About Bulgaria - Geography

Geography

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Location
Situated in south-eastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the north-eastern 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.

Pirin

Terrain
Bulgaria's terrain varies between 0 and 2,925 m. in altitude. Its territory includes part of the lower Danubian plain, the Balkan range (part of the Alpine-Himalayan chain), part of the Thracian lowland, and to the south the mountain structures of the Macedonian-Thracian massif. Its best known mountains are Rila (its highest peak being Musala – 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren peak – 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah peak – 2,291 m.), Stara Planina (i.e., the Balkan range) (Botev peak – 2,376 m.), and the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik peak – 2,191 m.).

Vitosha

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

Waters
The rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains, and flow into the Black Sea (via the Danube) and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than 2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, which flows along the northern Bulgarian border.

There are good opportunities for adventure tourism: wild water rafting and canoeing, diving, delta- and para-gliding in the valleys of the Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.

The longest rivers in Bulgaria
Name	Length (Km)
Iskar	368,0
Toundga	349,5
Maritsa	321,6
Osum	341,0
Struma	290,0
Yantra	285,5
Kamchiya	244,5
Arda	241,3
Louda Kamchiya	200,9
Roussenski Lom	196,9

Balkana

Natural lakes are about 330 in number; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Bourgas, 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.

Climate The predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional-continental. There are 2,000 to 2,400 hours of sunlight per year. Four seasons. Dry, hot summer: average temperature (April - September) is 23°C. Cold winter with snowfalls: average temperature is 0°C. The average temperature for the year is 10.5°C. A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the south-western 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.

Flora and fauna Bulgaria has many corners still in their natural state, preserving a remarkable bio-diversity. Natural vegetation demonstrates considerable ecological variety. A total of 12,360 species have been found, of which 3,700 are higher plants. The Bulgarian endemic plants – found nowhere else world-wide – number more than 250: Rila primrose, Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, Rhodopean tulip… Forests abound with wild fruits, briars, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms – all of them of proven flavour and with qualities which strengthen the body. There is also a great diversity of herbs and healing plants.		Elenite
Sredna Gora	Bulgaria’s fauna numbers some 13,000 species, 14% of the total number of registered animal species in Europe. Rare mammal species are to be found in this country. Reserves and hunting grounds are inhabited by pelicans, stags, deer, does, wild goats, quails, pheasants, etc. A network of three national parks has been set up (with a total area of 221,252.2 ha) – Rila, Pirin, and the Central Balkan; nine natural parks (over 180,000 ha); reserves, as well as 2,234 protected territories and natural landmarks. Of them the Pirin National Park and the Sreburna biosphere reserve have been included in UNESCO’s world heritage list. Together with a further 16 biosphere reserves they offer wonderful conditions for photograpy, scientific and hobby tourism.

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

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