Implementing body – Municipality of Harmanli
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Harmanli municipality is in the centre of Haskovo region. Its territory spreads over some parts of the Upper Thracian lowlands between the oblique south slopes of the Sredna Gora and precipitous north slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. The south boundary of the Thracian lowlands is outlined by the north Rhodope foot, along which it leans close on the north Rhodopes, between the lower end of the Momina Klisura defile (at 300 m elevation) and the beginning of the Harmanli defile (at 80 m elevation). The current of the Maritsa River flows near along the whole extent of this boundary, dividing the municipality into two almost equal parts. The tributaries of the Maritsa River, Harmanli and Bisser rivers flow through it as well.
Today's chief town of Harmanli came into being in about 1510 along the road that connects Europe and Asia. The first historical records of it date back to that time. They belong to the Slovene Benedit Kuripeshich, who would sojourn there as an interpreter in his mission. The location of the town along the roadway gives reason to a writer Gencho Stoev to say that 'Harmanli does not need to travel because the world goes through it.'
By 1998 the population amounted to 30 171 persons (10.6% of the Haskovo region). 21 435 persons live the municipal town of Harmanli, or 71% of the municipal population. The rural population is 8736 persons. For the most part the villages are small (200 to 1000 persons) - 17 of 24. Only one village, Bisser, belongs to the medium-sized ones (1000 to 2000 persons), and before 1994 - Slavianovo too. The rest 6 villages are very small - with less than 200 persons.









