Rudozem

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Rudozem
Rudozem (Bulgaria)
Rudozem
Rudozem
Location of Rudozem
Coordinates: 41°29′N 24°51′E / 41.483, 24.85
Country Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
Provinces
(Oblast)
Smolyan
Government
 - Mayor Asan Chakarov (MRF)
Elevation 826 m (2,710 ft)
Population (13.09.2005)
 - Total 4,447
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code 4960
Area code(s) 0306

Rudozem (Bulgarian Cyrillic: Рудозем) is a town in southern Bulgaria, near the Greek border. It is located in the Rhodope Mountains, where the Elhovo and Chepino rivers flow into the Arda, and is part of Smolyan Province.

The town's name is a compound word made up of Bulgarian ruda (руда) meaning "ore"; and the root zem (зем) meaning "land". It refers to the wealth of the area in mineral resources. Its former name is Palas. She was a township of the Ottoman İskeçe sanjak in Edirne vilayet between 1867 and 1912.