The Lubelskie voivodship is located in the eastern part of the country, between the Vistula and Bug Rivers. The central part of the region is occupied by the sparsely wooded Wyzyna Lubelska (Lublin Uplands) built of loess formations and limerock; in the north-south there is Polesie Lubelskie abounding in boggy lakes; in the south stretches the hill range of Roztocze, cut with stream and river valleys, which through Podkarpackie voivodship reaches as far as Lvov in Ukraine. The fact that the Lubelskie voivodship lies in the immediate neighbourhood of Belarus and Ukraine provides excellent opportunities for economic development of the region, which is often described as Poland's gateway to the East (in 1995 the arrangements of founding Polish-Ukrainian Euroregion Bug were signed). The northern part of the voivodship is cut by the international route linking Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk and Moscow. Lublin has good road connections with Warsaw, Radom, Bialystok and Lvov.
 
 
ECONOMY
 
      The Lubelskie Voivodship enjoys climatic and soil conditions that are propitious for the development of agriculture. The best in Poland brown soils are found in the Lublin Uplands, while the vicinities of Tomaszow Lubelski and Hrubieszow abound in excellent black-earths. Therefore, it is not surprising that farm produce and livestock has become the basis for the development of the food processing industry that is dominant here (sugar, fruit and vegetable processing, meat, tobacco and beer-making industries). Apart from the hard coal deposits (Bogdanka mine), the natural resources of the region include large deposits of limestone and marl, which determined the development of the cement industry (Chelm). Major industries of the voivodship include also the electro-engineering (automobile and farming machinery factories in Lublin, aircraft plant in Swidnik) and chemical industries. The biggest company in the voivodship is the national leader in the production of delivery vans - Daewoo Motor, based in Lublin, whose annual revenue exceeds PLN 1 billion. Similar financial results are generated by the region's second largest company Azoty from Pulawy, specialising in chemicals. There are more than 100,000, mostly small and medium-sized, companies in the Lubelskie voivodship, 95.7%a of which are private. 43,000 of these companies, are retail based, real estate and other services Over 10,000 companies employing nearly 119,000 people, are involved in manufacturing. According to Einpirica GmbH, German Research Institute, the city of Lublin is one of the best centres to establish companies and from, where to conduct business in Central and Eastern Europe.
 
 
UNIVERSITIES
 
      The voivodship's prestigious reputation in the sciences is due to the Lublin's Marie Curie University (27,500 students) and the Lublin Catholic University (17,000 students). Additionally, it is the seat of the Lublin Technical University, the Agricultural Academy (7,500 students each) and the Medical Academy (3,500 students). Altogether, 63,000 young people study in five universities in the city. Almost all of the universities have branches elsewhere in the region. The academic cities of the voivodship include Biala Podlaska, with its growing Physical Education Faculty, and Deblin, famous for its Airforce Military Academy. There are also five private higher education schools in Pulawy, Lublin, Ryki and Zamosc.
 
 
TOURISM
 
      Lubelskie features some of the most breath-taking natural scenery. The Lubelska Plateau with its numerous valleys and ravines has excellent conditions for recreational and trekking holidays Old Orthodox and Catholic churches and chapels have survived in the picturesque valleys of the Roztocze (a plateau range stretching from Krasnik to the city of Lvov in Ukraine). Beautiful landscapes, the well-known Tanew waterfalls, and interesting walking and hoiseriding trails attract tourists seeking close contacts with nature. The main centre of the Roztocze is Zamosc - the city endorsed by UNESCO in its List of World Cultural Heritage. The utterly unique town of Kazimierz Dolny, Lublin with its Old Town, a historic town of Pulawy, a health resort in Naleczow, or the renowned horse stables in Janow Podlaski are other attractions of the region.