Smolyan is a town and ski resort in the far south of
Bulgaria near the border with
Greece. It is the administrative and industrial centre of the homonymous
Smolyan Province. The town is situated in the valley of the Cherna ("Black") and the Byala ("White") Rivers in the central
Rhodopes at the foot of the
mountains' highest part south of the popular
ski resorts
Pamporovo and
Chepelare. As of February 2011, it has a population of 30,283 inhabitants.