About Bulgaria
A picturesque small country called Bulgaria has existed for more than 13 centuries in Europe, linking East and West. Bulgaria remembers ancient civilisations and great people that wrote its turbulent history. Location
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 altitude 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 best-known mountain ranges are Rila (highest peak Mussala 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren 2,914 m.), Stara Planina or the Balkan range (Botev Peak 2,376 m.), and the Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.) as well as Mount Vitosha (Cherni Vrah 2,291 m.)
The Bulgarian mountains occupy half of this country's territory, with the high-mountain relief i.e. an altitude above 1,600 m, comprising 5 % of its entire area. The Bulgarian mountains are easily accessible and the presence of towns and villages in them that have preserved the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality, gives a chance for receiving and accommodating tourists at village houses
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, which lies along the North Bulgarian border. There are good prerequisites for the development of adventure tourism: wild waters – rafting and canoe, diving, hanggliding and paragliding in the river valleys of Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.
The longest rivers on the territory of Bulgaria (in km): Iskar (368.0 km), Toundga (349.5 km), Maritsa (321.6 km), Osum (341.0 km), Struma (290.0 km), Yantra (285.5 km), Kamchiya (244.5 km), Arda (241.3 km), Louda Kamchiya (200.9 km) and Roussenski Lom (196.9 km).
There are about 330 natural lakes; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Bourgas, Varna and the Shabla lakes), the most numerous (over 260) are the high-mountain glacial lakes in the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges. 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° and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between 19° 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 products, food and wine, and tobacco industries.
Flora and Fauna
Bulgaria has many regions which have preserved in their natural state unique natural nooks, preserving a remarkable bio-diversity. Contemporary natural vegetation demonstrates considerable ecological diversity. 12,360 species have been found in its composition, of which 3,700 are higher plants. The Bulgarian endemic plants, which are to be found nowhere else in the world, number more than 250: Rila primrose, Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, Rhodopean tulip etc. Forests abound with wild fruits, briars, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms – all of them of proven flavour and of qualities that strengthen the body. There is also a great diversity of herbs and healing plants.
Bulgaria’s fauna numbers some 13,000 species, which is 14% of the total number of registered animal species in Europe. Rare mammal species are to be found in this country. Pelicans, stags, deer, does, wild goats, quails, pheasants etc. inhabit reserves and hunting grounds.
A network of 3 national parks – Rila, Pirin, and the Central Balkan - has been set up (with a total area of 221,252.2 hectares), 9 natural parks (over 180,000 hectares), reserves, as well as 2,234 protected territories and natural landmarks. Two of them (Pirin National Park and Sreburna biosphere reserve have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Together with 16 further biosphere reserves they offer wonderful conditions for photo-hunting, scientific-and-cognitive tourism and hobby tourism.
Mineral Springs
Bulgaria has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with over 1,600 water sources. These are localised chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts of national significance are Bankya, Velingrad, Sandanski, the mineral baths of Stara Zagora, Narechen, Sliven and Haskovo, as well as Kyustendil, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Hissarya, Merichleri, Momin Prohod, and Kostenets. Climatic sea-side resorts offering various recreation services are Albena, Balchik, Bourgas, Varna (Zlatni Pyassatzi – Golden Sands), Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko, Nessebur (Slantchev Bryag – Sunny Beach) and Sozopol. Picturesque lakes hide in the folds of the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges. Reservoirs of recreational potential are to be found in the Rhodope Mountains – namely Batak, Vatcha, Studen Kladenets, at the foot of the Balkan Range – Ticha, as well as in some other places. There are good prerequisites for the development of adventure tourism: wild waters– rafting and canoe, diving, delta and para glidting in the river valleys of Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.
HISTORIC DATA
Bulgaria - an ancient land
As a state established by khan Asparoukh, Bulgaria has been existing for more than 13 centuries. Thracians were the first settlers in the Bulgarian lands and their civilisation is evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds, uncovered tombs, discovered gold and silver treasures. Testimonies for the presence of life in the pre-historic ages have been preserved in the best-preserved Neolithic housings discovered world-wide – namely those off the town of Stara Zagora, in the “Bacho Kiro” cave off the town of Dryanovo and in the Magurata cave – close to the town of Belogradchik. The first written reference where the name “Bulgarians” is to be found is included in an anonymous Roman chronograph of 452 AD.
The settlers
During the Bronze Age the present-day Bulgarian lands were inhabited by the Thracians, mentioned for the first time by Homer. They were engaged in agriculture and stockbreeding, and left evidence of a rich culture (the Vulchitrun gold treasure). The first Thracian state unions emerged in the 11th-6th centuries BC, which flourished in the 7th-6th centuries BC. In the 1st century BC their lands were conquered by Rome, and after the 5th century AD they were incorporated in the Byzantine Empire. The Thracians were later gradually assimilated by the Slavs who settled in the Balkan Peninsula in the 6th century AD.
First Bulgarian Kingdom
In the second half of the 7th century, the Proto-Bulgarians - an ethnic community of Turkic origin - settled on the territory of the present-day Northeastern Bulgaria. In alliance with the Slavs they formed the Bulgarian State, which was recognised by the Byzantine Empire in 681 AD. Khan Asparouh stood at the head of that state and Pliska was made its capital.
A major political force
Under the rule of Khan Tervel (700-718 AD), Bulgaria expanded its territory and turned into a major political force. Under Khan Kroum (803-814 AD) Bulgaria bordered with the empire of Carl the Great to the west, and to the east the Bulgarian troops reached the walls of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. In 864 AD, during the rule of Prince Boris I Michail (852-889 AD), the Bulgarians adopted Christianity as their official religion. This act abolished the ethnic differences between Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs, and started building a unified Bulgarian nation. After adopting Christianity, the influence of the Byzantine Empire grew. This is evidenced by the ossuary in the Bachkovo Monastery (1083 AD). Bulgarian church music was created.
The Cyrillic alphabet
In the second half of the 9th century the brothers Cyril (Constantine the Philosopher) and Methodius created and disseminated the Cyrillic alphabet. Their disciples Clement and Nahum came to Bulgaria, where they were warmly welcomed and found good conditions for work. They developed a rich educational and literary activity. From Bulgaria the Cyrillic script spread to other Slavic lands as well - present-day Serbia and Russia. The cities of Ochrida and Pliska, and subsequently the new capital city Veliki Preslav as well, became centres of Bulgarian culture, and of Slav culture as a whole.
Golden Age of Bulgarian Culture
The reign of Tsar Simeon I (893-927 AD) marked the "Golden Age of Bulgarian Culture", and the territory of his state reached the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. During the reign of Simeon's successors, Bulgaria was weakened by internal struggles, the heresy of the priest Bogomil spread and influenced the teachings of the Cathars and Albigenses in Western Europe.
Second Bulgarian Kingdom
In 1018, after prolonged wars, Bulgaria was conquered by the Byzantine Empire. From the very first years under Byzantine rule, the Bulgarians started fighting for their freedom. In 1186, the uprising led by two boyars, the brothers Assen and Peter, overthrew the domination of the Byzantine Empire. The Second Bulgarian Kingdom was founded, and Turnovo became the new capital. After 1186, Bulgaria was initially ruled by Assen, and after that by Peter. The earlier power of Bulgaria was restored during the reign of their youngest brother, Kaloyan (1197-1207), and during the reign of Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218 -1241) the Second Bulgarian Kingdom reached its greatest upsurge: political hegemony was established in Southeastern Europe, the territory of the country spread to the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea, the economy and culture developed.
The strife among some of the boyars resulted in the division of Bulgaria into two kingdoms: the kingdoms of Vidin and Turnovo. This weakened the country and it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1396. For nearly five centuries Bulgaria was under Ottoman domination. The initial years were characterised by sporadic and unorganised attempts to win freedom. Later the appearance of the clandestine fighters, the “haydouts”, made the emergence of a well-organised national liberation movement possible.
The formation of the Bulgarian nation and the development of Bulgarian education started in the beginning of the 18th century. One impetus for this was the work of the monk Paissii of Hilendar History of Slavs and Bulgarians, written in 1762. The ideas of national freedom led to the establishing of an autonomous Bulgarian national Church, and to the flourishing of education and culture. Some of the key figures during the Bulgarian National Revival were Zachary Zograph, Nikolay Pavlovich, Stanislav Dospevski, and many others. That period marked also the beginning of the first amateur theatre performances.
In 1876 the April Uprising broke out - the first significant and organised attempt at liberation from Ottoman domination. The uprising was brutally crushed and drowned in blood, but it drew the attention of the European countries to the Bulgarian national issues. In 1878, as a result of the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878), the Bulgarian State was restored, but national unity was not achieved. The former Bulgarian territories were divided into three: the Principality of Bulgaria was proclaimed - with Prince Alexander Battemberg at its head, Eastern Rumelia - with a Christian Governor appointed by the Sultan, while Thrace and Macedonia remained under the domination of the Ottoman Empire.
The decision for the fractionation of Bulgaria, taken at the Berlin Congress (1878), was never accepted by the people. The decisions of 1878 triggered the Kresna-Razlog Uprising (1878-1879), which in 1885 led to the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. The Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising also broke out (1903). Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Bulgarian Prince since 1887, proclaimed Bulgaria's independence from Turkey and in 1908 became Kniaz of the Bulgarian people. Bulgaria took part in the Balkan War (1912) and fought together with Serbia and Greece for the freedom of Thrace and Macedonia. Bulgaria won that war, but in the subsequent war among the allies (1913) it was defeated by Romania, Turkey and by its earlier allies, who tore from her territories with a Bulgarian population.
In the early 1940s, Bulgaria led a policy in the interest of Germany and the Axis powers. Later the participation of Bulgarian cavalry units on the Eastern Front was discontinued. Tsar Boris III supported the public pressure and did not allow the deportation of about 50,000 Bulgarian Jews. In August 1943 Tsar Boris III died and the regency of the young Tsar Simeon II took over the governing of the country. On 5 September 1944, the Soviet Army entered Bulgaria and on 9 September the Fatherland Front Government, headed by Kimon Georgiev, came to power. In 1946 Bulgaria was proclaimed to be a People's Republic. The Bulgarian Communist Party came to power. The political parties outside the Fatherland Front were banned, the economy and the banks were nationalised, the arable land was coercively organised in cooperatives.
The date 10 November 1989 marked the beginning of the democratic changes in Bulgaria. A new Constitution was adopted (1991). Bulgaria chose the way of democratic development and market economy.
Bulgaria’s foreign policy is oriented to cohesion with the European structures. The country has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1991. In 2004, Bulgaria joined NATO. In 1995, Bulgaria started the process of accession to the European Union. In 1999, it started the accession negotiations. On 25 April 2005, in Luxembourg was signed the Treaty of Accession of Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union.