General Information about Bulgaria
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LOCATION
Bulgaria lies in Southeast Europe in the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsular.The country is 520 km long and 330 km wide as the crow files, has a wide outlet on the Black Sea and the river Danube and convenient crossroads location between Europe and Asia. The country's territory of 111 000 square km make up about 0.08 % of the earth s land, one fifth of the territory of France or a speck on the map of the globe, if you like.The total length of the boarders is 2245 km of which 1181 are land, 686 km. are rivers and 378 km. are sea boarders. Turkey, Greece, ex-Yugoslavia and Romania were , are and will be the
neighbour countries.
POPULATION
The population is about 8 millions, 8,6 % of the Balkan Peninsular, 1,3 % of Europe and 0,2 % of the world, living in 240 towns and 5 099 villages, 68 % of the population is urban. With 75 % per square km. as against 38 % on the Earth and 66 % in Europe, the population density is relatively big or at least bigger than that in neighbour Turkey and Greece.
RELIEF
Bulgaria is simply a continent in miniature where alpine lakes and sunny beaches, curative hot springs and chilly caves, edelweiss heady precipices and subtropical rivers with lilies and lianas coexist. The average altitude of the country is 450 meters ( 300 m. for Europe and 136 m. for Belgium) but the relief is very varied. No doubt mountains are the first eye-catching sight in the diversity of topographic features and miraculous workings of nature where measure is paramount.
Bulgaria's relief is very varied. Its characteristics are the alternation of the basic topographic features in the north-south direction. These descent from west-northwest to eastnortheast. Hills and mountains are the predominant topographic features; almost
three-quarters of the physical map are yellow and brown; forests constitute 28 % of the territory. As you move south of the Danube you can count more than one hundred valleys and hills before you reach the Valley of Roses.
CLIMATE
Temperate continental with clearly marked four seasons. A Mediterranean influence is felt in the country's southern regions. The average annual temperature is 10.5 C. The average January temperature is around 0 C. Average summer temperatures rarely exceed 30 C.
ALPHABET
Cyrillic. In the second half of the ninth century, the brothers Cyril and Methodius developed the Cyrillic alphabet that is the basis of that used by several nations in Europe today. The Ottoman Empire had a dominating influence over the country for five centuries.
Having gained its independence in 1878, Bulgaria began introducing progressive ideas in its social political and economic life.
Signs along international motorways, in airports and resorts are also spelled in Roman letters.
RELIGION
86.6 % of the population is Eastern Orthodox, 13 % are Muslims. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic.
HISTORY
Bulgaria has a history back more than 3000 years. Its ancient land was a meeting place of several civilisations - Thracian, Roman and Byzantine. The first Bulgarian State was founded in 681 AD by Slavs and Proto Bulgarians.The Bulgarian lands remember many ancient civilizations and great peoples which wrote the pages of its turbulent history: bronze and iron spears and arrows, ruins of palaces and cities, wise words carved on rocks and stone columns, written on parchment and leather.
The Thracians bequeathed us the famous tombs near Kazanluk and Sveshtari, the unique gold treasures from Panagyurishte and Rogozen. The Hellenes built the beautiful coastal towns of Apollonia, Anhialo and Messambria, and Romans - ancient Aescus, Nikopolis ad Istrum and Nove. Huns, Gothes and Averas later passes through our lands. Around
the mid-7th century the Slavs came from the north across the Danube and reached as far as the Black Sea and the Adriatic. They were followed by the Bulgarians of Khan Asparouh...
In fact, there were only three states in Europe in 681: The Western Roman Empire, BULGARIA, and The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium)...
TODAY
Bulgaria plays an important role in the Balkan region. Its strategic geographical location is further enhanced by the number of international motorways crossing the country and the commercial ports on the Black Sea and the Danube River. These routes make it easy to access the emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia as well as
in the Middle East.
The most prominent event in Bulgaria's resent history was its peaceful break from communism in 1989 and in the same way as other countries in Eastern Europe, it has embraced the ideas of a free economy.
CAPITAL
Sofia (pop. 1,114,759)
MAIN TOWNS
Plovdiv (377,637), Varna (297,090), Bourgas (188,367), and Rousse (185,425)
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Bulgarian. (Russian and English is widely spoken/understood in large cities )
NATIONAL HOLIDAY
3 March - The Day of the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman Rule (1878)
OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
1 January New Year`s Day
1 May Labour Day
6 May Day of the Bulgarian Army
24 May Day of Cirillic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightment and Culture
6 September The Union of Eastern Rumelia and the Bulgarian Principality
22 September Independence Day
1 November Leaders of the Bulgarian National Revival Day
24 - 26 December Christmas, Easter
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION
28 districts
TRANSPORT
The railway transport is of great significance for the country. The total length of the railway network is 7,353 km, and of the road network is 31,404 km. The sea and river (along the Danube river) fleet take an active part in the trade of the country. The major sea ports are Varna and Bourgas, and the main Danube ports are Rousse, Lom, Svishtov, Vidin. There is a ferry-boat connection between Vidin and Kalafat (Romania). The main airports are: Sofia Airport, Bourgas Airport, Varna Airport, Plovdiv Airport.
CURRENCY
Lev (BGN)
WEIGHT AND MEASURS
Metric system
Notes: Main Source of Information: National Statistical Institute, Council of Ministers BG
