Knezha

Knezha (Bulgarian: Кнежа, pronounced [knɛˈʒa]) is a town in Pleven Province, Northern Bulgaria. It is the administrative center of the homonymous Knezha Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 11,191 inhabitants.[1]

Knezha

Кнежа
Knezha
Location of Knezha
Coordinates: 43°30′N 24°5′E
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)		Pleven
Government
 • MayorIliycho Lachovski
Elevation
136 m (446 ft)
Population
 (31.12.2009)[1]
 • Total11,191
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
5835
Area code(s)09132

The town's name is most probably derived from the Slavic word knyaz ("prince, duke"), most likely after a local ruler that defended the population in the area during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria. Knezha is the third-largest town in the province, after Pleven and Cherven Bryag, and is the administrative centre of a municipality. The town was located in Vratsa province until 2001, when a boundary change shifted the town into Pleven province.

A local landmark is the 17-metre (56 ft) steel Christian cross constructed on a hill overlooking the town. The cross' construction was financed entirely by donations. It has luminescent lighting bodies attached to it and is illuminated in blue at night.[2] The cross is similar to the larger Millennium Cross above Skopje. Knezha also has a historical museum and an amateur theatre performing in the local community centre (chitalishte). The Institute on Maize of the Agricultural Academy is based in Knezha; it was founded in 1924.

Notable natives include weightlifter and Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist Galabin Boevski (b. 1974), Bulgaria international footballer Valentin Iliev (b. 1980) and Bulgarian Army general and long-time Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Ferdinand Kozovski (1892–1965).

Climate

Knezha has a continental climate (Dfb) with hot summers and cold winters, and relatively large temperature variations.

Climate data for Knezha, Bulgaria(1970-2004)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20.8
(69.4)		 35.7
(96.3)		 32
(90)		 36.5
(97.7)		 38.2
(100.8)		 41.2
(106.2)		 42.7
(108.9)		 41.6
(106.9)		 37.4
(99.3)		 27.9
(82.2)		 21.6
(70.9)		 42.7
(108.9)
Average high °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)		 5.5
(41.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 17.8
(64.0)		 23.7
(74.7)		 27.0
(80.6)		 29.4
(84.9)		 29.5
(85.1)		 24.1
(75.4)		 17.9
(64.2)		 9.7
(49.5)		 4.1
(39.4)		 16.9
(62.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)		 0.8
(33.4)		 6.2
(43.2)		 12.0
(53.6)		 17.6
(63.7)		 20.8
(69.4)		 23.2
(73.8)		 23.3
(73.9)		 18.2
(64.8)		 12.7
(54.9)		 5.4
(41.7)		 0.2
(32.4)		 11.6
(52.9)
Average low °C (°F) −5.1
(22.8)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 0.8
(33.4)		 6.2
(43.2)		 11.5
(52.7)		 14.6
(58.3)		 16.8
(62.2)		 16.9
(62.4)		 12.3
(54.1)		 7.5
(45.5)		 1.1
(34.0)		 −3.7
(25.3)		 6.3
(43.3)
Record low °C (°F) −35.5
(−31.9)		 −32
(−26)		 −30.2
(−22.4)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 6.3
(43.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 8.8
(47.8)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −15.4
(4.3)		 −28.2
(−18.8)		 −35.5
(−31.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33
(1.3)		 25
(1.0)		 41
(1.6)		 55
(2.2)		 64
(2.5)		 72
(2.8)		 60
(2.4)		 42
(1.7)		 45
(1.8)		 40
(1.6)		 43
(1.7)		 38
(1.5)		 557
(21.9)
Source: Stringmeteo [3]

http://www.stringmeteo.com

References
  1. (in English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009 Archived 2010-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Диковски, Цветан (2008-10-15). "Силата на кръста да пази от градушки..." (in Bulgarian). Pravoslavie.bg. Archived from the original on 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  3. "Stringmeteo - Knezha Climate". Stringmeteo. 2011. Retrieved on June 21, 2013.
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