Note: Pernik is located on the Struma River about 19 miles southwest of Sofiya in west-central Bulgaria. It was a Bulgarian fortress against Byzantine assaults, later developing into an agricultural village. It was occupied by the Turks from 1396 to 1878. After becoming part of Bulgaria, it quickly grew into an industrial center thanks to the nearby coal mines. Its cultural assets today include a large sports complex, a theatre, a museum, and an orchestra. Its 2003 estimated population was 85,500.
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