RUSE - Geography and history
Gateway to Europe on the Danube
The region, with the city of Ruse as its regional centre, is situated in northern Bulgaria. It covers an area of 2 803 km2 or 2.5% of the national territory. It borders the regions of Razgrad, Silistra, Targovishte, Veliko Turnovo and the river Danube to the north. The population of the region is 264 232 inhabitants, or 3.4% of the national total, placing the region in 12th place of the 28 regions (2002 figures). The population density of 94 inhabitants per km2 (in 2002) is above national average (71 inhabitants per km2, as is its urban population of 68.8% compared to 67.7% nationally. There are 83 settlements and 6 cities (Ruse, Byala, Dve Mogili, Vetovo, Borovo and Senovo) spread through 8 municipalities. Ruse is the biggest Bulgarian city and port on the river Danube.
The relief varies between undulating and flat and extends over parts of the Danube Plain and the Ludogorie area.
This area has a rich historical past, as evinced by its numerous archaeological landmarks. It was inhabited by Thracian tribes and after the 1st century A.D. the Romans built a castle at Sextaginta Prista, marking the frontier of the Empire. After the founding of the Bulgarian state the city became a strong fortress as well as a trade and administrative centre. Archaeological remains from that time include the mediaeval city of Cherven and the Ivanovo Churches in the Rocks, which are under UNESCO protection. Under Ottoman rule, Ruse and its region was a major military, commercial, manufacturing and cultural centre. From 1864 the city served as headquarters of the Tuna Villaet (Danube Region) of the Ottoman Empire. The construction in 1866 of the first railroad in Bulgaria from Ruse to Varna, contributed further to the economic development of the region.
The climate is moderately continental. The main rivers are the Yantra and Rusenski Lom. The region has few raw material deposits. Deposits of quartz sand, cladding limestone and kaolin have been found and exploited.
Transport, industry and agriculture
Ruse Region features an advantageous transport and geographic location, and the only bridge in operation along the Bulgarian section of the river Danube is situated near Ruse. It serves the road and rail connections with Central and Eastern Europe. The region's favourable climate and soil conditions are beneficial to agriculture and one of the oldest agricultural experimental stations, providing scientific agro-technical services to the agrarian sector, is situated in the village of Slivo Pole. A skilled labour force, rich research potential, the ability to attract foreign investment, cross-border co-operation opportunities and conditions for the development of tourism are additional assets.
As well as being one of Bulgaria's largest industrial centres, the city of Ruse plays an important role in the country's economic relations with abroad. There is a large oil refinery here, which does not operate to full capacity however. As a duty free zone has been established in the city, this has a positive impact on attracting foreign investors here.
Unemployment rate has increased as a consequence of the current restructuring of industry and agriculture, and since 1992 a decline in the size of the region's population has been noted. There are environmental problems relating to pollution of the Danube's water as well as cross-border air pollution. As a result of the latter problem, there has been an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases and allergies. For this reason some inhabitants have migrated to other parts of the country.
One of the most developed regions
In 2001, the Gross Value Added represented 3.0% of that of the country. Agriculture had a share of 18.4%, while that of industry was 28.0% and the services were responsible for the remaining 53.6%.
A below average birth rate of 7.6 per thousand (in 2002), combined with a higher than average death rate (15.3 per thousand in 2002), contribute to the declining population numbers. Infant mortality at 9.9 per thousand (in 2002) is below the national average of 13.3 per thousand, and is one of the lowest values among the 28 regions. In 2002, people under 25 represented 27% of the population while those over 65 had a share of 18%.
Almost one third of those gainfully employed is engaged in industry. The energy sector is represented by one of the biggest thermal power plants in this country. The most important industrial sectors are machine tools, engineering and metal processing (shipbuilding and ship repair), followed by the food and beverages industry. The range of other industrial sectors comprises chemical and rubber industry, textile industry and the manufacture of building materials.
Arable land covers 58% of the region's area (in 2002), and a quarter of it is irrigated. Cereals, sunflowers, sugar beat, hemp, vineyards and orchards predominate. In addition to cattle, sheep and pig breeding, sericulture and apiculture also play a part in agriculture here.
The average annual wages were established at 11.8% under the national average in 2002. When considering agriculture alone, the level of the region was 14.0% over the national average. 3.2% of those gainfully employed nationally live in the region (2000 data) while the unemployment level of 17.4% (2002 data) is above average.
The length of the regional road network is 501 km (in 2002) and road density is just over the national average. The importance of the Ruse-Varna railroad will increase with the growth of international transit traffic along European Corridor No. 7 (the river Danube) and the Ruse - Gorna Oryahovitsa railroad (part of European Corridor No. 9). The Danube Bridge was constructed in 1953 and allows for rail and road connections to Romania and other European countries. The city of Ruse has an international river port and a civil airport.
All settlements have electric and water connections. A total of 124 educational establishments, including a technical university, cover the region's needs from primary school to tertiary level. During the 2002/2003 school year, there were 7 244 students in colleges and universities, most of which were at University or equivalent higher schools. Furthermore, 555 teachers were registered, representing 22.4% of all the teachers regsitered in the North Central region.
In 2002, there were 4 museums, 2 cinemas and 3 theaters in Pleven.
Medical services are provided by several hospitals; 8.0 beds are provided per 1 000 inhabitants. At the first of January 2003, there were 667 physicians, out of which 22% were all-practical, 132 dentists as well as 1 264 people with intermediate level of medical education. Taken together, this represented 19% of the staff of the North Central region.
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