BLAGOEVGRAD - Geography and history
The south-western corner of Bulgaria
With the city of Blagoevgrad as its administrative centre, the region is situated in the south-western corner of the Republic of Bulgaria. In addition to internal borders with the regions of Kyustendil, Pazardjik and Smolyan, it is bounded by part of the state frontier with the Republic of Greece to the south, and the state frontier with Macedonia to the west.
The population accounts for 336 988 people (in 2002) or 4.3% of the national total. Blagoevgrad covers an area of 6 449km2 or 5.8% of the national total, corresponding to the third largest region after Bourgas and Sofia (Region). Its importance for cross-border trade is indicated by the fact that there are three of Bulgaria's busiest border-crossing points within its area, one with Greece and two with Macedonia. In terms of administrative set-up, the region comprises 14 municipalities with 280 settlements.
The region extends across the entire Mount Pirin area, parts of the Western Rhodopes, Mount Rila, the Belasitsa and Slaviyanka mountains, as well as parts of the mountains along the western frontier. Numerous valleys lie in between. The climate is very diverse, from transitional-continental to transitional-Mediterranean in the south. The major rivers in the region are the Struma and Mesta and their tributaries. The soil cover ranges from forest soil in the mountain areas to alluvial soils in the river valleys.
Water is an important resource for this area, with numerous lakes on Mount Pirin, as well as thermal mineral springs in Sandanski, Marikostino and Ognyanovo. While raw mineral resources are noted for their diversity (antimony, molybdenum, iron ore, coal, feldspar, and marble), only coal and marble are of economic significance.
The historical heritage goes back to the traces left behind by the Thracians, the Romans (ruins of the ancient Roman city Nikopolis ad Nestum), and the Greeks, although the historical landmarks from the Middle Ages are the most numerous. The Renaissance Period is preserved at Melnik, Bansko, Kovachevitsa and Dolen.
Advantageous geographic location for cross-border co-operation
A more effective use of the available resources should help future developments of the region's economy, society and infrastructure. Its advantageous location geographically and for transport purposes should provide a further impetus for this development. Alternative forms of tourism and cross border co-operation rank among the main objectives of future development. That Mount Pirin, which includes the Pirin National Park, known as one of the most beautiful mountain areas in Europe, has now been included in UNESCO's list of world natural and cultural heritage sites should boost tourism to the region. The main forms of tourism in the area are skiing (Bansko), tourism based around spa resorts, and cultural tours.
The major development problems of Blagoevgrad Region are related to the unfavourable trends in its economic state. The opportunities for technological and product-line restructuring of the industrial sector are not very large. The limited amount of capital being invested here is a retarding factor. The transport infrastructure is distributed unevenly throughout the region's territory. Furthermore, it is not sufficiently developed to meet the intense traffic from and to the countries bordering the region. These two factors hamper the optimal use of the region's geographic location. Part of these problems will be resolved with the expansion of cross-border co-operation with Greece and Macedonia.
Strong industrial sector
In terms of its demographic characteristics, Blagoevgrad Region resembles its neighbouring regions. The population is concentrated mainly in the valleys and for that reason the population density of 52.3 inhabitants per km2 in 2002 is below the national average, while the urban population accounts for 55.8% of the total. The cities of Blagoevgrad, Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev and Razlog are the most populated of the region's settlements. The south-western parts are inhabited by Bulgarian-Moslems whose occupation is predominantly in the field of agriculture (tobacco-growing).
Although less acute than the national picture, the trend is nevertheless towards an aging population. Infant mortality at 10.0 per thousand (in 2002) is lower than the national average of 13.3. The employment rate was 50.9% in 2002, which is the highest amongst the regions, while the unemployment rate of 7.4% in 2002 was the lowest in the country.
Industry has an important place in the economic structure of the region. It produces 35.3% of the total value added (in 2001), and employs 35% of the total number of those employed (in 2000). The leading industrial sectors are machine tools engineering and metal processing, electronics, food and beverages production, textile industry, and woodworking. The timber industry is at Yakoruda, Belitsa, and Bansko, coal mining at Simitli and marble extraction at Sandanski and Strumyani.
Arable land covers only 6.3% of the region (in 2002), and potatoes, cereals and vines are the major branches of agricultural production.
Infrastructure indicators are below average, with average road density at 102.2 km per 1 000 km2 (in 2002). The region is crossed by a section of the E 79 highway (Sofia-Blagoevgrad-Kulata) and sections of the Sofia-Kulata and Septemvri-Dobrinitse railroads. 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 97 186 of which 86% for households.
Two universities, a regional hospital, and numerous schools are situated in Blagoevgrad town. At the end of 2002, the region counted 826 physicians, 243 dentists and 1 459 personnel with intermediate level of medical education and personnel graduated in medical colleges with level "specialist". During the school year 2002/2003, there were 10 930 students and 803 teachers in colleges, universities and equivalent higher schools.
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