Nova Zagora (Bulgarian: Нова Загора [ˈnɔvɐ zɐˈɡɔrɐ]) is a town located in the southeastern plains of Bulgaria, in Sliven Province. It is the administrative centre of Nova Zagora Municipality. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 19,562 inhabitants,[1] while the entire municipality (including surrounding villages) had a population of 34,041.

Nova Zagora
Нова Загора
The main square of Nova Zagora
The main square of Nova Zagora
Coat of arms of Nova Zagora
Nova Zagora is located in Bulgaria
Nova Zagora
Nova Zagora
Location of Nova Zagora
Coordinates: 42°29′28″N 26°0′52″E / 42.49111°N 26.01444°E / 42.49111; 26.01444
CountryBulgaria
Province (Oblast)Sliven
Government
 • MayorGalya Zaharieva
Area
 • City
24.449 km2 (9.440 sq mi)
Elevation
131 m (430 ft)
Population
 (December 2021)[1]
 • City
34,041
 • Density1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
 • Urban
19,562
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
8900
Area code0457
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

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Nova Zagora is located on the main Sofia-Plovdiv-Burgas railroad, as well as the Trakia Highway that runs from Sofia to Burgas. It is 35 km east of Stara Zagora and 30 km west of Sliven. The Nova Zagora Municipality is part of the Sliven administrative district.

Climate

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The climate is mild, with an average winter temperature of 1.2 °C and an average temperature in August of 23.5 °C.

Demography

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Nova Zagora has Roma and Turkish minorities[citation needed].

History

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The Dormition of the Theotokos Church

The first traces of life in the region date back thousands of years. Many archeological sites are located in the region, showing settlements dating back to the Stone Age and the Stone-Copper age (Eneolithic). The most prominent archeological site is in the nearby village of Karanovo. The Nova Zagora Historical Museum has many historically significant artifacts dating back to this era.[citation needed]

Economy

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Nova Zagora is an agricultural center. The region is very fertile, growing a wide range of produce, including grapes, sunflowers, cereals and other. The surrounding region has many farms and vineyards, and various foods, herbs, and wines are produced in the towns and villages around Nova Zagora. The municipality has a manufacturing base including machine tools producer ZMM Ltd., agriculture equipment maker Perla Ltd., and textile manufacturer Miroglio Ltd.[2]

Sports

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The town has a variety of sports facilities, including tennis courts, a soccer and athletics stadium, and karate. Nova Zagora also has a football (soccer) team called Zagorets Nova Zagora.[citation needed]

International relations

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Nova Zagora is twinned with:

References

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  1. ^ a b "НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 31.12.2022 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, МЕСТОЖИВЕЕНЕ И ПОЛ". nsi.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ (in English) Municipality Website 2011