Northwest

region

Geographic situation and bordersThe Northwest region includes western parts of the Danube and Balkan natural areas -the area between the Iskar River in the east and Timok River in the west, between the Danube and the north ridge of the Balkan Mountains in the south.

The northern border is the Danube,  where are built the ones of the most significant Bulgarian river ports - Lom, Vidin. There are also ferries Vidin-Calafat and Oryahovo-Beckett.On the Danube is also located  NPP "Kozloduy”, which increases the importance of the northern boundary of the region.

On the surface of the region there are different relief forms - parts of the Danubian Plain and Stara Planina, due to the diversity of geological structure.

Natural conditions and resources

Relief

Iron Ore;

lead and zinc ores;

copper ores;

gypsum;

limestone and marls.

Minerals

Nortwestern region is situated in the moderate - continental climate area.

The average July temperature is about -26°C and the average temperature in January is around 0°C.

The average annual precipitation amount in the plains and lowland parts of the region is between 500 and 600 mm.

Climate and resources

Northwest region has got limited in quantity and quality water resources.

With bigger importance are the rivers  Iskar, Archar, Ogosta, Skat, Lom, and Tsibritsa River.

Mineral waters of Varshets are a major factor in turning the town into a resort.

Waters

alluvial-meadow soils;

typical and leached black soils;

light gray and dark gray forest soils;

brown forest soils;

mountain meadow soils.

Soils

Settlements network in the Northwest region is composed of 398 settlements. 24 are towns and 374 are villages.

The average population of the settlements in the region is 1491 people (1436 p.in towns and 665 p.in villages ) and it is lower than the national average.

European route E79 passes through the region.

Settlements network

The region produces about 10% of the production sector.

Leading sub – sector is plant – growing.

The total area of  arable land is 6 million  acres. Over 67% of them are occupied by cereals - corn, barley, oats, field peas, soybeans, canola.

Farming

Since the early 60s many industrial facilities in the chemical industry, energy, industry of construction materials, food processing, engineering and others were built.

Economy

Cave “Ledenika” God's bridge

Tourism

Cave “Magurata”

Cave “ Magurata”

Baba Vida fortress

Belogradchik rocks

 Northwest region includes three counties: Vidin, Vratsa and Montana. They join 32 municipalities.

Administrative-territorial structure

The city is the largest settlement (64.2 thousand people), economic and cultural center of the region.

Today  Vratsa produces, machinery, furniture, cotton and silk textiles, food products.

Vratsa

Montana (47.4 thousand people) is the successor of the Roman city Montanezium.

The city has а  developed machine building, textile and knitwear industry and production of ceramic floor tiles.

Montana

Vidin (53,5 thousand people.) is one of the oldest Danubian Roman cities - Bononia.

Today it is almost finished the second bridge over  the Danube.

Its modern appearance is determined by the production of water pumps, machines for agriculture ,drywall.

Vidin

On the territory of the region there are:

316 secondary and high schools, where study about 80000 students;

20 hospitals where are about 6500 beds;

6 theaters, 15 cinemas, 18 museums, 366 community centers and 678 libraries.

Education, Health and Culture

Rapid depopulation and people aging .

High level of unemployment.

Environmental  problems  caused by industry in the region.

Problems in the development of the region

Modernization of NPP.

Optimization of the transport on the Danube.

Investing in tourism.

Modernization of Agriculture.

Prospects for regional development

Building- Danubian Bridge 2- 7-th reactor of NPP

Kozloduy- Solar energy park Food industry - meat processing - milk processing Textile - Cloth Factory

Agriculture in the region

- Plants for producing bio-diesel (canola)

Services - Lawyers - Accounting - Automobile

showrooms

Entrepreneurship activities in the region