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Haskovo region comprises
part of the Balkan Range, the valley of Kazanluk, the Eastern parts of the Sredna Gora Mountains, the Maritsa valley and the Eastern
Rhodope. It has a specific
meridian location. The total area is 13,824 sq. km or 12.4% of the territory of the country.
The north communications go via Shipka pass and the Pass of the Republic. A tunnel under the ridge of the Balkan Range between Gabrovo
and
Kazanluk
, along which a high speed railway will pass has been designed and construction is forthcoming. To the south international traffic uses the two frontier check-points: at Capitan Andreevo (with Turkey) and Ormenion-
Svilengrad
(with Greece).
Polymetal ores near Madzharovo and the non-metalliferous minerals near Kardzhaly, Dzhebel, and
Topolovgrad
are of economic importance. The climate is very
favorable for the development of intensive farming. Water resources are used for water supply, power generation and irrigation. The hot springs near
Stara Zagora
,
Haskovo
and
Pavel Banya
make them spas.
The population of the region is 903,928 (10.7% of the population in the country). Its ethnic composition is
diverse. Compact population of the Turkish ethnic group lives in the south part - Ardino, Dzhebel, Momchilgrad, Kardzhaly. The post 1990 democratic changes in Bulgaria ensured democratic elections and many communities of the region elected Turks to be the local authorities. In 1993 the unemployed were 14.6%, but in the communities in the south of the region the percentage is significantly higher.
The economy is industrial-agrarian. Coal mining and production of electricity (in Maritsa basin, between the towns
Galabovo
,
Radnevo
and Dimitrovgrad) and the mining of
polymetal ores (near Madzharovo) are of national importance. Haskovo region generates 1/3 of the electricity of the
country in the Maritsa-Iztok energy complex and manufactures 65% of the nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate) in Dimitrovgrad and
Stara Zagora
. Electronics is a priority and located in Stara Zagora in the research and development complex for electronic memory devices. Textile industry - wool cotton and silk fabrics, is characteristic of
Haskovo
,
Kazanluk
,
Svilengrad
and Harmanly.
Nature has a strong influence over the specialization of agriculture. The enterprise mix is: 61% cereals, 18% industrial crops, 5% vegetables and 16% fodder crops.
Kazanluk
is the
center of the production and distillation of the famous rose from whose petals essential rose oil is derived. That is why the valley is called "The Valley of Roses". The central part of the region
farms cotton, sunflower, vegetables, and the south lands - Oriental tobacco
(Ardino, Dzhebel). Livestock breeding is strictly regionalized. Cows and pigs are typical of the flatlands and sheep of the hilly and mountainous areas.
Haskovo
(81,000 citizens) is the administrative center in the middle of the region. Dimitrovgrad, an important industrial town is nearby. Nationally important are the enterprises for synthetic silk, cement, mineral fertilizers, coal mining.
The biggest town,
Stara Zagora
lies at the foothills of the Sarnena Gora Mountains. It is an academic
center with high agricultural. An ancient Thrachian tomb with valuable wall paintings has been exposed in Kazanluk which is
situated north of
Stara Zagora
.
Svilengrad
which is close to the frontier check-points with Turkey and Greece has free trade zone. The investment of foreign capital in it is increasing.
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