About BULGARIA

     Situated in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the north, along the Danube River, it borders Romania. To the west - the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia. To the south its neighbours are Greece and Turkey. To the east Bulgaria touches the Black Sea, which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. The Black Sea shoreline is 378 km (240 miles) long.

     The country's total territory is 111,000 sq. km (43,000 sq. miles) in area.

     Bulgaria comprises portions of the classical regions of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia. The southwest of the country is mountainous with two alpine ranges - Rila and Pirin and further east are the lower but more extensive Rhodope Mountains. Rila mountain includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, peak Musala at 2925 meters (9,596 ft); the long range of the Balkan mountains runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous Rose Valley.

     The mountains occupy half of the country's territory, with the high mountain relief – i.e., at an altitude above 1,600 m., comprising 5% of its entire area. The Balkan peninsula derives its name from the Balkan or Stara Planina mountain range which runs through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia.

     The Bulgarian mountains are easily accessible, and the towns and villages have preserved the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality.

     Hilly country and plains are found in the southeast, along the Black Sea coast in the east, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube in the north. Other major rivers include the Struma River and the Maritsa River in the south.

     Natural lakes are about 330 in number; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Burgas, Varna, Shabla lakes); the most numerous (more than 260) are the high glacial lakes in the Rila and Pirin mountains. Dams have been built as a part of waterpower systems – Iskar, Arda, Batak Water Power System, Belmeken-Sestrimo, Dospat-Vucha, and a great number of smaller dams.

     A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the southwestern Rhodope Mountains. The northern limits of the climatic zone are the Balkan Mountains.

     The average January temperature in Sofia ranges between -4°C and 2°C. The July temperature ranges between 16°C and 27°C. Along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges between -1°C and 6°C, and the July temperature ranges between 19°C and 30°C.

     The soft transitional-Mediterranean climate and the fertile soils are very suitable for growing the famous Bulgarian attar yielding rose – a valuable raw material for perfumery, medical and the food, wine and tobacco industries.

     Bulgaria has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with more than 1,600 water sources. These are localised chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts of national significance are Bankya, Velingrad, Sandanski, the mineral baths of Stara Zagora, Narechen, Sliven and Haskovo, as well as Kyustendil, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Hissarya, Merichleri, Momin Prohod, and Kostenets.

     The Black Sea is very clean, not tidal, and is bordered by long, sandy beaches. Climatic seaside resorts offering various recreation services are Balchik, Bourgas, Varna (Zlatni Pyassatzi – Golden Sands), Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko, Nessebur (Slantchev Bryag – Sunny Beach), and Sozopol.

     Picturesque lakes hide in the bowls of the Rila and Pirin mountains. Dam lakes of recreational potential are to be found in the Rhodope Mountains – Batak, Vatcha, Studen Kladenets; at the foot of the Balkan range – Ticha, as well as in some other places.

     The largest cities in the country are the Sofia (1,203,680) – the capital of Bulgaria, Plovdiv (376,918), Varna (345,522), Burgas (259,985), Rousse (177,538), Stara Zagora (163,193), Pleven (121,700), Dobrich (115,861), Sliven (100,300).