PERNIK

formerly (1949-62) Dimitrovo, town, west-central Bulgaria. The town is located on the banks of the Struma River, 19 miles (31 km) southwest of Sofia. Originally a Bulgarian fortress whose function it was to repel the assaults of the Byzantine armies, Pernik was for five centuries (1396-1878) under Turkish rule. From 1891 Pernik began to experience considerable industrial growth because of the mining of rich veins of coal in the area, and it is now a leading industrial town in Bulgaria. The town's cultural centre is one of the finest in the country. Pernik also has a mining school, a large sports complex with a stadium, a national theatre, a symphony orchestra, a museum, and an attractive park. Pop. (1993 est.) 90,586.