The land of Bulgaria is a pure piece
of the Balkan Peninsula in South Eastern Europe, which lies
on its Eastern part. It has common frontiers with Greece
and Turkey to the South, Romania – to the North, Macedonia
and Serbia to the West and the Black Sea – to the East.
Bulgaria
extends over 111 000 sq. km. (43 000 sq. miles) and has
6 main regions:
- the North Western region
- the North Central region (the central part of the Danube
plain and the Balkan Range)
- the Black Sea region and the Strandzha mountain
- the South region (the Eastern and Western Rhodopes and
Sakar mountains)
- the South Central region (Sub – Balkan region)
- the South Western region (the capital Sofia, the Rila
and Pirin mountains)
The
location of the country makes it a natural bridge between
the East and the West, the North and the South. It defines
Bulgaria as country with soft climate, beautiful nature
and hospitable people.
The climate of Bulgaria varies a
lot, according to the geographical relief. Abundant showers,
snowy weather and frosts are the characteristics of the
high parts of the Rila, Pirin, Western Rhodopes mountains
and the Balkan range. The flat parts of the country have
a continental climate with various temperature changes.
In the very south parts of Bulgaria, a sweet Mediterranean
climate predominates.
Picturesque mountains with catching
breath vegetation, incredible variety of endemic and animal
species, Bulgaria ranks fifth in Europe in the diversity
of plants found within its territory. Only here you could
see the unique Rhodopian flower “silivryak”, here grows
the world famous oleaginous Bulgarian rose, the edelweiss
and the Thracian oak – tree.
It's
maybe unbelievable but Bulgaria has more animal species
within its territory that any other country in Europe. 29
000 animal species have been identified. Our National nature
parks are ones of the few remaining locations in Europe
that provides sanctuary to rare and endangered animals,
such as wolf, marten, wild cat, Geoffrey's bat and imperial
eagle. We have the unique Dancing Bears park with 19 brown
bears in South Rila mountain. At present the hole territory
of Bulgaria is inhabited by 860 wild bears.
The
two migration routes of birds pass through the Bulgarian
lands: Via Pontica and Via Mediterranea – along the Strouma
valley.
The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast covers
the whole eastern bound of Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast beaches
occupy approximately 130 km of the 378 km coast. The region
is an important centre for tourism during the summer, drawing
foreign and Bulgarian tourists alike and constituting the
country's arguably most popular tourist destination.
The area's average air temperature in the summer is about
28°C, with the average water temperature at 25°C. There
are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September
and more than 300 hours in July and August.
The
Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge
of the Black Sea, dividing the coastline from south to north.
Bulgaria's northern Black Sea Coast features rocky headlands
where the sea abuts cliffs up to 70 metres in height. The
southern coast is known for its wide sandy beaches.
The
largest city on Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is Varna (also
the third largest city in Bulgaria), located on the northern
part of the coast. Another big city is Bourgas, located
on the southern coast. The two cities' international airports,
Varna Airport and Burgas Airport, are the main hubs servicing
the region. In addition, the A1 and A2 motorways, currently
in construction, would make the trip from the capital Sofia
to the coast substantially easier and faster.
Bulgaria's population numbers about
8 million people (nearly 1 million have left this country
for the last 14 years) – including Christians (over 85 %),
Muslims (about 14%) and Jews. Historically, the Bulgarian
people had developed as a "mixture" of Slavs,
Turkic tribes and Thracians. At present, ethnic Bulgarians,
together with ethnic Turks, Gypsies, Albanians, Jews, Armenians,
etc., forme the Bulgarian nation. By their appearance, Bulgarians
could hardly be distinguished from any other European living
in the Mediterranean region.
Bulgarians
are traditionalists. Family ties are very strong and it
has long been quite common for three generations (grandparents,
parents and children) to share the same home, or to maintain
regular, active, and close contacts. Grandmothers would
look after the kids, while mothers were at work. Nowadays
the family pattern is to have only one or two children.
Marriages (like in may other developed countries) have become
less in number. Concubinage is ever more frequent among
the young people – very often they choose to live together
and even have children outside of wedlock. Migration to
the larger centres is going on (jobs in the small towns
and villages are scarce).
The
Bulgarian houses are largely made of bricks or concrete
and furnished in the standard European manner. Electric
power supply, water supply and sewerage are common throughout
the country.
The
hospitality is one of the distinctive qualities of Bulgarian
people. Do not be surprised if you find Bulgarian people
readily helpful and friendly. |
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