KYUSTENDIL - Geography and history
Border region with diverse nature
Situated in south-western Bulgaria, the region has the city of Kyustendil as its administrative centre and covers an area of 3 051 km2 (2.7% of the national total). It borders the regions of Pernik, Sofia and Blagoevgrad, while to south-west it shares a frontier with Serbia and Montenegro and with Macedonia. Within the region, there are 9 municipalities and 182 settlements. The region's 158 746 inhabitants (in 2002) represent 2.0% of the national total, making it one of the smaller regions by size of population. The population density at 52 inhabitants per km2 (in 2002) is well below the national average, while the urban population accounts for 64.4% of the total (also below the national average).
Thracian tribes, who were conquered by the Romans after the 1st century A.D, were the first inhabitants of this area. Attracted by the convenient crossroads location and the availability of mineral springs, the Romans founded a settlement under the name of Pautaiia. During the period of Ottoman rule, Kyustendil and its surrounding area was an important trade and manufacturing centre.
The relief is characterised by great diversity. The region extends as far as the border mountains of Ossogovo and Vlahina, and to parts of the Rila, Verila, Konyavska and Zemenska mountains. Numerous valleys are situated in-between, the most important ones being the Kyustendil Valley and Dupnitsa Valley. The major rivers running through the area are the river Struma and its tributaries: Treklyanska, Dragovishtitsa, Bistritsa, Rilska, Djermen. There are glacier lakes on Mount Rila.
Mineral resources in the region comprise brown and lignite coal, marble, dolomite and mixed ores.
Historic sites to attract tourism
Kyustendil region is noted for landmarks which are deemed to be part of the world's heritage. The principal cultural and historical site is the famous Rila Monastery, which is included in UNESCO's list of protected sites. Other protected sites are the seven Rila Lakes, and the Stob Pyramids. The central part of the city of Kyustendil has been declared a site of architectural and archaeological interest.
Adding to the natural wealth of the region are its healthy mineral springs. The most renowned of them is the one at Sapareva Banya, which is the hottest in Bulgaria with a water temperature of 102oC and is exploited for spa treatments. Overall, the region's natural wealth and the abundance of cultural landmarks should encourage future developments of the tourist industry.
Cross-border co-operation should provide ample opportunities for future development, as should the region's advantageous transport and geographic location and its favourable climate for agriculture.
One of the major regional problems is its worsening age structure. The share of the population under 25 (25.3% in 2002) is one of the lowest nationally, and is coupled with a high proportion of the population above 65 years (20.3%). A further negative factor which contributes to the decrease in the population is the high death rate (17.2 per thousand) which is far above the low birth rate (6.8 per thousand).
Although the region is renowned for its well preserved nature, there are some specific environmental problems. The major one is related to the coal mining industry in the municipality of Bobov Dol, which causes substantial damage to the environment.
Other regional problems are the high proportion of the population subject to water rationing, around 45%, and the high unemployment rate (18.3% in 2002), which is the highest within the South-West region.
Industry, energy generation, agriculture
As noted above, the demographic indicators are not positive and the infant mortality at 14.6 per thousand (in 2002) is over the national average.
The share of active population, which has been declining since 1993, accounts for 44.4% of the inhabitants in 2002. Moreover, the labour force of the region account for only 1.9% of the total number of those employed nationwide (in 2002), while the unemployment level is just below the national average.
The region features an industrial-agrarian economy. The energy sector is represented by the Bobov Dol Thermal Power Plant which runs on locally produced coal. The major industrial sectors, besides energy generation and coal mining, are the pharmaceutical and timber industry and woodworking.
Arable land accounts for 7.7% of the area (in 2002), with one-third of it being irrigated. The major branches of agricultural production are cereals, wheat, potatoes and fruit. Stock-breeding covers all types of animals, involving broad use of mountain pastures. The process of restoring ownership rights on agricultural land has been completed.
With 588 km of roads here (in 2002), giving a density of 192.7 km per 1 000 km2, the region exceeds the national average. The major routes traversing the region are the international E 79 highway Sofia-Kulata-Thessaloniki (part of European Corridor No.4) and Sofia-Kyustendil-Gyueshevo-Skopije (part of European corridor No.8). The Sofia-Dupnitsa-Kulata-Thessaloniki and Sofia-Kyustendil-Gyueshevo railroads also cross the region, and there are plans to extend the railroad from Gyueshevo via Kumanovo to Skopje (Macedonia).
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 57 219 of which 89% for households.
At the end of 2002, the region counted 473 physicians, 112 dentists and 824 personnel with intermediate level of medical education and personnel graduated in medical colleges with level "specialist". During the school year 2002/2003, there were 189 students and 65 teachers in colleges of the district.
In 2000 there were also 24 theatre, 2 museums and 2 cinemas in the district. In the regional centre of Kyustendil there is an archaeological museum, an art gallery and a theatre.
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