GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES Sample Clauses

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. Situated in the southeastern part of Europe, the border area between Bulgaria and the fYRoM has a favourable location. Its territory extends across the entire Pirin mountain, Rila mountain (with Musala peak that is the highest point on the Balkan Peninsula, 2925 m), parts of the Western Rhodopi, the mountains of Verila, Konyavska, Zemenska, Slavyanka, Plackovica, and the border mountains of Belasica, Osogovo, Malesevska, Ograzden and Vlahina. More than half of the border area is with prevailing mountainous relief with numerous valleys and fertile land situated in between them (Kochani plain, Struma and Mesta valleys, Kyustendil valley, Dupnica valley etc.), which favours the development of tourism, agriculture and wood processing industries, while at the same time hampering transport infrastructure. The climate is diverse, from transitional-continental to transitional-Mediterranean in the South and with specific features in higher mountains. Water is an important resource for the border area, with numerous lakes on the mountains and abundance of rivers. Major rivers in the area are: Bregalnica, Strumica (Strumeshnica), Turija, Struma, Xxxxx and their tributaries, from which only Strumica (Strumeshnica) runs through both countries, flowing into Bulgaria. Another major natural resource of the region is the thermal water, which is available across the whole cooperation area. The most important thermal mineral springs with potential for development of spa treatments and energy generation are in Sandanski, Marikostino, Ognyanovo, Kyustendil, Sapareva Banya, the villages of Nevestino and Chetirtzi (at the Bulgarian side of the border, over 40% of all thermal springs available in country) and in Kochani, Vinitsa, Strumitsa (at the fYRoM side of the border). The soil cover ranges from forest soil in the mountain areas to alluvial soils in the river valleys and is most favourable for the traditionally developed tobacco, fruit and vegetable growing. Mineral resources in the region comprise of: granite, marble, clay, dolomite, brown and lignite coal, and ores. While raw mineral resources are noted for their diversity, only coal and marble are of economic significance. In addition to the natural diversity of the region there are also forests, covering around 46.5% of the total border area territory and providing raw materials for the wood-processing industries as well as opportunities for recreational and hunting activities.