SOFIA - Geography and history
Surrounding its administrative centre
Sofia Region is the sole region in the country whose administrative centre is situated outside its area - in the city of Sofia. The region is situated in the south-eastern part of Bulgaria. It borders the municipalities of Montana, Vratsa, Kyustendil, Pernik, Plovdiv, Pazardjik and Sofia (capital) Region. To the west its boundary overlaps with part of the state frontier of Serbia and Montenegro.
It is the second largest region in Bulgaria after Bourgas, comprising 22 municipalities within which there are 282 settlements. The population is 267 879 inhabitants (2002) or 3.4% of the national total. The population density, of 37.9 inhabitants per km2, is only half the national average, despite the proximity of Sofia City. Over half the population lives in the towns of Samokov, Botevgrad, Ihtiman, and Kostinbrod.
Remains of mediaeval fortresses (Urvich) and ancient human settlements are evidence of the rich historical past of the area covered by the present-day Sofia Region.
Sofia Region's geography is quite diverse. It extends over parts of the Western Balkan mountain range, Mount Rila and Sredna Gora, the Sofia plain and hinter-Balkan valleys. The explored deposits of mineral resources comprise coal (anthracite and lignite), non-ferrous metals (copper ore), and limestone.
The climate is characterised by cold winters and hot summers with some hints of a mountainous climate in the highlands. The precipitation rate is above the national average. The region is traversed by the rivers Iskar, Maritsa, Topolnitsa, Nishava and many of their smaller tributaries. Mineral springs occur at several locations - in Kyustendil, Dolna Banya and Belchin. Soil types are quite diverse, while vegetation includes deciduous and high-quality coniferous forests of considerable economic significance.
Overshadowed by the capital city
Sofia Region is in a most unusual position in that its infrastructure, social and economic development is influenced to a great extent by the multiple functions of Sofia city, which is not even within the boundaries of the region itself. Otherwise, the problems related to the development of Sofia Region are similar to those of neighbouring regions. The unemployment level is particularly high among the gypsy population in the municipalities of Samokov and Ihtiman, while in the region's western areas there are serious problems in terms of its demographic structure.
The economic structure of the majority of the smaller municipalities is single sector, with the services branch contributing almost half to the regional value added.
However, Sofia Region benefits from an advantageous transport network and geographic location. It is traversed by important transport arteries, and one of the country's busiest border-crossing points (Kalotina) on the international London-Calcutta highway is situated here.
Sound infrastructure
The natural population growth was negative in 2002 and the age structure of the population is in the process of deteriorating. Infant mortality at 9.6 per thousand live births (in 2002) is under the national average.
The region's economy is a mixed industrial-agrarian one. Industry is represented by enterprises in the mining and processing sectors. Ore mining, timber processing, the extraction of building materials, food and beverages production and the chemical industry are all based here. Industry provides 34.2% of the regional value added (in 2001), and employs 32% of all those in work here (in 2000). Some of the larger industrial centres are the cities of Samokov, Botevgrad, Ihtiman and Svoge.
The agrarian sector fulfils a secondary function. Arable land accounts for only 8.6% of the region's area (in 2002). Cereals, potatoes, fruits, and end of season vegetables are grown here. Tourism is based around local attractions such as the famous mountain resort at Borovets.
The unemployment rate (11.6% in 2002) is under the national average. The employment rate was 41.2% in 2002, which corresponds to the national average. The labour force of the region account for 3.3% of the total number of those employed nationally (in 2002).
Important roads in the region include the Hemus and Trakiya highways, and road density here is above average at 212.5 km per 1 000 km2 (in 2002). At the end of 2002, the number of telephone posts (including the installed direct, party-line and supplementary telephone apparatus to the settlements' telephone exchanges) was 96 630 of which 89% for households.
The region's social infrastructure includes a broad network of schools, health care establishments, cultural and recreation facilities and museums. At the end of 2002, the region counted 932 physicians, 131 dentists and 1 715 personnel with intermediate level of medical education and personnel graduated in medical colleges with level "specialist". During the school year 2002/2003, there were 1 774 students and 65 teachers universities and equivalent higher schools. In 2000 there were also 13 museums in the district.
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