Vratsa
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Vratsa Враца |
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| Motto: Vratsa, city like the Balkan - ancient and young. (Враца, град като Балкана - древен и млад.) | ||
 Vratsa
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| Coordinates: 43°12′N 23°33′E / 43.200°N 23.550°ECoordinates: 43°12′N 23°33′E / 43.200°N 23.550°E | ||
| Country | Bulgaria | |
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Province (Oblast) |
Vratsa | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Kalin Kamenov (GERB) | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 212 km2 (82 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 344 m (1,129 ft) | |
| Population (Census February 2011) | ||
| • City | 60,692 | |
| • Density | 290/km2 (740/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 73,894 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
| Postal Code | 3000 | |
| Area code(s) | 092 | |
| Website | Official website | |
Vratsa (Bulgarian: Враца) is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province.
The city of Vratsa is a commercial and crafts centre and a railway junction. Vratsa accommodates textile, metal processing, chemical, and ceramics industries.
The name comes from the Vratitsa Pass nearby, from the Slavic word vrata ("gate") + the Slavic diminutive placename suffix -itsa, "little gate", used to translate the Latin name Valve ("double door").
The city of Vratsa is picturesque. It is nestled in the foothills of "Vrachanski Balkan" (Vratsa Mountain), with the Leva River calmly crossing the city, and enormous and fearful rocks overhanging the roofs. The city is 116 km away from the national capital Sofia.
The area has diverse and attractive natural features, which together with the opportunities of recreation gives a special charm of the eastern part of the Northwest Bulgaria. Several protected natural attractions and historical monuments are located on the territory of the Vratsa State Forestry.
The climate is humid continental, similar to that of Sofia. The average annual temperature is about 11 °C (52 °F). Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).
The number of the residents of the city reached its peak in the period 1990-1991 when exceeded 85,000. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,692 inhabitants. The following table presents the change of the population after 1887.
According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:
Total: 60,692
The ethnic composition of Vratsa Municipality is 64334 Bulgarians and 2215 Gypsies among others.
Vratsa is an ancient city found by ancient Thracians. Vratsa was called Valve ("door of a fortress") by the Romans due to a narrow passage where the main gate of the city fortress was located. Nowadays, this passage is the symbol of Vratsa, and is shown on the town's Coat of arms.
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Wikipedia