Burgas

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Burgas
Бургас

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The city of sea and lakes
The city of the dreams
Burgas is located in Bulgaria
Burgas
Location of Burgas
Coordinates: 42°29′43″N 27°28′18″E / 42.49528°N 27.47167°E / 42.49528; 27.47167
Country Bulgaria
Province (Oblast) Burgas
Municipality Burgas
Government
 • Mayor Dimitar Nikolov
Elevation 30 m (100 ft)
Population (Census February 2011)[1]
 • City increase 200,271 (within city limits)
 • Urban increase 212,902 (municipality)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code 8000
Area code(s) 056

Burgas or Bourgas [bʊrˈɡas] (Bulgarian: Бургас) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and fourth-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, with a population of 200,271 inhabitants according to Census 2011.[1] 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. The LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas is the largest oil refinery in Southeastern Europe and the largest industrial enterprise. The Port of Burgas is the largest Port in Bulgaria and the Burgas Airport is the second most important in the country. Burgas is the center of the Bulgarian fishing and fish processing industry.[2]

Contents

[edit] Toponymy

Burgas as seen from space

There are several possible origins for the name of the city and the name is similar to the Spanish town of Burgos. When the city was founded, the inhabitants of the surrounding country got into the fortified village, named "pyrgos" (Greek: Πύργος) or burgos, meaning "tower" or "fortress".[3] By an another theory, the city's name comes from Latin, or a Gothic name meaning signified consolidated walled villages (Gothic baurgs).[4]

[edit] 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 in the Burgas Plain in 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 - Burgas, Atanasovsko and Mandrensko which are home to several hundred bird species. Pan-European corridor 8 passes through the city,[5] the European routes E87 and E773, and the longest national rout I/6.

The St. Anastasia Island is a part of the city.

[edit] 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) 19.5
(67.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 26.8
(80.2)		 31.8
(89.2)		 34.9
(94.8)		 36.7
(98.1)		 39.6
(103.3)		 38.4
(101.1)		 34.7
(94.5)		 34
(93)		 27.2
(81.0)		 21
(70)		 39.6
(103.3)
Average high °C (°F) 5
(41)		 7.3
(45.1)		 10.4
(50.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 20.9
(69.6)		 25.3
(77.5)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28
(82)		 24.2
(75.6)		 19.2
(66.6)		 13.3
(55.9)		 7.9
(46.2)		 17.1
(62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)		 3.4
(38.1)		 6
(43)		 10.8
(51.4)		 16
(61)		 20.4
(68.7)		 23.1
(73.6)		 23
(73)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14.6
(58.3)		 9.6
(49.3)		 4.7
(40.5)		 12.7
(54.9)
Average low °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 2.3
(36.1)		 7
(45)		 12.2
(54.0)		 16.1
(61.0)		 18.2
(64.8)		 18.3
(64.9)		 14.8
(58.6)		 10.5
(50.9)		 6.3
(43.3)		 1.5
(34.7)		 8.8
(47.8)
Record low °C (°F) −21.6
(−6.9)		 −19.5
(−3.1)		 −15
(5)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 2.2
(36.0)		 6
(43)		 10.2
(50.4)		 10.9
(51.6)		 4
(39)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −9.6
(14.7)		 −15
(5)		 −21.6
(−6.9)
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: Stringmeteo.com

[edit] Flora and Fauna

Usungeren Protected Area
Lake Burgas

The Burgas Wetlands highly recognized for its significance to biodiversity and as a resource pool for various products utilized by people.

Lake Burgas is the Bulgaria’s largest lake and situated in the middle of the city. It is important for migrating birds. Over 250 species of birds inhabit the lake area, 61 of which are endangered in Bulgaria and 9 globally, attracting keen bird watchers from all over the world; the lakes are also home to important fish and invertebrates. In the site have been recorded several IUCN red-listed species of animals - 5 invertebrates, 4 fish, 4 amphibians, 3 reptiles, 5 birds and 3 mammals. Situated along the second largest migration path of birds in Europe, the Via Pontica, the site is an important stopover and staging site for a large number of waterbirds, raptors and passerines. Yearly during migration and wintering more than 20,000 (up to 100,000) waterbirds congregate there.[6]

The Atanasovo Lake is one of the two saltwater lakes in the Black Sea region and contains rare and representative examples of wetland habitats. A hot spot for biodiversity with many red-listed species of plants and animals, it is a well-known bottleneck site for migratory birds with around 60,000 raptors and 240,000 storks, pelicans and cranes passing over the site and often landing in large numbers for staging - the highest numbers in Europe of migrating White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus, Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus, Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus, and Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus have been recorded here.[6]

[edit] Protected Areas

[edit] Administrative division

Burgas is divided into the following neighbourhoods:

With a decision from the Counsel of Ministers in 2009, the villages of Banevo and Vetren were incorporated into Burgas.

Currently a new city plan is being considered which will open the city to the sea and includes several residential neighbourhoods and a new highway junction.

[edit] History

Alexandrovska Street in 1906
Alexander Severus coin from the Colonia Flavia Deultemsium
Central Beach in 1921
The City Hall of Burgas.
Aleko Bogoridi Boulevard
The Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Burgas.

[edit] Classical antiquity

The Thracians built the first settlements in the area now known as Burgas: the mineral baths of Aqua Calidae and the fortress Tyrsis. Under Darius I they were a part of the Achaemenid Empire, before the Odrysian kingdom was built.

During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Colonia Flavia Deultemsium (or Dibaltum, or Develtum) was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. The Romans built the Colonia on the main road Via Pontica. It was the second most important city in the province Haemimontus.

In 376 the Goths destroyed an elite roman company near Develtum.[7]

[edit] Bulgarian and Byzantine Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, there were some important settlements in the area: the fortress Skafida (Battle of Skafida), Poros, Rusokastron (Battle of Rusokastro), the Baths of the Byzantine, Bulgarian and Ottoman Emperors Aqua Calidae and the a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower. The Bulgarian ruler Krum built with the Erkesiya a 140 km longer border wall from the Black Sea (near Gorno Ezerovo) to the Mariza River.

[edit] Ottoman Rule

It was only in the 17th century that a settlement renamed to Ahelo-Pirgas grew in the modern area of the city. It was later renamed to Bourgas again and had only about 3,000 inhabitants. 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.[8] 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.

[edit] Liberation and part of Eastern Rumelia

It was a department centre in Eastern Rumelia before incorporated in the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885.

[edit] Between wars

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.

In the 19th century, with the increasing maritime trade in the Black Sea, Burgas became one of the most important port cities. 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.

[edit] Today

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.

[edit] Population

During the first decade after the liberation of Bulgaria, in the 1880s the population of Burgas numbered about 6,000 inhabitants.[9] 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.[10]

Burgas
Year 1887 1910 1934 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2009 2011
Population 5,749 14,897 36,230 44,449 72,526 106,185 144,755 182,856 195,986 192,390 189,245 193,765 200,271
Highest number 211,587 in 1991
Sources: National Statistical Institute,[1][10][11] „citypopulation.de“,[12] „pop-stat.mashke.org“,[13] Bulgarian Academy of Sciences[9]
Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1887 5,749 —
1910 14,897 +159.1%
1934 36,230 +143.2%
1946 44,449 +22.7%
1956 72,526 +63.2%
1965 106,185 +46.4%
1975 144,755 +36.3%
1985 182,856 +26.3%
1992 195,986 +7.2%
2001 192,390 −1.8%
2011 200,271 +4.1%

[edit] 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.

[edit] Education

  • Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University
  • Bourgas Free University

[edit] Culture

[edit] Main sights

  • Burgas Regional Historical Museum
  • Ethnographic Museum
  • Archeological Museum
  • Museum of Nature and Science
  • Roman City of Develtum
  • The roman and medieval Baths of Aquae Calidae
  • The Poros Fortness
  • The Rusokastro Fortness
  • The Erkesiya-Border wall
  • City Gallery
  • Theatre Adriana Budevska
  • City Beach
  • Pantheon
  • The Burgas pier
  • Sea Casino
  • Navel of Burgas
  • The building of Regional Customs Burgas
  • Burgas Central railway station
Opera House

The modern building of the Burgas Opera House is home to the city’s two major musical institutions; the Burgas State Opera and the Philharmonic Society of Burgas.

Sea Garden

A municipal park built in 1910 for the residents of Burgas by the city’s chief gardener, Georgi Duhtev.

[edit] Churches and Monasteries

  • Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Cyril and Methodius in Burgas
  • Orthodox Church St. Virgin Mary
  • Orthodox Church of Saint Ivan Rilski
  • Roman Catholic Church Holy Assumption of the Virgin
  • Roman Catholic Church Holy Mother of God.
  • The Monastery of the Holy Mother of Jesus
  • The Monastery of Saint Anastasia on the St. Anastasia Island
Armenian Church

Armenian Apostolic and Orthodox Church Surp Hach (Church of the Holy Cross) was built in 1853 an is one of the oldest in the city and has been named as one of the city’s monuments of culture. With stained glass windows and intricate decoration inside, the picturesque church was built in 1855.

[edit] Regular Events

  • April
    • International Audition for performances of German and Austrian music
  • July
    • Three Week Festival of Opera and Classical Music
  • August
  • December
    • Every 6 December Burgas pays respect to its patron saint, St. Nicholas, also the patron saint of Fisherman.

[edit] Sport

Paragliding over the Sea Garden in the City Centre

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c (Bulgarian) National Statistical Institute - Main Towns Census 2011
  2. ^ Norman Polmar: The Naval Institute guide to the Soviet Navy, 5. Ausgabe, United States Naval Institute, Naval Institute Press, 1991, p.447
  3. ^ Ward, Philip. Bulgaria, a travel guide. Pelican. p. 168. http://books.google.com/books?id=jGEk1ivboGMC&pg=PA168. 
  4. ^ Wright, Joseph, 1892, A Primer of the Gothic Language, glossary & section 182.
  5. ^ Pan-European corridors
  6. ^ a b "Ramsar Convention". Ramsar.org. http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-pubs-annolist-anno-bulgaria/main/ramsar/1-30-168%5E16696_4000_0__. Retrieved 2012-06-07. 
  7. ^ Herwig Wolfram: Die Goten: von den Anfängen bis zur Mitte des sechsten Jahrhunderts : Entwurf einer historischen Ethnographie, Verlag C.H.Beck, 2001, S. 130
  8. ^ Burgas, Bulgaria (Eyewitness Travel), Jonathan Bousfield and Matt Willis, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London, England, 2008, p. 210.
  9. ^ a b (Bulgarian) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  10. ^ a b (Bulgarian) National Statistical Institute - Towns population 1956-1992
  11. ^ (English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009
  12. ^ (English) Citypopulation.de
  13. ^ "Pop-stat.mashke.org". Pop-stat.mashke.org. 2011-02-01. http://pop-stat.mashke.org/bulgaria-cities.htm. Retrieved 2012-06-07. 

[edit] External links

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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Burgas.
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Capital: Burgas
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Dobrujan Black Sea coast
(Northern coast, Dobrich Province)
Moesian Black Sea coast
(Central coast, Varna Province)
Thracian Black Sea coast
(Southern coast, Burgas Province)

Coordinates: 42°30′N 27°28′E / 42.5°N 27.467°E / 42.5; 27.467

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