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The eastern Rhodopes were the Ottomans' first conquest and their last foothold in Bulgaria before the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, and to this day many of the inhabitants are of ethnic Turkish origin. Geographically it is distinguished by 2500 hamlets and villages (far more than in either the central or the western Rhodopes) and comparatively low highlands (the average altitude is 329m). Traditionally, this was the poorest, least developed region of Bulgaria - a condition that only began to be remedied after dams and non-ferrous metal plants were established in the 1950s, and which seems likely to relapse as these industries collapse today. From a tourist's viewpoint the chief attractions are birdwatching at the nature reserve on the River Arda near Madzharovo, and the variety of strange rock formations in the Kardzhali region. However, as the reserve is only accessible by bus from Haskovo and the widely scattered rocks can only be reached by car, anyone coming from Smolyan and reliant on buses is limited to hiking around Belite Brezi or a visit to Kardzhali, a town whose past is more intriguing than its present
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