NORTH-CENTRAL REGION - Geography and history
Centre of the second Bulgarian state
Thracian tribes inhabited this area in former times. Remnants of Roman strongholds at Melta Lovech and Storgozia (Pleven), which were built after the Roman conquest of the Balkan Peninsula, have been preserved here. From 1185 till 1393, this territory was the centre of the second Bulgarian state, which had its capital at Veliko Turnovo. The fortifications on the Tcarevec hill, the remnants of the churches on the Trapezica hill and the numerous monasteries in the vicinity of Ivankovo (in the region of Rousse) date from that time. Under Ottoman rule, many trading and cultural centres were founded, such as Gabrovo, Elena, Triavna and Svishtov. In 1834, after river transport along the Danube River began, the region developed into an important transport centre.
Administratively, the region comprises 5 sub-regions (Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Lovech and Gabrovo), which have 41 municipalities and 1 049 settlements between them. The main regional centres are Ruse with 166 000 inhabitants, followed by Pleven and Gabrovo.
Spanning the central part of North Bulgaria, the region borders all other regions in the country. The Danube River, here forming the state frontier with Romania, demarcates the region to the north. The southern border runs along the Balkan mountain ridge, where the convenient Shipka and Hainboaz mountain passes are situated. In functional terms, the western and eastern ends of the region do not actually coincide with the administrative borders of the oblasti within it, due to the influence exerted over these zones by the main towns in the adjacent North-West and North-East planning regions.
Two of Bulgaria's main oil refineries are sited here, in the regions of Pleven and Rousse.
North-Central Region benefits from a number of advantages. Agriculture is well developed, thanks to a favourable climate and good soils. As a result, the region leads in the production of vegetables and in vine growing. Another regional advantage is its favourable geographic location in relation to local transport axes and to international transport routes. The 7th and the 9th European traffic corridors cross its territory, the former following the right bank of the Danube River. Part of a major local route, the Hemus highway, runs through North-Central Region. Industrial potential is focussed on the food and textile branches.
However, on the less positive side, the demographic situation in the region is of particular concern, with the main problem being the declining population. This is due mainly to the aging of the population and considerable migratory flows to the rest of the country. As a result, the region has one the highest death rates and lowest birth rates nationally. Another problem is the excessive concentration of the population in the major regional towns, which has a detrimental effect on overall living standards.
The region also suffers from environmental damage, particularly around Pleven and Zlatna Panega, where the major cement-producing enterprises are sited. The extraction of ore deposits also contributes to environmental pollution. Furthermore, economic development is hindered by the disappearance of some markets, while a lack of resources has led to considerable cut backs in production and a corresponding drop in employment levels.
Natural variety
With its territory of 18 270 km2, the North-Central Region covers 16.5% of Bulgaria's total area. The largest share of it belongs to the region of Veliko Turnovo and the smallest part is taken up by the region of Gabrovo.
Its relief is quite diverse, reflecting the steady increase in altitude as one moves south across the region from the plains and fertile lowlands that dominate the landscape in its most northern parts. In the lower Balkans, the relief is predominantly hilly whereas the core of the rugged Balkan mountain chain spreads through the southern parts. Due to its high altitudes, transport connections with South Bulgaria go through the Shipka and Vitinia passes.
The climate is moderately continental in the north and centre of the region but becomes a typically mountain climate further to the south. The Danube plain and the lower Balkans are wide open to the north and northeast, which accounts for the influx of cold air masses. The average annual temperatures are between 11.5ºC and 12ºC. The distribution of annual precipitation, which is between 500 mm in the Danube plain and 1000 mm in the mountainous south, is extremely favourable for agricultural development.
Arable land accounts for 36.8% of the region's total area (in 2002). The fertile alluvial soils in the Danube plain are useful for agriculture, particularly for growing vegetables and crops.
Limited water resources are provided by the Danube, Iantra and Rosica rivers. The water resources of the Al. Stamboliisky artificial lake on the Rosiotca river, are used for irrigation and hydroelectric production. The mineral water pumped at Slivek (Lovech) and Shipkovo (Troyan) has spurred the growth of several health resorts and tourist centres.
There are limited deposits of ores and minerals. In addition to basalt and fire-resistant clay deposits, small amounts of natural gas are extracted at Lukovit and Dolin Dabnik. The region's limestone deposits have spurred the production of cement at Pleven and Zlatna Panega.
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