Situated
in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern part
of the Balkan Peninsula. To the North, via the Danube River, it
borders on Romania, to the West – on Serbia and Montenegro
and on the Former Yugoslav 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 borderline is 378 km (240 miles) long.
The country’s total territory is 111 000 sq. km (43 000 sq.
miles).
Relief
Bulgaria
possesses a variety of natural forms, located in the range of 0
and 2,925 m. altitude. Its territory includes part of the lower
Danube Plain, The Balkan Range – part of the Alpine-and-Himalayan
chain, part of the Thracian lowland and to the south – the
mountain structures of the Macedonian-Thracian massif. The best-known
mountains are Rila (highest peak Mussala – 2,925 m.), Pirin
(Vihren – 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah – 2,291 m.),
Stara Planina (the Balkan range -Botev Peak – 2,376 m.), and
the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.). The mountains occupy half
of this 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 easily accessible and the presence of towns
and villages in them that have preserved the authentic Bulgarian
spirit and hospitality, gives a chance for receiving and accommodating
tourists at village houses.
Waters
The
rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains and flow into the Black
Sea and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than
2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, that lies along
the North Bulgarian border.
There are good prerequisites for the development of adventure tourism:
wild waters – rafting and canoe, diving, delta- and para-
drifting in the river valleys of Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma,
and Mesta rivers. The longest rivers on the territory of Bulgaria
(in 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
The 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 (over 260) are the high-mountain
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.
(2 000 to 2 400 hours of sunlight per year). Four seasons. Dry
and hot summer. Average temperature (April - September): + 23
°C Cold winter with snowfalls, average temperature: 0 °C.
The average yearly temperature is 10.5 °C.
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 is the Balkan Range.The
average January temperature in Sofia ranges between -4° and
2°. The July temperature ranges between 16° and 27°
C. Along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges
between -1° and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between
19° and 30° C.
The soft transitional Mediterranean climate and the fertile soils
are very suitable for growing the century-famed Bulgarian attar-yielding
rose – a valuable raw material for perfumery, medical, food
and wine, and tobacco industries.
Flora
and Fauna
Bulgaria has many territories, which have preserved in their
natural state unique natural nooks, preserving a remarkable bio-diversity.
Contemporary natural vegetation demonstrates a considerable ecological
diversity.
12 360
species have been found in its composition, of which – 3
700 higher plants. The Bulgarian endemic plants, which are to
be found nowhere else in the world, number more than 250: Rila
primrose, Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, Rhodopean tulip
etc. Forests abound with wild fruits, briars, blueberries, blackberries,
raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms – all of them of proven
flavour and of qualities strengthening the body. There is also
a great diversity of herbs and healing plants. Bulgaria’s
fauna numbers some 13 000 species, which is 14 % of the total
number of registered animal species in Europe. Rare mammal species
are to be found in this country. Pelicans, stags, deer, does,
wild goats, quails, pheasants, etc inhabit reserves and hunting
grounds.
A network of 3 national parks has been set up (with a total area
of 221 252.2 ha) – Rila, Pirin, and the Central Balkan,
9 natural parks (over 180 000 ha), reserves, as well as 2 234
protected territories and natural landmarks. Two of them (Pirin
National Park and Sreburna biosphere reserve have been included
in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Together with further 16
biosphere reserves they offer wonderful conditions for photo-hunting,
scientific-and-cognitive tourism and hobby tourism.
Mineral
Springs
Bulgaria
has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with over 1 600 water sources.
These are localized chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts
of all-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.
Climatic sea-side resorts offering various recreation services are
Albena, Balchik, Bourgas, Varna (Zlatni Pyassatzi – Golden
sands), Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko, Nessebur (Slantchev Bryag –
Sunny beach), and Sozopol.
Picturesque lakes hide in the circuses of the Rila and Pirin mountains.
Dam lakes of recreational potential are to be found in the Rhodope
Mountain – namely Batak, Vatcha, Studen Kladenets, at the
foot of the Balkan range – Ticha, as well as in some other
places.
There are good prerequisites for the development of adventure tourism:
wild waters– rafting and canoe, diving, delta and para drifting
in the river valleys of Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and
Mesta rivers.
Situated
in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern part
of the Balkan Peninsula. To the North, via the Danube River, it
borders on Romania, to the West – on Serbia and Montenegro
and on the Former Yugoslav 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 borderline is 378 km (240 miles) long. 
Bulgaria
possesses a variety of natural forms, located in the range of 0
and 2,925 m. altitude. Its territory includes part of the lower
Danube Plain, The Balkan Range – part of the Alpine-and-Himalayan
chain, part of the Thracian lowland and to the south – the
mountain structures of the Macedonian-Thracian massif. The best-known
mountains are Rila (highest peak Mussala – 2,925 m.), Pirin
(Vihren – 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah – 2,291 m.),
Stara Planina (the Balkan range -Botev Peak – 2,376 m.), and
the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.). The mountains occupy half
of this country’s territory, with the high-mountain relief
– i.e. at an altitude above 1,600 m., comprising 5 % of its
entire area. 
The
rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains and flow into the Black
Sea and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than
2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, that lies along
the North Bulgarian border. 
The
predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional continental.
(2 000 to 2 400 hours of sunlight per year). Four seasons. Dry
and hot summer. Average temperature (April - September): + 23
°C Cold winter with snowfalls, average temperature: 0 °C.
The average yearly temperature is 10.5 °C. 
60
species have been found in its composition, of which – 3
700 higher plants. The Bulgarian endemic plants, which are to
be found nowhere else in the world, number more than 250: Rila
primrose, Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, Rhodopean tulip
etc. Forests abound with wild fruits, briars, blueberries, blackberries,
raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms – all of them of proven
flavour and of qualities strengthening the body. There is also
a great diversity of herbs and healing plants. Bulgaria’s
fauna numbers some 13 000 species, which is 14 % of the total
number of registered animal species in Europe. Rare mammal species
are to be found in this country. Pelicans, stags, deer, does,
wild goats, quails, pheasants, etc inhabit reserves and hunting
grounds. 
Bulgaria
has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with over 1 600 water sources.
These are localized chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts
of all-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. 