Wikipedia
Yakoruda
Yakoruda 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 and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Emiliya Maslarova.