Information about Batak

Batak municipality is located in the Western Rhodopes area over 667 square kilometers, representing 15% of the total area of ​​Pazardzhik. 90% of the territory is covered by forests.

Batak is situated at 1036 m altitude in the valley on both sides of Stara reka river. Surrounded on all sides by hills (100-200 m above its level) and above which there are peaks of Batak Mountain, which borders the west ChepinskaRiver, on the south - with Dospatska river and dam Dospat, to the east – Vacha dam, and north - with the Thracian Plain.

Nearest big cities are Pazardzhik and Plovdiv.

From Sofia it`s been traveled on the highway "Trakia" to Pazardjik, hence better paved roads to Batak.Batak municipality covers three settlements – Batak, village of Nova Mahala and Fotinovo. It is the largest territory in Pazardzhik.

The climate of the Batak is temperate continental. Because of its location it was saved by strong winds.The average annual temperature is about 10 ° C. Winters are relatively warm. In autumn and winter sunny days prevail. Typical phenomenon in this region is the southern wind, called by locals "White Wind". Winter is with heavy snow up to 63 inches in town and 150 inches in the mountains. Summers are cool and pleasant, thanks to which the Batak and its region are approved a beautiful mountain resort.

Natural resources (undisturbed natural environment, diverse landscape, availability of reserves, natural monuments, water resources, diverse flora and fauna) and the very location of the Batak are ideal conditions for the development of hunting, fishing, rural, mountain and hobby tourism, as well as winter and water sports. The region attracts many photographers.

There are many opportunities for short trips in the region of Batak during the warm days of the year - dams Big Beglika and Beglika,the area Shiroka polyana. Hiking trails can be organized in the areas of Genevra, Beglika,Petrovo bardo, to the cave Snejanka and the Foten waterfall. Connoisseurs of old age have the opportunity to see the remains of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Slavic strongholds, mounds, bridges and other interesting archaeological sites. In the area of Batak has 9 active chapels.

Lake Batak located in the Rhodope Mountains is the perfect place to relax at any time of the year with a good base (10 000 beds) all kinds of categories. There is a ski slope "Batak", with alpine skiing (1200m) and ski -run (20,000 m). Alpine ski slope is equipped with three lifts, one of which is auxiliary, has a length of 600 m of the four ski slopes, slopes for snowboarding and snowmobile and ski-lift, which is the largest project of the municipality. The situation of the ski slope "Batak" is such that allows the snow to keep from November to April, and from the upper point of the ski lifts there is a magnificent view of the Batak Dam. There is a project to make Batak one of the most modern ski centers in Bulgaria.

To the city and Lake Batak has convenient intercity bus from Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Peshtera, Velingrad and Rakitovo.

Tourism in the community is seen as a priority, a complex activity involving auxiliary industries, services, transportation and special education.

About Batak dam, Shiroka Polyana, Golyam Beglik and Beglika have wide network of recreation facilities - departmental holiday homes, school camps, hotels, campgrounds and private villas.

The relief is mountainous. Its average altitude is 1136 m. The lowest point is 770 meters, and the highest – Peak Batashki Snezhnik - 2082 m. In the southwest part of the Batak Mountain rises Syutkya Peak (2186 m). South of Batak besides Batashki Snezhnik there are the peaks Ostri Vrah peak and peak (1957 m) and Semerelan (1817 m). South of these peaks is the wide flat Beglika area that continues to the pass Kamen dyal. This is a very beautiful area in which the river Beglishka meanders and provides water for the dams Golyam Beglik and Beglika.

Soil surface in the region of Batak is represented by alluvial, peaty marsh and meadow soils. The high part is mainly of maroon, tan and dark brown forest soils and mountain meadow soils allow for grazing livestock and growing potatoes.

Landscapes, the richness and diversity of forests are prerequisite for good game reserves - deer, wild boars, wild goats, bears, wolves, foxes. Of small mammals are found rabbits, hedgehogs, squirrels, from feathered - grouse, pigeons, crows, partridges, thrushes, and around water areas - wild ducks and geese.

In the municipality of Batak there are two reserves - Dupkata (which is in UNESCOprotection) and Beglika with total area 2653 ha.

10 protected areas with a total area of ​​1850.4 hectares. The biggest is Batashki Snezhnik - 1054 ha. Here is also located the Foten Falls - a natural site with an area of ​​12.1 hectares. Forests in Batak municipality occupy 57,815.3 ha of its territory.The area of ​​forests with special purpose is 21406.6 ha (37%). Among them:

Protected - 2570.7 ha (12%); recreational - 3191.1 ha (14.9%); protected nature areas - 5284.6 ha; others - 10,361.2 ha (48.4%).

The total stock of forests in the municipality 13567600 cubic meters, with the annual rate was 184,092 cubic meters.

The municipality has three existing forest nursery (total area 68 ha) main goal of producing seedlings for reforestation, located in three state forestry. They are grown seedlings of six tree species. According to forestry projects the annual average of the municipality forestation is on 1890 acres. By participation in planting trees with the largest share of Spruce - 67.6%, white pine - 28.9%, the black pine - 0.7 % fir - 0.3%, white fir - 0.3 %.

Forest management activities are carried out by the Regional Forestry - Pazardzhik. It manages the overall activities of the five state forest in the municipality - Batak Borovo, Beglika , Rodopi, Shiroka Polyana.

After the restructuring of forestry at the state forestry logging, lumbering and hunting activities are dedicated initiated EAD "Batashki Snezhnik". This will also allow private companies to participate in the reproduction of forest benefits. The strategic goal is a balanced and multifunctional use of forest resources and forest background.

Land of Batak region has been inhabited since ancient times. In 1958, professor Joseph Shopov discovered deposit of Stone Age in the area Kremenete (near "Beglika "), and a few years later - the second such strike in area Slancheva polyana (near "Broad Meadow").

Inhabited by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, prebulgars, Ottomans and Bulgarians, this ancient land preserved the heritage of their civilizations. In Batak are 20 Thracian Thracian- Roman, Byzantine and Slavic strongholds, over 10 churches and monasteries, many Thracian tombs, Roman bridges, mines, mills, etc., archaeological sites.

To the conquest of the Balkan Peninsula by the Romans (I century BC) Northern Thrace and Western Rhodopes are inhabited by warlike Thracian tribe Bessi. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, namely the clan possessed the famous sanctuary of Dionysus. The holy place of the clan became famous after passing hence Alexander of Macedonia and father of the great Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus - Gaius Octavius ​.

During the Slav invasion Byzantium lost the stable direct control over the Western Rhodopes, although they had in their her ​​hands the strategic roads in the northern and southern foot of the mountain (from Thessaloniki in the Aegean Sea to Constantinople).

The church "Sveta Nedelya"

When the Ottoman rule was established, mountain villages such as Batak attract many rebellious Bulgarians who moved here to preserve their Christian faith. This led to material and spiritual development of the settlement. They developed home crafts, especially logging, processing and trade. In 1871 there were registered 283 charks (wood processing workshops). Of this quality wood were build ships for the empire, and the Batak vendors were going around all markets. These links of Batak with the world helped raising the free spirit of its inhabitants.

During the Renaissance many prominent religious figures come out of the town- Abbot Archimandrite Joseph restored the Rila Monastery in its current shape, abbots Cyril and Nicephorus, author of the remarkable "Bulgarian Primer" (1844), George Busilin, publisher Dragan Manchov.

During the April Uprising against Ottoman rule in 1876 after a two-week battle against the Turkish the army killed five thousand out of the six-thousand people of the Batak population and the town was burned to the ground. Two thousand people gathered in the church "Sveta Nedelya" for three days heroically defended their honor and faith and all of them died after burning it up. By its ​​great sacrifice Batak the world learned of Bulgaria and its will to liberation.

Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 and the signing of the peace contract of San Stefano is one of the most significant events not only in Bulgarian, but also in European history in the last decades of the XIX century. They not only change the ratio of power in the South East, but also attracted the attention of global policy circles. For this contribution have not only military actions taken big role, but dozens of friends in the country who are trying to create public interest in favor of Bulgaria, especially in the aftermath of the April Uprising.

Among the first foreigners who discovered the bloody excesses of the world, an American journalist Janarius Aloysius McGahan. By the time he arrived in the country, he had already traveled around the world, describing dozens of political dramas. But nothing could compare to his shock when he saw the scorched Bulgaria in 1876 and his correspondence from this period are peculiar peak in global journalism. McGahan achieved his mission brilliantly. In fact, his life is more interesting than the most intricate adventure novel.

McGahan was one of the first foreign reporters who arrived in Bulgaria after the defeat of the April Uprising. As a special envoy of the London newspaper "Daily News" was originally meant only to make a survey of the crimes in the rebel regions with the American council l in Constantinople - Eugene Schuyler and the Russian representative Alexei Tseretelev. But when he saw the tragic situation in the country, he was not satisfied only with the statistical facts. McGahan made ​​available to the entire global community the atrocities committed by the Turkish authorities. Despite the obvious difficulties he traveled Perushtica, Batak, Panagyurishte, Klissura and Plovdiv. He managed to do something very difficult: to fight the diplomacy of the British Empire, led by Prime Minister Disraeli. Supporting the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, the British prime minister claimed that the atrocities were exaggerated.

Thanks to testimonies of reproof McGahan in England were arranged rallies, which were voted on more than 500 resolutions in support of the Bulgarian people. Organized were voluntary committees - raising and sending petitions to the government.