256 People and Places
WHERE IS THE VALLEY OF THE ROSES?
In the foothills of the Balkan Mountains near
Kazanluk, in Bulgaria, lies the Valley of the Roses.
Here, vast fields of roses are grown to produce an
essential oil called attar, which is important in the
making of perfume. Fragrant rose petals are harvested
by hand and dried in the sun. Bulgaria produces most
of the world’s attar, which is worth its weight in gold.HOW DID THE CIVIL WAR IN FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA AFFECT THIS REGION?
Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and
Slovenia were once part of the communist country
of Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia split up in 1991, the
differences between its ethnic peoples exploded into
civil war. Thousands were killed or lost their
homes, and the economies of these
countries were badly affected.WHY WAS ALBANIA CUT OFF
FROM THE WORLD FOR 50 YEARS?
From 1944 to 1991, Albania was under
a communist dictatorship that isolated it
from the rest of Europe. Free speech and
religion were forbidden by law, and private
cars were banned. The country is now a
democracy and is slowly emerging from
isolation, but it remains poverty stricken.1 LAKE OHRID, MACEDONIA
This Eastern Orthodox Church (a branch of Christianity popular in this
region) sits on the banks of Lake Ohrid, which lies in the beautiful
mountains of southwest Macedonia. Once popular with tourists, ethnic
tensions and recent outbreaks of violence now keep visitors away.1 VALLEY OF THE ROSES, BULGARIA
Women rise at dawn to pick damask roses in the vast rose fields of
central Bulgaria. Attar, the essential oil they are grown for, is one of
the country’s most important exports.The countries of southeastern Europe, once called the Balkans, hold
a variety of peoples, religions, and languages. Tensions led to war in
the 1990s, resulting in smaller countries being formed. This region
of ancient towns and old traditions has picturesque landscapes of
forested mountains, deep valleys, fertile plains, and lakes. Its long,
indented coastline leads to the peninsula and many islands of Greece.
Southeast Europe
DUBROVNIK, CROATIA 3
The ancient walled city of Dubrovnik and the beautiful Adriatic coast
are once again drawing tourists to Croatia. Tourism is helping to
revitalize the country’s economy after the recent war.Church building
dating back to
the Middle Agessoutheast
Europe