Pazardzhik Province
589038
202350446
2008-03-31T18:32:41Z
Cameltrader
1809190
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 202297324 by [[Special:Contributions/Uannis|Uannis]] ([[User talk:Uannis|talk]])
{{Infobox Province of Bulgaria
|Cyrillic = Област Пазарджик
|Map = Pazardzhik.PNG
|Capital = [[Pazardzhik]]
|Municipalities = 11
|Area = 4,459 [[Square kilometre|km²]]
|Population = 317,358 GRAO (14.09.2007)
|Density = 68 persons/km²
|LicensePlate = PA
|Governor = Angel Cholakov
|Website =
}}
'''Pazardzhik''' is a [[province]] located in southern [[Bulgaria]] and covers 4,458 km². Ranging from 190 to 370 [[Metre|m]] above sea level, Pazardzhik is home to 319,358 people (1998).
The province is abundant with [[water resources]], its main [[waterway]] is the river [[Maritsa]] and its [[catchment basin]] includes the [[Topolnitsa River]] and [[Luda Yana River]].
== Economy ==
[[Image:BatakChurch.JPG|thumb|left|300px|A church in Batak.]]
The backbone of the economy in the region is industry. The "Batashki Vodnosilov Pat" is an important hydrocomplex consisting of three hydro power plants- "Batak", "Peshtera" and "Aleko" with combined capacity of around 250 MW. Copper extracting industry is of national and European importance with major mines located around Panagyurishte (Asarel and Medet), [[Elshitsa]], [[Tsar Asen]] and [[Mina Radka]]. Machine building industry is developed in [[Pazardzhik]] (lead acid batteries), [[Panagyurishte]] (optical), [[Velingrad]]. There is flourishing pharmaceutical industry in [[Peshtera]] with more than 1 000 employees in the plant. Paper industry is developed in [[Belovo, Bulgaria|Belovo]]. Timber industry is very important in the southern part of the region (the Rhodopes)- [[Batak, Bulgaria|Batak]], [[Peshtera]], [[Rakitovo]] and [[Velingrad]]. The manufacturing of textiles in well developed in [[Pazardzhik]], [[Panagyurishte]] and [[Velingrad]]. There is a huge footware plant in [[Peshtera]]. Food processing industry is developed in most of the towns.
Agriculture is also important, especially in the fertile central parts of the region. The most important crops are orchards (apples, plums and strawberries), grapes, wheat, barley, rye and rice. Livestock breeding is relatively well developed in the mountainous areas.
=== Tourism ===
[[Image:Scardinius erythrophthalmus.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The rudd is one of the most common fish to the found in the dams]]
The province has considerable opportunities to develop mountain and rural tourism, especially in the southern parts where the [[Rhodope]] mountains are located. The slopes are covered with dense deciduous and higher up, coniferous forests, dotted with numerous artificial lakes. The largest one is the [[Batak Dam]], on whose shores are built two resorts: ''Tsigov Chark'' and ''Saint Konstantin'' as well as many villas and shrines. Fish is abundant in the dams, including [[carp]], [[rudd]], [[roach]] [[barbel]], [[perch]], [[zander]] and many others; the mountain streams are rich in [[trout]]. There are spa resorts in [[Velingrad]], [[Strelcha]], [[Banya]], [[Varvara]]. The most famous landmarks are located in [[Panagyurishte]], [[Pazardzhik]], [[Batak, Bulgaria|Batak]], [[Velingrad]].
Impressive ruins of an ancient basilica rise in the hilly country, close to the town of [[Belovo]]. Numerous ruined fortresses are scattered around the province, the most famous of these are [[Tsepina]], and the ramparts near [[Bata, Pazardzhik Province|Bata]] and [[Strelcha]].
== Transportation and communications ==
The road network is not dense. The [[Trakiya motorway]] runs through the middle of the region. The main railway between [[Sofia]] and [[Plovdiv]] also runs through it. There are two other railways: to [[Panagyurishte]] and to [[Peshtera]]. There are several military airports.
As everywhere in [[Bulgaria]], every town and village in the region is provided with electricity, drinking water and telephone network. Each town and some villages are provided with Internet connection, and the cellular phone coverage is almost 100%, as most people own GSMs.
Some of the interconnecting roads, especially higher up the mountain, are currently in a very bad state following heavy downpours in 2005 and 2006.
== Major towns ==
[[Image:Batak dam afternoon view.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Batak Dam]]
Its principal city is [[Pazardzhik]], and other municipalities are [[Batak]], [[Belovo]], [[Bratsigovo]], [[Kostandovo]], [[Lesichovo]], [[Panagyurishte]], [[Peshtera]], [[Rakitovo]], [[Septemvri]], [[Strelcha]], and [[Velingrad]].
'''Towns in the Pazardzhik Province by population''' :
* [[Pazardzhik]]- 81 485
* [[Velingrad]]- 23 960
* [[Panagyurishte]]- 22 252
* [[Peshtera]]- 20 020
* [[Septemvri]]- 8 631
* [[Rakitovo]]- 8 304
* [[Bratsigovo]]- 4 577
* [[Strelcha]]- 4 515
* [[Kostandovo]]- 4 356
* [[Belovo, Bulgaria|Belovo]]- 4 095
* [[Batak, Bulgaria|Batak]]- 3 782
* [[Sarnitsa]]- 3 607
* [[Vetren]]- 3 562
==External links==
<br/>{{Provinces of Bulgaria}}
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[[Category:Pazardzhik Province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Bulgaria]]
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[[bg:Област Пазарджик]]
[[ca:Província de Pazardzhik]]
[[cs:Pazardžická oblast]]
[[de:Oblast Pasardschik]]
[[et:Pazardžiki piirkond]]
[[fr:Pazardjik (oblast)]]
[[id:Provinsi Pazardzhik]]
[[it:Pazardžik (regione)]]
[[mk:Пазарџичка област]]
[[nl:Pazardzjik (oblast)]]
[[ja:パザルジク州]]
[[pl:Obwód Pazardżik]]
[[pt:Pazardzhik (distrito)]]
[[ro:Regiunea Pazargik]]
[[sk:Pazardžik (oblasť)]]
[[sr:Пазарџичка област]]
[[tg:Вилояти Пазарджик]]
[[tr:Pazarcık ili]]
[[zh:帕扎爾吉克州]]