A lot of mountains and Black Sea

IVAO  BULGARIA

Location: Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe and occupies an area of 111 000 sq.km in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The average altitude is 470 m.

Area:
total: 110,910 sq km
water: 360 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km

Land boundaries
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline: 380 km

Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E

Elevation extremes:

·  lowest point: Black Sea 0 m

·  highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Population: about 8 million

Capital: Sofia, population over one million

Language: the official language is Bulgarian and uses only the Cirillic alphabet. To facilitate tourists, road and direction signs in populated areas, resorts, railway stations, airports and along the main motorways are also spelled in Roman letters. English, German, French, Russian and other languages are spoken in the country.

Time difference: Winter time: GMT + 2 hours( October through March). Summer time: GMT + 3 hours (April through September).

The land of roses, Bulgaria, is a small country of ancient culture, scenic beauty, friendly people, hospitality and warmth. Bulgaria is situated in south-eastern Europe. It occupies the central part of Balkan peninsula on both sides of the Balkan Range (the Balkans), from which the peninsula has taken its name. The grater part of the northern border with Romania passes along the Danube, and the eastern border is the Black Sea. The land borders with Serbia and Macedonia to the west, with Turkey to the south-east, and with Greece to the south.

Bulgaria is a beautiful mountainous country, with tourism opportunities being one of its biggest assets. Bulgaria possesses beautiful landscapes and beaches, and is becoming a real resort paradise. The Black Sea Coast on its East border is famous for its fine sanded beaches, and perfect temperatures of water and air.

The larger seaside resorts draw huge crowds of tourists from Western Europe

Ski resorts and Mountain Tourism

Rugged snow-capped peaks and soft green slopes, cool forests carrying the aroma of herbs and wild fruit, quick-flowing rivers and crystal-clear blue lakes, mineral springs and bioreserves, rare plants and game, large climatic and ski resorts and small picturesque villages with living traditions and folklore every Bulgarian mountain has its own characteristic appearance, fascination and beautiful name.

RILA - the most majestic Bulgarian Mountain, highest peak Moussala (2,925 m); - 219 high-mountain takes, over 2,000 plant varieties and a rich animal world; - the natural setting for Bulgaria's most famous monastery - RILA MONASTERY, and the country's oldest winter resort - BOROVETS.

PIRIN - the country’s second highest mountain, highest peak Vihren (2,914 in); - 176 mountain lakes and about 100 varieties of rare plants, including the edelweiss and the famous Baikousheva fir, almost 1,300 years old; - location of the well-known climatic and spa resort of SANDANSKI and the latest Bulgarian ski center BANSKO.

THE RHODOPES - The greenest and most picturesque Bulgarian mountains, linked with the legend of the mythical singer Orpheus, snow and sun, clean air, mild climate with a Mediterranean influence, original folklore and superb cuisine, cordial and hospitable people, the largest ski resort - Pamporovo, the most popular place for ecotourism - Momchilovtsi.

VITOSHA - The green mountain of the million-large Bulgarian capital Sofia, the most frequented Bulgarian mountain, attractive during any season, two wildlife reserves, three climatic zones, highest peak Cherni Vruh (2,286 in), varied flora and fauna, curative mineral springs and a rare natural phenomenon - eight Moraines, a popular mountain resort for winter holidays and skiing, modern hotels and ski facilities. Vitosha offers skiing near Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria.

THE BALKAN RANGE (Stara Planina) - The mountain which gave its name to a peninsula - THE BALKAN PENINSULA, and life to a state - BULGARIA, the biggest and longest mountain chain crossing the entire country, highest peak Botev (2,376 m), 700 km long mountain ridge, ideal for hiking tours, steep rocks and intriguing caves , of equal attraction to tourists, mountaineers and speleologist, picturesque National Revival towns and museum villages, offering excellent possibilities for ecotourism: Kotel, Zheravna, Tryavna, Arbanassi, Bozhentsi, Etura.

The SREDNA GORA mountains are situated in the central part of Bulgaria, between the Balkan Range and the Thrace plain. The highest peak is Mt. Bogdan - 1604 m. The Sredna Gora Mountains give rise to the rivers Topolnitsa, Luda Yana, Pyasuchnik, etc. The Sredna Gora Mountains are famous for the mineral springs and balneological sanatoria in Hisarya, Pavel Banya, Strelcha, Krasnovo, Banya, Stara Zagora.

Black sea coast and Sea Tourism

The eastern Bulgarian coast is washed by the Black Sea. 380 km marvelous strech of beaches, calm and safe sea, clear water and healthy air, fine golden sand and natural dunes, mineral water springs, blue flag winning resorts, holiday villages and campsites. 

Average air temperature in the summer is about 28°C, water tempe- rature - 25°C. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September and more than 300 hours in July and August. The two international airports of Varna and Bourgass connects the Bulgarian Riviera to the world

Northern Black Sea coast

Clean and calm sea with shal low sloping sandy bottom, wide beaches with fine grain golden sands, venerable forest and numerous mineral springs. All these feathures make the Northern Black Sea coast an atractive place for Bulgarian and foreign holiday-makers. Even the most refined reqirements will be satisfied by the mothern resorts of Zlatni Piassatsi (Golden Sands), Albena, Roussalka, Riviera, Slanchev_Den (Sunny Day), St.Konstantin and Elena. The greatest fans of natural beauty and historical places can find peace in the Balchik Botanical Garden or the museum at Kaliakra horn.

Southern Black Sea coast

Picturesque bays and whimsical rocks, spacious beaches with sand dunes and warm sea create the attractive force of the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast. Wonderful nature in combination with modern construction - this is the magic of the holiday villages of Elenite, Sunny Beach, Nessebur, Sozopol...To the north the long and indented coast line is bordered by the farthes spurs of the Balkan range and to the south - by the heights of the Strandzha Mountain. Even nowadays the unique cultura in Strandzha is a part of attitudes and habits of Ahtopol, Tsarevo, Kiten, Primorsko.In restaurants and bars foreign tourists are enchanted by the unique artistic atmosphere of the Strandzha fire-dances.Histhory, culture and luxary combined together - this is the Bourgass Black Sea coast!

For more details you can visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria