BORSOD-ABAJ-ZEMPLN

megye (county), northern Hungary, with an area of 2,798 square miles (7,247 square km). The terrain is mostly hilly with riverine lowlands created by streams flowing north-south from Slovakia to the Tisza River. Several of these in upper Borsod have been dammed for flood control and storage. At Aggtelek is one of Europe's largest underground cave systems, with subterranean lakes and limestone formations. The flat plain land, Bodrogkz, in the east, is the megye's most arable, and peas and lentils are grown there. The Tokaj district is renowned for its wines. Borsod-Abaj-Zempln is one of the most populous and industrialized counties in Hungary. West of industrialized Miskolc (q.v.), the megye seat, is Lillafred, a well-known spa and resort. Leninvros is a rapidly developing town with a chemical works and an oil refinery. Storaljajhely, just north of Srospatak, is a commercial centre with Baroque houses and a Piarist church dating from about the 13th century. In the southwest of the megye is the Maty area, centred on Mezokvesd, where quaint, ornate local costumes survive. On the Mohi lowlands, to the south of the Bkk Mountains, King Bla IV's Magyar army was routed by the Mongol invaders in 1241. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 770,000.