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"Legend has it that when God was giving lands to the peoples of the
world he forgot the Bulgarians. To set things right he took a piece
of Heaven and gave it to them."
Situated in
South-eastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the north-eastern part of the
Balkan Peninsula. The country’s total territory is 111,000 sq. km.
It has a 378 km borderline with the Black Sea to the east. Bulgaria
also neighbours Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro to the west,
Romania to the north and Greece and Turkey to the south.
Bulgaria possesses
a varied relief, in the altitude range from 0 to 2,925 m. 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 predominant climate in Bulgaria is
moderate and transitional continental with plenty of sunlight days
per year. There are four seasons, with warm summer and snowy winter.
The average yearly temperature is 10.5 °C.
The Bulgarian
mountains which occupy half of the country’s territory, are easily
accessible, and are a prime destination for both winter and summer
tourist activities, including skiing, hiking, fishing, canoeing. The
major mountain ranges are Rilla, Pirin, Rhodope and Stara Planina.
Mussala peak in the Rilla mountain range is the highest point on the
Balkan peninsula.
Much of the Black
sea coast is covered by long beaches with fine white sand. The sea
itself is non-tidal, less salty and warmer than the Mediterranean.
The tourism sector has flourished in recent years and holds a firm
lead in the Bulgarian economy. |
