Pirdop

Pirdop ( _bg. Пирдоп) is a town located in South-West Bulgaria of Sofia Province in the southeastern part of the Zlatitsa - Pirdop Valley at 670 m above sea level. It is surrounded by the Balkan Range to the north, Sredna Gora Mountain to the south, and Koznitsa and Galabets 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 Pirdop copper smelter and refinery is the biggest in the Balkans and whole of South-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 the Belgian 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 of sulphuric 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 -6 Sofia - Bourgas, which is a part of the Republican road network, as well as by the Sub-Balkan railway line to Bourgas. The municipality consists of municipal center town of Pirdop and the village of Dushantsi. The town is the center of tourist routes to the Balkan Range and Sredna 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 the Topolnitsa River is one of the most beautiful mountainous water reservoirs in Bulgaria. 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 on Livingston Island in the South 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]