The Podravska region takes its name from the River Drava, whose catchment area holds the biggest volume of groundwater in Slovenia. The region is also home to Slovenia’s second city, Maribor, which is increasingly consolidating its position as a second university centre. Maribor, together with Ptuj, is the main centre of cultural life in the region, and in 2012 was a European Capital of Culture. The region is also characterised by above-average population ageing.