Location

Situated in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the North, via the Danube River, it borders on Romania, to the West – on Serbia and Montenegro and on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. To the South its neighbours are Greece and Turkey. To the East Bulgaria touches the Black Sea, which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. The Black Sea borderline is 378 km (240 miles) long. The country’s total territory is 111 000 sq. km (43 000 sq. miles)

Relief

Bulgaria possesses a variety of natural forms, located in the range of 0 and 2,925 m. altitude. 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 best-known mountains are Rila (highest peak Mussala – 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren – 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah – 2,291 m.), Stara Planina (the Balkan range -Botev Peak – 2,376 m.), and the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.)

Mountains

The mountains occupy half of this country’s territory, with the high-mountain relief – i.e. at an altitude above 1,600 m., comprising 5 % of its entire area. The Bulgarian mountains easily accessible and the presence of towns and villages in them that have preserved the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality.  

Waters

The rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains and flow into the Black Sea and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than 2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, that lies along the North Bulgarian border. 

The longest rivers on the territory of Bulgaria (in km):  

Iskar 368,0
Toundga 349,5
Maritsa 321,6
Osum 341,0
Struma 290,0
Yantra 285,5
Kamchiya 244,5
Arda 241,3
Louda Kamchiya 200,9
Roussenski Lom 19

Lakes

The natural lakes are about 330 in number; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Bourgas, Varna, Shabla lakes), the most numerous (over 260) are the high-mountain glacial lakes in the Rila and Pirin mountains. Dams have been built as a part of waterpower systems – Iskar, Arda, Batak Water Power System, Belmeken-Sestrimo, Dospat-Vucha, and a great number of smaller dams

Climate

Predominant climate.The predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional continental. (2 000 to 2 400 hours of sunlight per year). Four seasons. Dry and hot summer. Average temperature (April - September): + 23° C Cold winter with snowfalls, average temperature: 0° C. The average yearly temperature is 10.5° C. A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the southwestern Rhodope Mountains. The northern limits of the climatic zone is the Balkan Range.

Average temperatures  

The average January temperature in Sofia ranges between -4° and 2°. The July temperature ranges between 16° and 27° C. Along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges between -1° C and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between 19° C and 30° C. The soft transitional Mediterranean climate and the fertile soils are very suitable for growing the century-famed Bulgarian attar-yielding rose – a valuable raw material for perfumery, medical, food and wine, and tobacco industries.