Pleven District is a district in Bulgaria. It covers an area of 4,653.3 km² and has a population of 226,120 (as of the final 2021 census). The postal codes of the settlements in the Pleven region are from 5800 (for the city of Pleven) to 5999. Its vehicle code is EN.
Belene, Byala Voda, Dekov, Kulina Voda, Petokladensi, Tatari
Brest, Gigen, Gulyantsi, Dolni Vit, Dabovan, Zagrazhden, Iskar, Kreta,
Lenkovo, Milkovitsa, Somovit, Shiyakovo
Baikal, Bivolare,
Bozhuritsa, Bregare, Gorna Mitropolia, Gostilya, Dolna Mitropolia,
Komarevo, Krushovene, Orehovica, Pobeda, Podem, Riben, Slavovitsa,
Stavertsi, Trastenik
Barkach, Gorni Dabnik, Garden, Dolni Dabnik,
Krusovitsa, Peternitsa, Sadovets
Dolni Lukovit, Iskar, Pisarovo,
Staroseltsi
The region is located on the lower Danubian lowland. The northern
border of the region is the state border of Bulgaria with Romania,
passing along the Danube River. In the west, the Pleven region borders
on the Vratsa region, in the south on the Lovech region, in the east on
the Veliko Tarnovo region. The area of the region is 4337 km².
The regional center, the city of Pleven, is located 170 km from the
capital of the country - the city of Sofia, 320 km west of the Black Sea
coast, 30 km south of the Danube River and at a distance of about 70 km
from the Stara Planina Mountains.
According to the 2001 census, the population of the region was
311,985, with Bulgarians in the majority at 280,475. 16,931 people were
registered as Turks (although some of them include Gypsies) and 9,777
people were Gypsies. Of them:
275,112 people declared themselves
Orthodox Christians, 15,681 people - Muslims, 7,065 people - Catholics;
Bulgarian is spoken by 283,626 people, Turkish by 14,947 and Romani by
8,861.
As of December 31, 2008, 294,277 inhabitants lived in the
region, including:
men - 143,199 people.
women - 151,078 people.
urban population - 192,443 people, of which:
men - 93 521 people.
women - 98 922 people.
rural population - 101,834 people, of which:
men - 49 678 people.
women - 52 156 people.
Mortality among
the population of the region prevails over the birth rate, natural
population growth is negative, the decline in 2008 was 2497 people (men
- 1452 people, women - 1045 people). Due to internal and external
migration, the total population of the region decreased by 1154 people
(men by 589 people, women by 565 people).
Administratively, the region is divided into 11 communities:
Belene (10,892 people, as of 01/15/2010)
Dolna-Metropolis (21,977
people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Dolni-Dybnik (14,792 people, as of
01/15/2010 15)
Gulyantsi (13,891 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Iskar (7910 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Knezha (15,230 people, as of
01/15/2010 15)
Levski (22,432 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Nikopol
(10,812 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Pleven (147,109 people, as of
01/15/2010 15)
Pordim (6870 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Cherven
Bryag (32,125 people, as of 01/15/2010 15)
Pleven region covers the central part of the Danube plain. Its
northern border coincides with the state border between Bulgaria and
Romania and runs along the Danube River. Pleven region has approximately
320,000 inhabitants, of which 150,000 live in the city itself.
The Pleven region includes 11 municipalities: Pleven, Belene, Gulyantsi,
Dolna Mitropolia, Dolni Dabnik, Levski, Iskar, Nikopol, Pordim, Cherven
Bryag and Knezha.
The economic development of the Pleven region is characterized by
great diversity. In the Pleven region, there is accumulated experience
in the following economic sectors: the chemical, textile and food
industry, machine building, vegetable production and educational
tourism.
The primary sector /mining industry/ on the territory of
the district is represented mainly by the extraction of oil in Dolni
Dabnik.
The secondary sector /on the territory of the district is
represented by the energy, engineering, chemical, textile and cement
industries/. Electricity is entirely imported.
The construction
of the second nuclear power plant, Belene, has begun near the Danube
River, but has been suspended for the time being. In addition to
mechanical engineering, the cement and glass industries are developed in
the Pleven region.
The climate in the region is influenced by the proximity of the
Danube River - this determines the colder winter in the region, with an
average January temperature of -2 C -3 C. For this reason, the snow
cover remains for about 50 days a year. But the summer in the district
is warm, without heat, average July temperature around 23 oC. Droughts
are often observed - especially in August and July, and thunderstorms
are also typical in summer.
Thanks to the climate and the wide
spread of fertile alluvial-meadow and chernozem soils in the district,
intensive development of agriculture - mainly for the cultivation of
vegetables, cereals - wheat, corn, industrial crops - sugar beet,
sunflower and perennial crops - mainly vineyards.
The region is
known for its rich agricultural production. From the information
received, it is clear that the Pleven region is one of the few regions
in the country where the percentage of farmed land, arable land and
fields has increased in recent years.
The increases are mainly
due to wheat and corn for grain, and to a lesser extent to tobacco,
tomatoes, pepper, watermelons, melons, plums, apricots, etc. It is clear
from the analysis of crop production that animal production also has a
stable raw material base for development.
The region of Pleven is characterized by a rich cultural and
historical heritage and beautiful nature. The region has excellent
conditions for the development of cultural, ecological and balneological
tourism. The history of the regional center Pleven is thousands of years
old, as evidenced by the numerous cultural and architectural monuments.
A "Green Zone" was built around Pleven on about 25 thousand acres,
including the parks "Kailaka", "General Lavrov", "General Genetsky" and
others.
In the vicinity of Pleven is the village of Valchitran.
It is only 22 km southeast of the city. The Valchitran gold treasure was
discovered there in 1924. In the town of Dolni Dabnik there are many
monuments from the Pleven epic. It is located 15 km west of Pleven. The
largest oil production takes place here, and natural gas is also
produced here. The three lakes in the vicinity of Dolni Dupnik are
favorite places for many vacationers, for water sports, water tourism
and fishing.
The main transport arteries connecting the territory of the district
with the rest of the country are railways. the line Sofia - Varna, with
its section Cherven Bryag - Gorna Oryahovitsa, the meridional railway
line Svishtov – Troyan, with railway junction Levski station, as well as
the first-class roads from Sofia to Varna and Ruse. Of more limited
importance are the highways in the southern direction, passing through
the Staroplanin pass - Troyanski, Shipchenski and the pass of the
Republic and those that connect Pleven with the neighboring areas and
from there with South Bulgaria.
The exit of the Danube River, as
well as the length of the coastline of 72 km, are favorable for the
development of the infrastructure. Four ports operate on the territory
of the district - in the town of Nikopol, the village of Somovit, the
village of Zagrazhden and the village of Baikal. The Somovit checkpoint
is also located on the Danube.