Petrich

Infobox Settlement
official_name = PAGENAME
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = BUL
subdivision_type1 = Provinces
(Oblast)
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Petrich
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Petrich
pushpin_mapsize =
leader_title =Mayor
postal_code_type =Postal Code
native_name=Петрич


subdivision_name1=Blagoevgrad
image_shield=
population_total=35134|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2005-09-13
elevation_m=168
postal_code=2850
area_code=0745
latd=41|latm=24|lats=|latNS=N|longd=23|longm=13|longs=|longEW=E|leader_name=Velyo Iliev

Petrich ( _bg. Петрич) is a town in Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Belasitsa mountain. Petrich is famous for the surrounding mountain landscapes. As of 2005, the town has 35,134 inhabitants.

Petrich was included in the territory of the Bulgarian State during the reign of Knyaz Boris I (852-889). During the Middle Ages it was a Bulgarian fortress of big importance during Tsar Samuil's wars (997-1014) with Byzantium. During the Ottoman rule, it was initially part of the Serez sandjak of the Rumeli vilayet. After that it became a kaza of the Serez sandjak in the Selanik vilayet, before being included in Bulgaria following the Balkan Wars in 1913. The town was briefly occupied by the Greek army in 1925 (see The incident at Petrich).The town is a center for tabac industry and vegetables, fruits growing. It has two machines factories - for water level detectors and details for cranes. There are also greenhouses. Produces peanuts.

Petrich Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for Petrich.

Municipality

Petrich is the administrative centre of Petrich municipality (part of Blagoevgrad Province), which includes the following 55 places:

Broadcasting Station

At Petrich, there is a 500 kW mediumwave broadcasting station working on 747 kHz. It uses as antenna a 205 metres tall guyed mast insulated against ground with an additional cage antenna. This mast was built in 1977.

Gallery

External links

* [http://petrich.bg/ Petrich.bg]
* [http://www.picturesofbulgaria.com/article/petrich.html Petrich, information and photos]
* [http://bulgaria.domino.bg/petrich/eng/ Petrich municipality at Domino.bg]
* [http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SW/Blagoevgrad/Petrich Guide to Petrich municipality – cities, villages, regions]