- Burgas
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Burgas
Бургас— City — Nickname(s): Градът на езера и море (The city of sea and lakes ) Location of Burgas
BurgasCoordinates: 42°30′N 27°28′E / 42.5°N 27.467°E Country Bulgaria Province (Oblast) Burgas Municipality Burgas Government – Mayor Dimitar Nikolov Elevation 30 m (98 ft) Population (Census February 2011)[1] – City 
201 966– Urban 212 902Time zone EET (UTC+2) – Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Postal Code 8000 Area code(s) 056 
Aleko Bogoridi Boulevard
Burgas as seen from space.Burgas (Bulgarian: Бургас, sometimes transliterated as Bourgas) is the second-largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast with a population of 197,301 inhabitants according to Census 2011.[1] It is also the fourth-largest by population in Bulgaria, after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. It is the capital of Burgas Province and an important industrial, transport, cultural and tourist centre.
Surrounded by the coastal Burgas Lakes and located at the westernmost point of the Black Sea, the large Burgas Bay, Burgas has the largest and most important Bulgarian port. Today, it is a key economic, cultural and tourist centre of southeastern Bulgaria, with the Burgas Airport serving the resorts of the southern Bulgarian coast.
Contents
Name
The name Burgas comes from the Greek word "pyrgos" (Greek: Πύργος), meaning "tower" or "fortress".[2]
Geography
Burgas is situated in the westernmost point of the bay of the same name and in the eastern part of the Burgas plain which is located to the east of the Upper Thracian Plain. Burgas is located at 389 km of Sofia, 272 km of Plovdiv and 335 km of Istanbul. To the west, south and north the city is surrounded by the Burgas Lakes - Vaya, Atanasovsko and Mandrensko which are home to several hundred bird species. Pan-European corridor 8 passes through the city.[3]
Climate
Burgas has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with considerable maritime and continental influences.
Climate data for Burgas Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 17
(63)21
(70)24
(75)30
(86)32
(90)35
(95)37
(99)36
(97)37
(99)32
(90)25
(77)20
(68)37
(99)Average high °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)7.5
(45.5)10.9
(51.6)16.1
(61.0)21.0
(69.8)25.4
(77.7)27.7
(81.9)27.2
(81.0)24.3
(75.7)18.8
(65.8)13.3
(55.9)8.3
(46.9)17.22
(62.99)Daily mean °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)3.4
(38.1)6.3
(43.3)10.8
(51.4)15.9
(60.6)20.1
(68.2)21.9
(71.4)22.1
(71.8)18.9
(66.0)13.9
(57.0)9.1
(48.4)4.7
(40.5)12.43
(54.38)Average low °C (°F) −0.9
(30.4)0.3
(32.5)2.9
(37.2)7.3
(45.1)12.2
(54.0)16.2
(61.2)18.0
(64.4)17.0
(62.6)14.7
(58.5)13.7
(56.7)5.8
(42.4)2.1
(35.8)9.11
(48.39)Record low °C (°F) −15
(5)−13
(9)−15
(5)−2
(28)n/a 7
(45)10
(50)10
(50)1
(34)−3
(27)−8
(18)−12
(10)−15
(5)Precipitation mm (inches) 57.9
(2.28)51.5
(2.028)53.1
(2.091)26.1
(1.028)35.8
(1.409)48.5
(1.909)63.2
(2.488)34.9
(1.374)47.1
(1.854)64.1
(2.524)40.3
(1.587)57.9
(2.28)580.4
(22.85)Source: Climate-Charts.com [4] Administrative division
Burgas is divided into the following neighbourhoods:
- Akatsiite
- Bratya Miladinovi
- Vazrazhdane
- Gorno Ezerovo
- Dolno Ezerovo
- Zornitsa
- Izgrev
- Lazur
- Lozovo
- Meden Rudnik
- Petko Slaveykov
- Pobeda
- Sarafovo
- Kraimorie
- Centar
- Vetren
- Banevo
With a Decision from the Counsel of Minister in 2009 the villages Banevo and Vetren were incorporated to Burgas.
Currently a new city plan is considered which will open the city to the sea and includes several residential neighbourhoods and a new highway junction.
Population
During the first decade after the liberation of Bulgaria, in the 1880s the population of Burgas numbered about 6,000 inhabitants.[5] Since then it started growing decade by decade, mostly because of the migrants from the rural areas and the surrounding smaller towns, reaching its peak in the period 1988-1991 exceeding 200,000.[6]
Burgas Year 1887 1910 1934 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2009 2011 Population 5,749 14,897 36,230 44,449 72,526 106,185 144,755 182,856 195,986 192,390 189,245 193,765 209,615 Highest number 211,587 in 1991 Sources: National Statistical Institute,[1][6][7] „citypopulation.de“,[8] „pop-stat.mashke.org“,[9] Bulgarian Academy of Sciences[5] History
Alexander Severus coin celebrating the Flavian colony of Deultum.During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum (or Dibaltum) was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower. It was only in the 17th century that a settlement named Ahelo-Pirgas grew in the modern area of the city. It was later renamed to Bourgas and had only about 3,000 inhabitants. The city was a township in İslimye (Sliven) sanjak in at first Rumelia Eyalet, after that in the Silistra Eyalet and Edirne Eyalet before the liberation in 1878. It was a department centre in Eastern Rumelia before incorporated in the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885.
Later, it became a major centre on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and a city of well-developed industry and trade. A number of oil and chemical companies were gradually built. Salt and iron are also mined and traded abroad.
Street scene from the centre of Burgas.
Architecture of Burgas.
Bustling street in Burgas, July 2006.
The Church of Saint Cyril and Methodius in Burgas.In the early 19th century Burgas was depopulated after raids by kurzdhali bandits. By the mid-19th century it had recovered its economic prominence through the growth of craftsmanship and the export of grain.[10]
In the 19th century, with the increasing maritime trade in the Black Sea, Burgas became one of the most important port cities. However, it has lost some of its importance with the shift of the trade between Balkans-Istanbul-Trabzon to Southern port cities with the construction of Salonica-Istanbul railways. In 1903, the Burgas Central railway station opened, giving an additional boost to the city's expansion. Burgas, unlike many other Bulgarian cities, was not much affected by Communist-type urbanization and has kept much of its 19th- and early-20th-century architecture.
Today the local port is the largest in Bulgaria adding significantly to the regional economy. Burgas also holds annual national exhibitions and international festivals and has a vibrant student population of over 6,000 that add to the city's appeal. The historical society also maintains an open-air museum at Beglik Tash.
Several countries have consulates in Burgas, among them Turkey, Belarus, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
Burgas Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the city of Burgas.
Main sights
- Burgas Regional Historical Museum
- Ethnographic Museum
- Museum of Nature and Science
- Art Gallery
- Opera House
- International Folklore Festival
Economy
Burgas is an important industrial center. The most notable industrial enterprise is LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas - the largest oil refinery in South-eastern Europe and the largest manufacturing plant in the Balkans.
Education
- Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University
- Bourgas Free University
Notable natives
- Apostol Karamitev (1923–1973), actor
- Boris Aprilov (1921–1995), writer
- Dimitar Dimitrov (b. 1959),football coach
- Rousy Chanev (b. 1945), actor
- Georgi Chilikov (b. 1978), footballer
- Georgi Djulgerov (b. 1943), film director
- Georgi Kostadinov (b. 1950), first Bulgarian boxing Olympic champion
- Georgi Kaloyanchev (b. 1925), actor
- Georgi Mihalev (b. 1968), competitive swimmer
- Hristo Fotev (1934–2002), poet
- Kostas Varnalis (1884–1974) Greek poet
- Nedyalko Yordanov (b. 1940), writer
- Nikola Stanchev (b. 1930), first Bulgarian Olympic champion
- Petya Dubarova (1962–1979), poetess
- Prodan Gardzhev (1936–2003), Bulgarian Olympic champion - wrestling
- Raina Kabaivanska (b. 1934), Bulgarian Opera singer
- Radostin Kishishev (b. 1974), footballer
- Zlatko Yankov, (b.1966), football player
- Irena Petkova, opera singer
Twin cities
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Yantai, People's Republic of China
Krasnodar, Russia
Alexandroupoli, Greece
Miskolc, Hungary
Beşiktaş, Turkey
Mali Mokri Lug, Serbia
See also
References
- ^ a b c (Bulgarian) National Statistical Institute - Main Towns Census 2011
- ^ Ward, Philip. Bulgaria, a travel guide. Pelican. p. 168. http://books.google.com/books?id=jGEk1ivboGMC&pg=PA168.
- ^ Pan-European corridors
- ^ "Burgas, Bulgaria: Climate, Global Warming, and Daylight Charts and Data". Climate-Charts.com. July 2011. http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/b/BU15655.php. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ a b (Bulgarian) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
- ^ a b (Bulgarian) National Statistical Institute - Towns population 1956-1992
- ^ (English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009
- ^ (English) Citypopulation.de
- ^ Pop-stat.mashke.org
- ^ Burgas, Bulgaria (Eyewitness Travel), Jonathan Bousfield and Matt Willis, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London, England, 2008, p. 210.
External links
- Official website
- Information about Burgas
- Burgas Today.com
- Factor Newspaper, Bourgas news
- Burgas Regional Administration
- Nikola Gruev's gallery of Burgas
- Public transportation in Burgas
Aytos · Burgas · Kameno · Karnobat · Malko Tarnovo · Nesebar · Pomorie · Primorsko · Ruen · Sozopol · Sredets · Sungurlare · Tsarevo
Capital: BurgasVillages Bratovo · Bryasotvets · Balgarovo (town) · Cherno More · Dimchevo · Draganovo · Izvorishte · Marinka · Mirolyubovo · Ravnets · Rudnik · Tvarditsa
Landmarks Lake Burgas · Lake Atanasovsko · Lake Mandrensko · Poda Protected Area · St. Anastasia Island · 9 September Stadium · Burgas AirportCulture Transportation Notable people Coordinates: 42°30′N 27°28′E / 42.5°N 27.467°E
Bulgarian Black Sea resorts Dobrujan Black Sea coast
(Northern coast, Dobrich Province)Moesian Black Sea coast
(Central coast, Varna Province)Asparuhovo · Briz · Byala · Chaika · Chernomorets · Golden Sands · Emona · Euxinograd · Fichoza · Galata · Irakli (Burgas Province) · Kabakum · Kamchia (resort) · Kara Dere · Luna · Obzor (Burgas Province) · Pasha Dere · Prostor · Rakitnika · Rai · Riviera · Romantika · Constantine and Helena · Shkorpilovtsi · Sunny Day · Trakata · Varna
Thracian Black Sea coast
(Southern coast, Burgas Province)Agalina · Alepu · Aheloy · Ahtopol · Arapia · Arkutino · Atia · Begliktash · Burgas · Chernomorets · Chervenka · Dyuni · Evropa · Gradina · Kavatsite · Kiten · Kolokita · Koral · Kosharitsa · Kraimorie · Lazurno More · Lozenets · Nesebar · Nestinarka · Perla · Pomorie · Primorsko · Raiski Zaliv · Ravda · Rezovo · Robinzon · Ropotamo · Sarafovo · Silistar · Sinemorets · Smokinya · Sozopol · Sunny Beach · St. Anastasia Island · St. Cyricus Island · St. Ivan Island · Stomoplo · St. Peter Island · St. Thomas Island · Sveti Vlas · Tsarevo · Veselie · Varvara · Zlatna Ribka
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