Municipality of Batak

   Geographic location: It is situated in the central part of the Western Rodopi mountains and covers an area of 677.2 sq. km. The town of Batak is located 150 km away from Sofia, 66 km away from Plovdiv, 50 km away from Dospat, 145 km away from Smolyan and 36 km away from the international highway "Trakia".

   Relief: mountainous;

   Climate: It is transient-continental at its lower zone and mountainous at its higher zone.

   Water resources: The territory of the municipality is crossed by "Stara Reka" (Old River). The following dam lakes are based here: Batak, Beglika, Goliam Beglik, Shiroka Poliana, Toshkov Chark, Karadzha dere, Dzhenevara, etc.

   Soils: alluvial, peat-bog, acid-mountainous, maroon-mountainous, light and dark-brown mountainous;

   Forest Fund: It covers 85 % of the municipal territory. The total afforested area is 54 520 hectares and the prevailing trees are spruce and white pine. The area of special function covers 21 406 hectares of which 12 % are protected.


   Environment: It is one of the most ecological regions in the country. There are two reserves-"Dupkata"(under the aegis of UNESCO) and "Beglika". The waterfall "Fotinski"(12 hectares) is a great natural landmark along with the ten protected areas. There is plenty of game here - red deer, does, boars, wild goats, bears, wolves and foxes.

   Population and settlements: The population is 7,310 (3,642 males and 3,668 females) of which 4,233 live in the municipal center - the town of Batak, and 3,077 - in the villages. The municipality comprises two villages - Nova mahala and Fotinovo.

   Labour force and unemployment: 770 unemployed (23.57 %) were registered by the end of 1999.

   Agricultural Fund: The agricultural lands cover 62,245 decares from the territory of the themunicipality. The arable lands comprise 39,775 decares, which are mainly seeded with potatoes as well as natural meadows.


   Structure-determining branches and operating companies: There are 620 listed firms of which 450 are in operation at the moment.
   Their activities are mainly in the spheres of trade and wood processing. The Union of "Karlak" comprises 57 firms engaged mainly in sawing of wood material. There is a workshop that produces compressed slacks of sawdust and 12 operating enterprises, of which 3 forestries. "Batak", "Beglika" and "Shiroka poliana". A network of places for recreation - hotels, holiday houses, camps, etc. were built around the dam lakes "Batak", "Beglika" and "Shiroka poliana".

   Budget: There is a trend towards gradual decrease of own incomes.

   Infrastructure:
  1. Roads - comparatively well constructed road network.
  2. Electricity supply - at a good technical status.
  3. Water supply - the total length of the water network is 90 km.
  4. Telecommunications - There is telephone exchange connecting 2000 telephones.
   Education and professional qualification: There are 9 schools and 113 specialists in pedagogy;

   Healthcare: There is a municipal clinic, 2 village healthcare services and an Emergency Center.

   Future priorities:
  • Providing facilities for the development of tourism, winter and water sports;
  • Strengthening the competitive power of agricultural products;
  • Well balanced and multifunctional use of the Forest Fund resources;
  • Implementation of economically efficient and ecological proposal on fresh fish production;
  • Providing favourable business conditions to the small and medium-sized enterprises;
  • Decreasing the rate of unemployment and increasing the living standard of the population;
   Non-government organizations operating on the territory of the municipality:
  1. Cultural Club "4 May"- in the town of Batak;
  2. Cultural Club "Hr.Smirnenski"- in the village of Nova Mahala;
  3. Cultural Club "Geo Milev "- in the village of Fotinovo;
  4. Club of Invalids - in the town of Batak.


Contacts:

4850 BATAK
Pazardjik region
Tel: 03553/20 21,20 30,23 76
Fax: 03553/20 30
Mayor: Peter Paunov