Geographic Location

Located in the south-east of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria borders Romania to the North, the Black Sea to the East, Turkey and Greece to the South and Serbia and Macedonia to the West. The river Danube forms the country’s northern frontier and offers quick access to Central Europe. With an area of 110 910 sq. km (42 823 sq. miles), Bulgaria is the fifteenth largest country in Europe. Situated on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, the country should benefit from increased transport flows as the national infrastructure is developed.

Landscape

The Bulgarian landscape is highly diverse. Its mountains - both high and low, craggy and undulating - are divided in places by deep valleys or shallow river basins. The North is dominated by the vast lowlands of the Danube plains, the South by highlands and elevated plains. The average altitude of Bulgaria is 470 m and overall, lowlands prevail. Along the Black Sea coast to the East of Bulgaria, the 130 km of good, wide beaches are one of the country’s main tourist attractions.

Mountains, Lakes and Rivers, Flora and Fauna

There are eight mountains in Bulgaria, which rise more than 2000 m above sea level. The highest point (Moussala, 2925 m) can be found in the Rila mountains. Like the Pirin mountains, this is characterised by sharp rocky peaks. The Rhodope mountains on the other hand are known for their long gradual slopes and, in places, narrow, deep cut valleys and ravines. The largest mountain range in Bulgaria is the Stara Planina or Balkan range. This runs right across Bulgaria from East to West dividing the country into two regions.
Bulgaria does not have very large rivers. However it does have a relatively large number of rather unevenly distributed small rivers, which rise in the mountains and generally flow either to the Black or Aegean Seas. In all there are 526 rivers more than 2,3 km long, and the longest, the Iskar, is 368 km. Other big rivers are Maritza, Tundzha and Struma.
There aren’t many natural lakes in Bulgaria, although there are no fewer than 260 high-mountain alpine glacial lakes. These can mostly be found in the Rila and Pirin mountains at altitudes of 1900 to 2400 metres. The lakes and swamps along the Danube have been drained with the exception of Sreburna lake, which has the status of an UNESCO reserve due to its unique flora and fauna. However numerous dams have been built.
Bulgaria is one of the countries richest in thermal spas in Europe, ranking third after the Czech Republic and Spain in number of mineral springs. These vary in mineral content and temperature and are thus used as remedies for a wide variety of ailments. Of particular balneological importance are the thermal spas at Bankya, Velingrad, Kyustendil, Sapareva Banya, Momin Prohod and Hissarya.
Bulgaria’s rich biodiversity is home to over 12 350 plant species and over 15 000 animal species, including many rare species. Three national parks and 89 reserves and other protected areas help preserve this variety. Bulgaria has the largest number of biosphere reserves in the world.

Climate

A continental climate with hot summers and cold winters made the country a popular beach resort while offering good skiing in the winter. A Mediterranean climate of dry summers and mild winters prevails in the valleys of the South-Western Rhodopi Mountains. The influence of the Black sea is limited to a narrow strip (200 - 300 km) in Eastern Bulgaria. The higher mountainous regions have relatively low temperatures, heavy rainfall and continuous year-round snow. The average annual temperature of the air in Bulgaria is 10,5 C. (Summer 20 -22 C.) Temperatures tend to vary between the late thirties at the top end of the range to as low as minus 20 C in winter.
The average annual rainfall range is between 450 - 1300 mm, the larger quantity falling over Western Bulgaria and the high mountains. The snow cover lasts 10 days (along the Black sea coast) and more than 200 days in the high mountains. Snow cover stays for long periods, creating favourable conditions for ski-sport activities.