Kardjali General Information
Kardjali is located in the very heart of the eastern Rhodope mountain, along the two banks of the Arda river, 100 km southeast of Plovdiv. It is bordered by Plovdiv, Smolyan and Haskovo districts, and with Greece to the south. European transport corridor No 9 passes through the region: Russia - Moldova - Romania - Rousse - Veliko Turnovo - Stara Zagora - Haskovo - Kardjali - Greece.

Kardjali is one of the least populated districts - 50 people per square km. In terms of the age of the population, the common tendency for the country is that the portion of people 65 years old or more is growing up, while the portion of children 15 years old or less is going down - a proof of the fact that the nation is getting old. In terms of ethnicity, Kardjali region is very interesting because it is a multi-ethnic community. Bulgarians account for 30% of the population, while the Turk ethnic group accounts for 63%; the remaining 7% are Roma and others. There are villages and towns in the district populated almost entirely by Turks.

The climate is affected by the Mediterranean countries. The winter is relatively mild. The summer is very sunny and hot - up to 40 degrees Celsius. The average annual temperature is 12.5 C (averaging 0 C in January and 25 in July). June, July and August are dry months; the fall is usually accompanied by many rains. The total annual amount of rain for the district is 600 liters per square m.

6000 years-old remains of human life as well as ample examples of the presence of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, late-Ottoman and Bulgarian culture have been found on the territory of the town. Landmarks of interest are the 11th-12th century Bulgarian basilica "St. John the Precursor", the Historical Museum, housed in a vast mosque-like building and containing superb collections from prehistoric ritual objects to ethnographic costumes and crafts. The two big dams on both sides of the town are excellent places for tourism, water sports and entertainment. Kardjali is the starting point for visits to the numerous rock formations in the region-the Stone Wedding and mushrooms, the Stone Forest, the Rock Widow, the Rocks at Ustra, and the medieval fortress of Perperek.

Kardjali Economy
Kardjali District offers good opportunities for developing of machine-building, ore and mineral resources extraction, food industry, tourism and services, especially well-developed is the sewing industry where the number of the employed is steadily increasing due to the presence of trained staff in this sphere of activities. After the town's liberation from the Ottoman rule in 1912, Kardjali became the "tobacco warehouse of the eastern Rhodopes", as some of the best quality tobaccos are grown on the special soils in the region. The district is falling behind that other districts in terms of % of land that is being cultivated � only 48%. Industry accounts for only 20% of the Gross Value Added of the district and agriculture accounts for another 20% of the GVA.

Most private companies in the district are functioning in the sphere of services and trade. The district strongly relies on the completion of the new border-crossing point at Makaza for the further development of the economic status of the region.