Blagoevgrad Province Област Благоевград |
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Province | |
Location of Blagoevgrad Province in Bulgaria |
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Country | Bulgaria |
Capital | Blagoevgrad |
Municipalities | 14 |
Government | |
• Governor | Biser Mihaylov |
Area | |
• Total | 6,449.47 km2 (2,490.15 sq mi) |
Elevation | 555 m (1,821 ft) |
Population (Census February 2011) | |
• Total | 323,552 |
• Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) |
Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
• Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
License plate | E |
Website | www |
Coordinates: 41°45′N 23°15′E / 41.750°N 23.250°E
Blagoevgrad Province (Bulgarian: област Благоевград, oblast Blagoevgrad or Благоевградска област, Blagoevgradska oblast), also known as Pirin Macedonia (Bulgarian: Пиринска Македония, Pirinska Makedoniya), is a province (oblast) of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, to the Greek region of Macedonia to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns. Its principal city is Blagoevgrad, while other significant towns include Bansko, Gotse Delchev, Melnik, Petrich, Razlog, Sandanski, and Simitli.
The province has a territory of 6,449.5 km² and a population of 323,552 (as of 2011[update]). It is the third largest in Bulgaria after Burgas and Sofia Provinces and comprises 5.8% of the country's territory. Blagoevgrad Province includes the mountains, or parts of, Rila (highest point of the Balkans — Musala summit, 2925 m), Pirin (highest point — Vihren summit, 2914 m), the Rhodopes, Slavyanka, Belasitsa, Vlahina, Maleshevo, Ograzhden and Stargach. There are two major rivers — Struma River and Mesta River — with population concentrations along their valleys, which are also the main transport corridors.