- Pirdop
Pirdop ( _bg. Пирдоп) is a town located in South-West
Bulgaria ofSofia Province in the southeastern part of theZlatitsa - Pirdop Valley at 670 m above sea level. It is surrounded by theBalkan Range to the north,Sredna Gora Mountain to the south, andKoznitsa andGalabets saddles to the east and west, respectively. The town has a population of 8,040.Economy
The main economic activity is
non-ferrous metallurgy . The Pirdopcopper smelter andrefinery is the biggest in theBalkans and whole ofSouth-Eastern Europe . It was privatized in in 1997 for $80,000,000 [cite web
url=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.easibulgaria.org%2FPrivatization_KRassen.doc&ei=TZz6RfewNqb4QdSI8JAP&usg=__3KFTiHCOErni3ZXN0-jJ-j2HMF8=&sig2=XvudJgQApsyywMF1HIT3Ww
title=Политическа икономия на раздържавяването в България
publisher=
accessdate=2007-03-16] and is now owned by theBelgian Cumerio. It has a capacity of 160 000 tons and additional capacity of 180 000 tons worth €82,000,000 is being built. The factory also produces 830,000 tons ofsulphuric acid and employs 1,420 workers. [cite web
url=http://www.cumerio.com/en/ourCompany/groupStructure/operations/pirdop/
title=Pirdop Cumerio Med
publisher=
accessdate=2007-01-03 ]Municipality
Pirdop is a centre of a small
municipality with 9,460 inhabitants. The territory of the municipality is crossed by main road I -6Sofia -Bourgas , which is a part of the Republican road network, as well as by the Sub-Balkan railway line toBourgas . The municipality consists of municipal center town of Pirdop and the village ofDushantsi . The town is the center of tourist routes to theBalkan Range andSredna Gora Mountain. There are some mountain huts conveniently located and equipped for visits. There are convenient roads leading to Doushantsi Dam Lake, Koufarita Bridge, the localities of Borova Gora, Bobyovitsa, Elensko and Kazanite, and others. Doushantsi Dam Lake on theTopolnitsa River is one of the most beautiful mountainous water reservoirs inBulgaria . Although the accommodation facilities are insufficient, there are good opportunities for short vacations for recreation and sports fishing. There are also good conditions for water sports and attractions.Honour
Pirdop Gate onLivingston Island in theSouth Shetland Islands ,Antarctica is named after Pirdop.Notes
External links
* [http://www.mybulgaria.info/about-Pirdop.html My Bulgaria - Pirdop Valley]
* [http://www.virtual-bulgaria.com/bulgaria/southwestern_bulgaria/65.cntns Virtual Bulgaria - Southwester Bulgaria]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.