back to Soviet times). All this leads to a higher total number of uninhabited settlements and their share of the area. At the municipal level the biggest share of uninhabited settlements was estimated in Zarasai district municipality - 15.2 percent, Kedainiai - 13.5 percent and Anyksciai – 12.4 percent of their area. At the eldership level, numbers were quite bigger. For instance, uninhabited settlements in Labanoras, Pabrade, and Kazlu Ruda elderships account for more than 2/3 of their area. A large proportion (more than 1/3 of the area) of uninhabited settlements were also distinguished in Vaiguva – 39.3 percent, Kriukai – 37.9 percent and Seta - 33.5 percent, elderships. |
