Geographic location: It is situated in the southwestern part of Bulgaria and covers a territory of 2,551,750 decares. The municipality comprises an area of the so-called "Batashko-Dabrashki dyal" - a part from the Western Rodopi mountains. It shares a common border with the Republic of Greece to to the south, a common border with the municipality of Batak to the north, with the municipality of Satovtcha to the west and with the municipality of Borino to the east.
Relief: The prevailing relief is mountainous.
Climate: The prevailing climate is mountainous and influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.
Water resources: The larger rivers are Dospat and Karadja dere. There is a dam lake called "Dospat" which is 18 km long, 3 km wide, 40 m deep and has water capacity of 420 million m3. It is used for the production of electricity, fish-breeding, fishing and water tourism.
Soils: brown-mountainous; alluvial-meadow; dark brown and meadow-mountainous.
Forest Fund: The forests occupy 70 % of the municipal territory and cover 178 hectares. The following kinds of trees can be found: white pine, spruce, birch, hornbeam, beech, winter oak, fir-tree, juniper, black pine;
Environment: It is ecologically clean. There are not regulated waste dunghills and the following reserves: "Omana", "Barak" and "Topchilii", the following representatives of the flora like: fern, corn-flower, bramble, red blueberry, thymus serpillorum, primrose and representatives of the fauna, typical for the Central European Region: boar, doe, deer, wolf, brown bear, wood-grouse capercalzie, etc.
Population and settlements: By the end of 2000 the number of population was 10,301 - 5,099 male and 5,202 female. 7,634 citizens live in villages and 2,667 live in the town of Dospat. The municipality comprises the town of Dospat and 7 other settlements.
Labour force and unemployment: The number of citizens at workability age is 5,945. The rate of unemployment is 30 % of the active population.
Agricultural Fund: The relative share of the municipal cultivable land is 3.5 -8.3 %. The natural environment is not favourable for growing various cultures. The poor fertility of soils allows only the growing of potatoes and tobacco.
Structure-determining branches and operating companies: Two state companies operate on the territory of the municipality-state forestry "Dospat" and "Sols" Ltd., which is a producer of spectacles and glasses. The biggest privatized enterprise is "Nitex" JSC and it is occupied in knitwear industry. 750 workers are employed in that company and 90 % of its production is exported in the Western European countries. The enterprise "Dospatles" is the biggest one in wood processing. The companies "Saba" Ltd. and "Baron" Ltd. are popular in the shoes industry. The Central Co-operative Union comprises 3 trade co-operatives and 63 private companies dealing with trade, wood processing and production of furniture. The agricultural Co-operative "Despa" is a leading producer of potatoes. There has been a considerable increase of the share of private economic companies with 2,410 employers.
Infrastructure:
- Roads. The territory of the municipality is crossed by roads of national importance: Gotze Deltchev - Dospat; Dospat - Smolyan - Svilengrad and the 3rd -class road Gotze Deltchev - Dospat - Pazardjik;
- Electricity-supply. The main source of electricity is the dam lake "Dospat". Electric transmission network is planned to be constructed in the town of Dospat. They also plan to install energy-saving lamps.
- Water-supply. Reservoirs in the village of Chavdar and the town of Dospat are to be constructed. Reconstruction of the depreciated water network and catchment of new water resources should also be done.
- Telecommunications. The main objective is to ensure reliability of communications and coverage of TV and radio signals.
Education and professional qualification: There are 2 high schools (one of which professional), a primary school and 7 secondary schools.
Healthcare: There is a clinic, 6 g.p. practices, 2 pharmacies;
Future priorities:
- construction of a ski racing track, a golf-playground, other facilities for tourism development;
- development of mountain-tourist activities;
- support of small and medium-sized businesses;
- strengthening the municipality's position in the sphere of cultivating, growing and gathering mushrooms, herbs and forest fruits;
- construction of new infrastructure and enlarging the existing one;
- development of potatoes growing;
- strengthening the municipality's position in the production of tobacco and especially the most effective sort called "Nevrokop"
Non-government organizations operating on the territory of the municipality: Cultural clubs; football, table tennis and wrestling clubs, etc.
Contacts:
4831 DOSPAT
Smolyan region
1 "Parvi May" str.
Tel: 03045/23 10
Fax: 03045/23 12
Mayor: Antim Parzanov |
