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Location:
Bulgaria is located in the southeastern part of Europe and occupies
the eastern part of Balkan Peninsula.
To the north it
borders on Romania, to the west on the Republic of Macedonia and
Serbia,
to the east on the Black Sea, to the south on Greece and to the
southeast on Turkey's European part.
Area
111
000
km2
Population
7
700 000
Capital
Sofia (1 200
000)
Major
Cities
Plovdiv (345
000),
Varna (315
000),
Bourgas
(200
000),
Rousse (165 000),
Stara Zagora (145 000), Pleven (120 000).
Relief
Extremely
varied: large plains and lowlands, low and high mountains, plateaus,
caves, valleys and lovely gorges. Lowest point: 0 m (Black Sea),
highest point: 2925 m (peak Mussala, Rila Mountain – the highest
peak on the Balkan Peninsula).
Climate
The climate in
Northern Bulgaria is moderate continental, while the climate in
Southern Bulgaria is intermediate continental tending to Mediterranean. The climate in the regions with an altitude of
1000-1200 m above sea level is mountainous and along the Black Sea
coast it is maritime.
The average
annual temperature is 10.5°C, in summer about 25°C and in winter
about 0°C. The sea water temperatures in the tourist season
May–October range around 23-28°C.
Environmental Protection
Great attention is paid on environmental protection. There are 49
protected territories, 17 biosphere reserves (the largest number in
Europe), 3 national parks, 9 natural parks, 82 reserves, 3,055
protected natural sites, 63 protected plants, 419 protected animals.
The air and the waters in Bulgarian mountains are among the
less polluted in Europe.
State government
Bulgaria is a
parliamentary republic with a democratic government.
Language
Official
language is Bulgarian - the
oldest written Slavonic language. English, German, French and
Russian are spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants.
Alphabet
Cyrillic,
created by the patrons of Europe St. Cyril and St. Methodius. Signs
along international motorways, in airports and resorts are also
spelled in Roman letters.
Religion
86.6% of the
population is Eastern Orthodox
Christians, 13% are Muslims. There are also small Roman Catholic and
Jewish communities. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by
a Patriarch.
History
The Bulgarians are an ancient people. The first Bulgarian state on
today’s location in Europe was founded in 681. The name of the state
has not been changed ever since. Major dates and events in Bulgarian
history:
681: The Bulgarian state was founded by khan Asparuh.
855:
St. Cyril and St. Methodius, patrons of modern Europe, created the
Slavonic alphabet
864 - 866:
Bulgaria accepted Christianity.
1018 - 1185:
Bulgaria was part of the Byzantine Empire.
1185:
Restoration of the Bulgarian state.
1396 - 1878:
Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire.
1878:
Restoration of the Bulgarian state.
1878 - 1944:
Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy.
1944 - 1989:
Bulgaria was a people’s republic ruled by the Bulgarian
Communist Party.
Since
1990:
Bulgaria has been a parliamentary republic.
2004: Bulgaria joined NATO.
2007: Bulgaria joined the European Union.
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EPUBLIC
OF
ULGARIA
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