BELOSLAV

Beloslav (Bulgarian Белослав) is an industrial town in Northeastern Bulgaria, in Varna oblast, 19 km west of downtown Varna and 5 km east of Devnya. Its population is 8,485 (2004). Beloslav is located along the eastern edge of Lake Beloslav and on both sides of the canal connecting it with Lake Varna. The two parts of town are connected by a vehicle and passenger ferry across the canal. A road bridge is to be build in the near future over the canal east of town carrying a bypass of the E87 international highway now passing through downtown Varna via the Asparuhov most bridge. Beloslav is an ancient settlement populated probably about 12,000 years ago. The first settlers inhabited the cave near today's town, where 12,000-year-old items were found. Around the 5th century BC the Thracians settled in the region. The town was also known as Krushevo, Gebedzhe (Turkish: Gebece), Belovo, and Belevo. The Ottoman name is still used today in certain situations. Beloslav is a transportation and industrial hub of national significance, part of the Varna-Devnya Industrial Complex. Transportation facilies include the railway ferry terminal with lines to Ukraine and Georgia served by the Sindel-razpredelitelna rail yard, the seaports of Varna Power Plant and LesPort of the Port of Varna complex, and a couple of railway stations. The largest thermal power plant in the nation, TEC Varna, and the Terem shiprepair yard are just east of town. Beloslav is an old centre of artistic glassblowing and fireproof glass manufacturing, and currently supplies glass vials to international pharmaceutical companies. Area Code: +5152