Official Name: | Pirdop |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Bulgaria |
Subdivision Type1: | Provinces (Oblast) |
Timezone: | EET |
Utc Offset: | +2 |
Timezone Dst: | EEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
Pushpin Map: | Bulgaria |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Pirdop |
Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
Native Name: | Пирдоп |
Subdivision Name1: | Sofia |
Population Total: | 6 739 |
Population As Of: | 2022 |
Elevation M: | 696 |
Postal Code: | 2070 |
Area Code: | 07181 |
Coordinates: | 42.7°N 35°W |
Leader Name: | Angel Gerov |
Pirdop (bg|Пирдоп pronounced as /bg/) is a town located in central-west Bulgaria in Pirdop Municipality of Sofia Province in the southeastern part of the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Valley at 670 m above sea level. It is surrounded by the Balkan Mountains (also known as Stara Planina) to the north, Sredna Gora mountain range to the south, and Koznitsa and Galabets saddles to the east and west, respectively. As of 2022, the town had a population of 6,739.
The main economic activity is non-ferrous metallurgy. The Pirdop copper smelter and refinery is the biggest in the Balkans and whole of South-Eastern Europe. It was privatized in 1997 for $80,000,000[1] and is now owned by the German Aurubis. It has a capacity of 160,000 tons and additional capacity of 180,000 tons worth €82,000,000 is being built. The factory also produces 830,000 tons of sulphuric acid and employs 1,420 workers. The main chimney of the factory is 325 metres tall and shares together with the chimneys of Maritza East Power Stations the title of tallest man-made objects of Bulgaria.[2]
Pirdop Gate on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Pirdop.