Velingrad
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A corresponding article in the Bulgarian Wikipedia may contain information and sources useful in building this article. (December 2008) Click [show] on the right for instructions.
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| Velingrad Велинград |
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 Velingrad
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| Coordinates: 42°1′N 24°0′E / 42.017°N 24°E | |||
| Country | Bulgaria | ||
| Province (Oblast) |
Pazardzhik | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Ivan Lebanov | ||
| Elevation | 777 m (2,549 ft) | ||
| Population (December 2009)[1] | |||
| • Total | 23,686 | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Postal Code | 4600 | ||
| Area code(s) | 0359 | ||
Velingrad (Bulgarian: Велинград) is a town in Pazardzhik Province, Southern Bulgaria, located at the western end of Chepino Valley, part of the Rhodope Mountains. It is the administrative center of the homonymous Velingrad Municipality and one of the most popular Bulgarian balneological resorts. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 23,686 inhabitants.[1]
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[edit] History
The region was inhabited by the Slavs. According to Bulgarian academics, the Dragovichi tribe lived there. The Dragovichi accepted many Thracian customs, but gave them typical Slavic characteristics. Soon after the Bulgar invasion on the Balkans, the whole region was annexed to the First Bulgarian Empire by tsar Malamir.
At the times of the Turkish rule, the Turks converted many Slavs in this region to Islam, according to Vasil Kanchov, the terror was ordered by the Greek bishop Gavril (Gabriel).[2]
[edit] Geography
Velingrad is situated at 750–850 m above sea level. Summers are warm and winters are mild. The average annual temperature is 10°C, while the average July temperature is 19°C. The annual duration of sunshine is about 2,000 hours. The relative air humidity ranges from 65 to 75%. Surrounded by age-old pine tree woods, the town favors abundant sunshine. This exclusively rare and valuable combination has a beneficial influence on the process of ionization (negative ions are prevailing) and is of definite therapeutic importance.
[edit] Waters
There are more than 90 mineral water springs with curative and preventive properties in and around the town. The mineral waters (from springs and wells) vary considerably in temperature, mineralization, radon, silicic acid and fluorine content, and are suitable for treatment of a wide range of diseases. 9000 litres of water per minute spring from the five thermal and mineral deposits in Ladzhene, Kamenitsa, Chepino, Rakitovo and Kostandovo.
Together with the numerous mineral waters, Velingrad boasts another natural phenomenon as well — the Kleptuza, the biggest Karst spring in Bulgaria, with an average discharge of 1200 litres of ice-cold water per second.
[edit] Culture and education
There are eight schools (five of them high schools),[3] three reference libraries (chitalishtes), about 100 hotels (some of which five-star), a stadium and a city orchestra
[edit] Honour
Velingrad Peninsula in Graham Land, Antarctica is named after the city.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Velingrad |
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b (English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009
- ^ (Bulgarian) Kanchov, V. Makedonia. Ethnography and statistics. Sofia, 1900, p. 42.
- ^ (Bulgarian) Register of schools, kindergartens and service sections [1]
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