Photogallery "The Magic of Bulgaria" -- DEVIN

	Silently the wind blows... Tih viatur vee -- a rodopa song

A town standing in tiers in the Devin hollow, carrying its past through time. Going back to the past it touches the language of the Thracians - Devin, Dyovlen, Dyovling. This region is a unique settlement and an old passage. In this area (Trigrad, Yagodina, Orpheus mountain chalet) there are paleolithic deposits from 25-30,000 years: millstones, charred wheat, bone implements, amulets, idols, knives, palstaves, broaches, needles, chisels, etc.

In the Neostone, Stone-copper and Bronze Age (5000-2000 years B.C.) the population of the Devin region lived in open settlements and caves. It developed high material and spiritual culture associating with developed lands around. Large cultural groups were formed in the cave-dwellings along the Yagodinska and the Trigradska rivers. Traces of life, beginning from the Neostone Age end and passing through all periods up to the Middle Ages were found in the large cave near the village of Yagodina. The upper level of the cave which with its atrium and some of its galleries served for dwellings of the ancient inhabitants of the region, is at 1145 m above the sea level. Of particular interest are the bicone-shaped utensils made on hand potter's wheel: dishes, bowls, vessels-stores, vase-shaped vessels, cups. Decoration is of different shades of ochre combined with graphite. The main patterns decorated on the utensils are spiral meander,large strips, combination of narrow and large strips, triangles.

The region of Devin was inhabited by the local Thracian tribes from the end of the Bronze Age (14th c. B.C.) to the late antiquity (4th c. A.D.). The most common archaeological monuments of the Thracian culture are the numerous Thracian mounds, settlements and citadels (Borino, Yagodina, Trigrad, Grohotno, Varbovo, Stoykite, Devin, etc.). On the territory of the Devin region there are a considerable number of registered Thracian sanctuaries developed already in the 13th c. B.C. on bare rocky summits. There were sanctuaries at Videnitza and Stanilovo Bardo from the Hellenistic age. A bronze statue of Dionysus was found in Trigrad, and a statue of Hermes - near Zabral place. Ancient traces were also found along the ancient Thracian roads which were also used later on during the Roman period. Valuable coin finds and other objects prove the trade and cultural exchange of the region of Devin with ancient Greece and the lands of the Adriatic coast.

Thracians, Slavs and proto-Bulgarians are amalgamated in an eternal amalgam which gave birth to Bulgaria. The Christian cemetery discovered in the centre of the present-day town prove the common origin of the population.

The Ottoman invasion in the Rhodopes began in 1371 and turned the mountain black.

The most awful was the conversion to Mohammedanism which took place during the rule of sultan Mehmed IV - the Hunter. In 1671 he came to the Dospat mountain with a personal staff of 3,000 and over 20-30,000 shout-men. That was not just hunting game but hunting disobedient mountain-dwellers as well. This nation-crasher came fearful like a tornado but the Bulgarian language, the national dress, the names of the sites, the rites, the songs, the traditions, the heroic deeds remained and survived. The earliest document known so far about Devin town was issued in 1576 - a Turkish list of small cattle breeders listing Bulgarian names: Valtcho, Stoyan, Miho, etc. In 1878 the Russians came across Rojen. The dawn of freedom appeared however that happiness did not last for long. Soon this area was again cut from the Bulgarian lands, and submitted to strong oppression. That period is full of murder, robbery, heavy taxes (1878-1912). In 1912 the Devin region was liberated during the Balkan War, through the help of the 21st Srednogorski regiment under the command of colonel Vladimir Serafimov (7.10.1912).

In 1913 was opened Bulgarian school, and in 1923- "Rodopska Prosveta" library. Devin town is a municipality centre: it includes the lands of Osikovo, Tchurekovo, Seltcha, Stomanovo, Myhalkovo, Lyaskovo, Breze, Nastan, Beden, Grohotno, Teshel, Gyovren, Trigrad, Jrebovo and Kesten. It is situated on the territory of the Dospat physical and geographical region covering the central, the highest sections of the picturesque Westrhodopa subregion in the Rilo-Rhodopa morphological region of Bulgaria. The town has a broken ridge which in places slants to the river valleys. The highest mountain peak in the municipality is 1686. The total area of the municipality is 552 sq.km. Devin town is 684 m above sea level. It has 24°24' longitude and 41 °45' latitude along the Devinska river.

The present-day lay of the Devin region is the result of the strong tectonic activity which began in early neogene. The morpho-struc-tural characteristics of the relief in Devin region are expressed in the heavy density of horizontal segmentation - about 2,5 km/km² and values of vertical segmentation of about 300 m/km². The bedrock of the Devin mountain is mainly built with Oligocene rhyolites and sandstone and less gneiss and marble. Rising high above sea level, it resembles a rolling lowland. River beds are 500-600 m below the level of ridge. A number of side hills slope down from the main mountain ridges. They are cut by tens of gullies which form steep and at places almost impassable valleys where rocks rise vertically above the river bed, and make the place look awesome. The total area of the woods is 40,545 hectares out of which 30,610 hectares coniferous or 76,5%, and 9,935 hectares or 24,5% de-ciduous trees.

The Devin region vegetation is determined by the altitude, the variety of the lay, the exposure of the slopes, the temperature and the rain- and snowfalls. The northern slopes are grown with spruce, pine spruce, beech forests, and the southern - with white pine, oak, and in some places with hornbeam trees. There are also black pine, birch, sycamore, white fir, mountain ash and other trees. In some places the forests are mixed and give specific beauty to that part of the mountain. The forests abound in blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, mushrooms and herbs. The land used in the municipality is 130,142 decares out of which 78,862 decares pastures and commons and 24,392 decares meadows and 26,888 decares arable land, mainly planted with potatoes and fodder. Devin town has 12,550 decares pastures and commons, 2,350 decares meadows and 1,600 decares arable land, mainly planted with potatoes and fodder. The fauna is also rich in variety. Quails, deers, does, wild goats, hazel hens, wood grouses, etc. are raised in the region. Devin mountain is one of the few places in the Rhodopes populated with wild goats. All the rivers abound in fish, mainly mountain trout. The region of Devin belongs to the transition-continental climatic zone. The relatively high altitude, the heavily cut lay and particularly the highly raised main morphohydrographic divide prevent the penetration of Mediterranean climate. Typical of the region are lower summer temperatures and heavier waterfall. Average annual temperatures range from 4° C for the highest areas of the region to 10°C for the lowest. The lowest winter temperatures range from -10°C to -15°C, and the highest summer - from 30°C to 33°C. Autumn is warmer than spring. Temperatures are highest in July and August, and lowest in February.

The average winter temperature ranges from -1,5°C to +5°C. The average spring temperature ranges from 11"C to 13°C. The average summer temperature ranges from 12°C to 15°C.

Rainfall differs and is dependant on altitude. The average annual rainfall in the lowest areas is about 272 mm less than that in the highest areas. This is due to the difference in altitude and to the so-called rainfall shadow. Annual rainfall ranges from 650 to 800 mm. Rainfall is highest in May and June, and lowest - in July. August and September. There is no polution in the region, and the place is ecologically clean. The air is fresh and cool in the highest areas of 600 and 1200 m altitude, and moderately warm in the lowest areas if less than 6500 m altitude. The thermal springs at Beden spa are in the valley of Shirokolaka river, on its right bank, not far from Breze village and at about 12 km to the east of Devin town. The total capacity is 6,6 I per second, and the temperature is 76°C. The water is hydrocarbonate-sulphate-sodium with increased content of carbon dioxide (about 204 mg per litre and 1,7-1,8 g/l mineralization. About 4,5 I/sec of the capacity is delivered via pipeline to Devin and about 2 I/sec is kept for the local baths. The so-called "gunpowder" or sulphurous spring is located in the west area of Devin town. Its capacity is 0,150 I/sec and its temperature is 16°C The water is hydrocarbonate-sodium of 0,2 g/l mineralization and 1 mg/l F. The mineral spring at Mosestra place is located in the valley of Vatcha river, 6-7 km to the north of Devin. Its capacity is low, undetermined, and temperature is 37°C. The water is sulphate, hydrocarbonate-sodium. The hot springs at Nastan village are located on both banks of Vatcha river near the village. They are 5-6 and their temperature is 19°-21 °C. The water is hydrocarbonate-calcium of 0,3 g/l mineralization. Their capacity cannot be measured as they are mixed with cold water.

Hot spring No.1 is located on the left bank of Devinska river, in the yard of the Devin town balneotherapy sanatorium. The depth of the drill is 770,30 m. The capacity is 1,8 I/sec, and the temperature is 38°C. The water is hyd-rocarbonate-sulphate, sodium and fluoric. Hot spring No. 2 is located on the right bank of Vatcha river, south of Nastan village. Drilling is 610 m deep, water temperature is 18°C and capacity is 0,014 I/sec. Hot spring No. 3 is located on the left bank of Devinska river, about 1 km west of the balneotherapy sanatorium, at the end of Devin town. Drilling depth is 1093,60 m. Water capacity is 10 I/sec. It contains microelements lithium, strontium and barium. Temperature is 42°C.

Hot spring No. 4 is on the left bank of Devinska river, west of the balneotherapy sanatorium and is 500 m from drilling No. 3. Its depth is 718 m and water capacity is 6 I/ sec. Water temperature is 44°C. Hot spring No. 5 is on the left bank of Devinska river, west of the balneotherapy sanatorium at 2,5 km. Water capacity is 15 I/ sec, and water temperature is 47°C. The physical and chemical characteristics of the mineral springs make them suitable for treatment and prevention of various diseases: in external application - for diseases of the locomotory system, the nervous system. the genital system, the cardiovascular system and for skin diseases. Drinking water treats and prevents diseases of the gastroin-testinal tract, the gall bladder and the liver, the kidneys, the urogenital system and metabolic-endocrine diseases. Inhalation is mainly applied in case of diseases of the respiratory system of inflammatory, allergic or toxic nature.

Devin town is typical above all of its cool summer and moderately cold winter. The relatively moderate rain- and snowfall, the cool summer, the lack of fog make the climate pleasant.

The town is situated in a small hollow of the Devin mountain, 710 m above sea level. It is surrounded with rocky and green heights and is protected against cold and north-west winds. Winds are mainly west and south-west, and are stronger in December, January and February.

Devin has 110,5 average annual rainy days and 10 average monthly rainy days. They are mainly in March (14,5), April (11,4), May (13,4), June (13). July, August and September have least rainy days (6). Spring (37,8) has twice the number of rainy days of summer (19,5).

The average annual amount of rainfall is 668,6 l/m² which is slightly higher than the average amount for the country - 659 l/m². The average monthly amount is 55,7 l/m². Rainfall is highest during the spring (May and June), reaching 84 l/m² in June. The maximum average amount of rainfall per 24 hours reaches 0,79 l/m². During August the amount of rainfall drops to 37,1 l/m² with an average maximum amount per 24 hours 0,53 l/m², and in October it is 30,7 l/m² with 0,43 l/m² average maximum amount per 24 hours. Due to the sloping terrain and the structure of the soil water is not retained, and in spite of the higher amount of rain, there is almost no humidity or fog. All that makes Devin a pleasant and nice resort place for balneotherapy with cool summer and lovely autumn. The first snowfall is in the last days of November, and the snow stays until the end of March only on the northern slopes and hills. Snowfall is heaviest from December to February. An important advantage of the climate is that the air is clean. There is no industrial polution, and the fogs typical of hollows are almost missing. The climate of the town has a stimulating, curative-prophylactic and hardening effect.

There is no other town, not only in Bulgaria but anywhere else, with so many mineral and medical springs...