Silistra, Bulgaria Силистра |
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View of the river Danube
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Location of Silistra | ||
Coordinates: 44°7′N 27°16′E / 44.117°N 27.267°ECoordinates: 44°7′N 27°16′E / 44.117°N 27.267°E | ||
Country | Bulgaria | |
Province (Oblast) |
Silistra | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Yulian Naydenov | |
Area | ||
• City | 27.159 km2 (10.486 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) | |
Population (2012) | ||
• City | 35 230 | |
• Urban | 50 780 | |
Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
• Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
Postal Code | 7500 | |
Area code(s) | 086 | |
Climate | Cfa | |
Website | Official website |
Silistra (Bulgarian: Силистра, pronounced [siˈlistrɐ]; Romanian: Dârstor, Turkish: Silistre) is a port city in northeastern Bulgaria. The city lies on the southern bank of the lower Danube river, and is also the part of the Romanian border where it stops following the Danube. Silistra is the administrative center of the Silistra Province and one of the important cities of the historical region of Southern Dobrudzha.
Silistra is a major cultural, industrial, transportation, and educational center of northeastern Bulgaria. There are many historical landmarks including a richly-decorated Late Roman tomb, remains of the Medieval fortress, an Ottoman fort, and an art gallery.
The name Silistra is possibly derived from the root of the old Thracian name of the lower part of the Danube "Istrum". By another theory, the city's name comes from the Latin words "silo" and "stra", meaning "awl" and "strategy".
Silistra is in the northeastern part of Bulgaria on the southern bank of the Danube River. It is located in the Bulgarian part of Dobrudzha.
The municipality of Silistra covers an area of 516 km2 and includes the city and 18 villages. The area of the city-proper is 27.159 km2.
Silistra is 431 km from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria; 141 km from Varna; and 119 km from Ruse.