PAZARDZHIK - Geography and history
Forested, but fertile
The region, with the city of Pazardzhik as its regional centre, is situated in the central part of South Bulgaria. It borders the regions of Blagoevgrad, Sofia, Smolyan and Plovdiv. The total area of Pazarjik Region is 4 457 km2, accounting for 4.0% of the national territory. The population is 305 790 inhabitants (in 2002), and population density (69 inhabitants per km2 in 2002) is slightly under the national average. The urban population is 57% of the total. There are 11 municipalities in the region. Some of the larger cities are Pazardzhik, Velingrad, Panagyurishte, Peshtera and Septemvri.
In terms of location, the region runs along busy roads connecting Western and Central Europe to the Middle East and Asia. For centuries the geographic situation of Pazardzhik Region has had a positive impact on the development of this area. In the Middle Ages many settlements situated along the busy roads used to perform the functions of fortified points, market places and handicraft centres.
The area of Pazardzhik Region extends over parts of the Western Rhodopes, Rila, Sredna Gora Proper and Ihtiman Stredna Gora, as well as the western end of the Pazardzhik-Plovdiv plain. The relief is quite diverse, alternating from flat to undulating to mountainous.
The climate is transitory continental (in the flatland) and mountainous (in the highland areas of the region). The river Maritsa and its larger tributaries, the Yadenitsa, Chepinska. Stara Reka, and Luda Yana, flow through here. Thermal mineral springs are found at Velingrad, Nelovo, Varvara, Bratsigovo, Strelcha, and Banya.
Soil types are characterised by rich diversity, from highly fertile soils in the Pazardzhik-Plovdiv plain to poorer soils in the mountainous areas. With over half the region's area covered by forests, this is well above average. Deciduous forests are found in the area of Sredna Gora and part of the Rhodopes and coniferous forests predominate in the Rhodopes.
Active exploitation of mineral resources
The positive characteristics spurring regional development are firstly related to the abundance of mineral and raw material resources, of which the non-ferrous metal ore (copper) deposits at the Panagyurishte mining basin are of the greatest significance. They have been subject to active exploitation for several decades now. Other actively exploited sources of raw mineral materials are the marble deposits near Velingrad and limestone near the village of Ognyanovo.
The region has considerable potential for hydro-electric power. One of the biggest hydro-power facilities, the Batak Hydro-Power Cascade, has been constructed in its area.
The existing natural and historical landmarks, and the presence of numerous thermal water springs are factors to encourage the development of tourism, which is already well developed in certain settlements such as Velingrad, Batak, and Rakitovo.
Among the positive regional features is the good demographic situation, the region having one of the most progressive age structures in the country.
The major problems in the development of Pazardzhik Region have been identified as the different degree of capitalisation of the territory and the high unemployment rate, which is substantially above average. The latter could be attributed mainly to the restructuring of the economic sector in the transition period. Another problem is environmental pollution, as high emission of sulphur oxides have been recorded here.
Better than average demographic profile
The region enjoys a relatively better demographic profile than most other regions, with a birth rate of 9.3 per thousand in 2002 (higher than the national average) and death rate of 12.8 per thousand (lower than the national average). The age structure indicates that the age group under 25 years accounted for 31% of the population in 2002 (against 28% nationally), while the share of those aged 65 and over is only 15% (against 17% nationally). Infant mortality, at 12.6 per thousand live births, is just under the national average. The region is inhabited by a large numbers of ethnic gypsies in the municipalities of Pazardzhik, and Peshtera, and by Bulgarian Moslems in the municipality of Velingrad.
Industry has a major function in the economy of Pazardzhik Region, contributing 26% to the regional value added (in 2001) and employing almost 30% of those working. The mining industry, the largest enterprise in the region is engaged in mining non-ferrous metal ores. Some of the larger industrial centres are the city of Pazardzhik (food and beverages production, textile industry), Peshtera (chemical and pharmaceutical industry, energy generation), and Velingrad (wood-working).
Arable land accounts for a small share of the region's area (15.0% in 2002) because of the predominantly mountainous relief of the region. However, the fertile soils have spurred agricultural development of fruit, vegetables and cereals (including rice) in the Pazardzhik-Plovdiv plain. Potatoes and hops (Velingrad, Rakitovo), cherries, oil crops (Panagyurishte, Strelcha), strawberries, and raspberries are grown in the hilly areas of the region.
The employment indicators reveal a worrying picture of employment conditions in the region. The activity rate is among the lowest in the country and the unemployment rate of 12.5% (in 2002) is below the country average.
Road network density at 167 km per 1 000 km2 is below the national average of 181 km per km2 (in 2002). A section of the Trakiya Highway and a section of the A-Class Sofia-Pazardzhik-Plovdiv road cross through the region. The railway infrastructure consists of a section of the Septemvri-Dobrinishte railroad. 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 84 720 of which 87% for households.
During the 2002/2003 school year, there were 133 students in colleges. Furthermore, 31 teachers were registered, representing less than 1% of all the teachers registered in the South Central region.
|
|