I︠A︡koruda (Bulgaria)

Yakoruda (Bulgarian: Якоруда [jɐkoˈrudɐ]) is a Bulgarian town located in the southwestern part of the country. A part of the Blagoevgrad Province, it is the seat of Yakuroda Municipality which is the north-easternmost in the province. The town lies in the Rhodope Mountains, along the Mesta River, 26 km west of the town of Velingrad. Yakoruda was proclaimed a town on 9 September 1964, having previously been officially classified as a village. A plurality of the residents are Muslim Bulgarians (Pomaks), the rest being for the most part Eastern Orthodox. Notable natives are Survivor BG season one runner-up Ahmed Shuganov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Emiliya Maslarova, and Dr. Anna Petrova-Mayor, Professor of Physics at California State University Chico.