- Sofia City
The Sofia City Province (Bulgarian: София-град) is situated in western
Bulgaria , in the largest valley in the country, theSofia valley . It is surrounded byStara Planina to the north andLyulin ,Vitosha ,Plana andSredna Gora to the south. The territory of the province is 1,344 km² and the population is around 1,300,000. The major river isIskar with its tributaries such as Lesnovska, Vladaiska, Mala Reka. There are manymineral springs throughout the area.The province has strong economy due to the capital city, the most important sectors being services and industry. The largest steel complex south of the
Danube is located inKremikovtsi , there are two lead plants inSofia andNovi Iskar . Machine industry, production of trams, elevators, electrical equipment and electronics is strongly developed in the capital; there is chemical industry inSofia ,Gara Yana ; production of building matherials inSofia ,Novi Iskar ,Vladaya ; textile and food industry inSofia .The capital is the main business area in the country with booming office building, construction and trade. There are 3 malls with 10 other under construction; tens of hypermarkets with many Bulgarian and foreign chains represented; numerous trade centres, shops and bazaars. Health services are of very high levels with over 30 hospitals and many clinics and health centres, including the largest hospital in Eastern Europe which opened in
2006 . The government is also huge employer in the capital. Tourism is growing hastily and by2006 Sofia boasts over 100 hotels the majority of which were built in the past several years. The area around the capital is known as the "Small Athon" due to the numerous monasteries.Bankya is a famousspa resort , as well asPancharevo and the baths inSofia . Towns by population:*
Sofia -1,212,000
*Novi Iskar - 13,937
*Bankya - 9,375
*Buhovo - 2,923
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