SMOLYAN - Geography and history
Country's most mountainous region
Situated in Southern Bulgaria Smolyan Region has an area of 3 193 km2, which represents 2.9% of the national territory. It shares a border with the internal regions of Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Kardjali and Blagoevgrad, while to the south the regional boundary overlaps with the state frontier of the Republic of Greece. In administrative terms it comprises 10 municipalities, which differ considerably in terms of area, population, socio-economic details and infrastructure. There are 242 settlements here, including 8 cities, the largest of which are Smolyan, Zlatograd, Madan, Devin and Chepelare.
In 2002, Smolyan Region had 137 005 inhabitants or 1.7% of the total population of Bulgaria. In 2002, the population density was established at 42.9 inhabitants per km2, which was considerably lower than the national average of 70.7 inhabitants per km2.
The climate is predominantly mountainous, whereas in the south-eastern parts of the region it is transitional Mediterranean. The Arda, Vacha, and Chepelarska Reka rivers flow through its area. The Smolyan lakes and the thermal mineral springs near Devin, Mikhalkovo, Beden, and Banite are the region's main sources of water. The forest vegetation consists of primarily deciduous trees (in lower areas) and coniferous trees (in the highland belts).
Nature as a regional asset
With respect to its physical geography, Smolyan Region is characterised by considerable diversity. The fact that it covers substantial portions of the Western Rhodopes reflects on its physical and geographic characteristics. The relief has an expressed mountainous character, which has considerable impact on the entire regional development in terms of socio-economics, settlements and infrastructure.
The region is rich in mineral resources such as lead-zinc ores, which are found in the Madan, Nedelino and Mikhalkovo ore fields, as well as fluorite, granite and syenite.
The current development of Smolyan Region is characterised by problems ensuing from the stagnation in mining and processing industries, as well as the shortage of investment of any real scale. The less developed technical infrastructure and social services also hamper future regional expansion.
The direction of future development for the region relates to opportunities for more efficient use of the region's resource base. Among its objectives are the development of hydro-energy, tourism and the potential in organic agriculture that could play a leading role in the regional economy.
The border location of the region is one of the main advantages for the development of cross-border co-operation with neighbouring communities in Greece.
Extractive industry, mountainous agriculture and tourism
The region suffered a drop in its population in the period 1995-2000, amounting to 4.5% (and the highest in the South-Central region). Although a growing number of settlements are being depopulated, the region's age structure is balanced. The share of the age group below 25 is 29% (in 2002), while those over 65 account for 14%, the latter being one of the lowest shares nationally. Furthermore, life expectancy figures are some of the highest in the country. Both the birth rate of 7.4 per thousand and the death rate at 10.3 per thousand are among the lowest in Bulgaria (2002 figures). The infant mortality, at 5.9 per thousand live births in 2002, is by far the lowest in the country.
In 2002, the employment rate was of 39.5% in the region, slightly under the national average. The unemployment level of 30.8 % (in 2002) is well above the national figure of 16.8 %.
Extraction industries (ore mining, timber industry), woodworking and the food and beverages industry are important to the economy of Smolyan Region. Mining and froth floatation of ore and non-ferrous metals are the leading economic sectors. The services sector is also important, accounting for 41% of the region's employment (in 2000) and 60% of the regional value added. Among the leading activities in this sector are tourism, commerce, and transport and communications.
Arable land occupies only 2.8% of the region's area (the lowest figure nationally), which hampers agricultural development. As a result, the lowest yields from the main agricultural crops are found here. However, the agricultural sector employs 32% of the labour force and contributes around 23% to the regional value added. Fish farming is a specific sector developed here.
The region has a total road length of 540 km (in 2002), and a road density of 169 km per 1 000 km2, which is under the national average. Roads are mainly C- and D-Class roads. 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 49 385 of which 87% for households.
At the first of January 2003, there were 380 physicians, out of which 24% were all-practical, 102 dentists as well as 749 people with intermediate level of medical education. Taken together, this represented 7% of the staff of the South Central region.
During the 2002/2003 school year, there were 857 students in colleges and universities, out of which 82% were at University or equivalent higher schools. Furthermore, 132 teachers were registered, representing 3.2% of all the teachers registered in the South Central region.
The best-developed infrastructure may be found in the city of Smolyan, with a theatre, a regional hospital, museums, public libraries, and numerous educational establishments.
Of note for the tourist sector is the internationally renowned Pamporovo resort, which is situated here.
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