Република България Republika Balgariya [1] Republic of Bulgaria
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Съединението прави силата  (Bulgarian) "Saedinenieto pravi silata"  (transliteration) "Unity makes power"1
Anthem: Мила Родино  (Bulgarian) Mila Rodino  (transliteration) Dear Motherland
Location of  Bulgaria  (orange) – on the European continent  (camel & white) – in the European Union  (camel)                 [ Legend] The term Bulgaria can reffer to: Bulgaria, a souvereign state in the Balkans Great Bulgaria, a historical country just northeastern from the Black Sea Volga Bulgaria, a historical country on the river Volga Bulgaria, Byzantine theme, which included parts of Macedonia, Serbia and a smaller part from todays Bulgaria... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria. ... The flag of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: , zname na Balgariya) is a tricolour consisting of three equal-sized horizontal bands of (from top to bottom) white, green, and red. ... The coat of arms of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: , Gerb na Balgariya) consists of a crowned golden lion rampant over a dark red shield; above the shield is the Bulgarian historical crown. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... Transliteration is the practice of transcribing a word or text written in one writing system into another writing system. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Mila Rodino (Dear Motherland) is the national anthem of Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 710 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bulgaria ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Capital (and largest city)		Sofia 42°41′N, 23°19′E
Official languages		Bulgarian
Demonym		Bulgarian
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	Georgi Parvanov
-	Prime Minister	Sergey Stanishev
Formation
-	Founded	681[2]
-	Last previously independent state2	1422
-	Autonomy within the Ottoman Empire	1878
-	Unification with Eastern Rumelia	1885
-	Officially recognized independence	1908
EU accession		January 1, 2007
Area
-	Total	110,910 km² (112th) 42,823 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0.3
Population
-	2008 estimate	7,640,238 (93rd)
-	2001 census	7,932,984
-	Density	68.9/km² (124th) 185/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$92.894 billion (63rd)
-	Per capita	$12,252[3] (65th)
GDP (nominal)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$45.086 billion (75th)
-	Per capita	$5,946 (88th)
Gini (2003)		29.2 (low)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.824 (high) (53rd)
Currency		Lev3 (BGN)
Time zone		EET (UTC+2)
-	Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.bg4
Calling code		+359
1	Bulgaria’s National Flag. Bulgarian Government (3 October 2005). Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
2	Vidin Tsardom.
3	plural Leva.
4	Bulgarians, in common with citizens of other European Union member-states, also use the .eu domain.
5	Cell phone system GSM and NMT 450i
6	Domestic power supply 220 V/50 Hz, Schuko (CEE 7/4) sockets

Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, transliterated: Balgariya,^[1] pronounced IPA: [bɤlˈgarijə]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Република България, Republika Balgariya, pronounced IPA: [rɛˈpubliˌkə bɤlˈgarijə], a state in Southeastern Europe, borders on five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly along the River Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The Black Sea defines the extent of the country to the east. Not to be confused with capitol. ... Natality, Mortality and Natural increase per 1,000 population in Bulgaria; year 2006, data of the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute. ... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). ... This page will list the various republican heads of state of Bulgaria, as well as leaders of Bulgarias communist party during the time when it played the leading role in the Bulgarian state. ... Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov (Bulgarian: ) (born 28 June 1957) has been president of Bulgaria since 22 January 2002. ... Prime Ministers, 1879-1946 Todor Stoyanov Burmov 17 July 1879 - 6 December 1879 Archbishop Kliment Turnovski 6 December 1879 - 5 April 1880 Dragan Kiriakov Tsankov 5 April - 10 December 1880 Petko Karavelov 10 December 1880 - 9 May 1881 Johann Casimir Ernrot 9 May - 13 July 1881 Prince Alexander 13 July... Sergey Dmitrievich Stanishev (Bulgarian: Сергей Станишев) (born May 5, 1966), Bulgarian politician, is Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). ... This article is about the military unit. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... Austria Poland Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech   Rep. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... World map of GDP (Nominal and PPP). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... ISO 4217 Code BGN User(s) Bulgaria Inflation 7. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .bg is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Bulgaria. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Country Code: 359 International Call Prefix: 00 xx Bulgaria applies an open dialing plan, similar to those of Germany and Austria. ... Politics of Bulgaria takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Minister-Chairman is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Vidin (Bulgarian: Видин; Romanian: Vidin, Diiu) is a town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. ... ISO 4217 Code BGN User(s) Bulgaria Inflation 7. ... Double Schuko socket with one plug inserted CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French plug Schuko (IPA: ) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic AC power plugs and sockets that is defined as CEE 7/4 or known unofficially as Type F . A Schuko plug features two round... Balkan redirects here. ... For other uses of Danube, see Danube (disambiguation). ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... For other uses, see Black Sea (disambiguation). ...

Bulgaria comprises the classical regions of Moesia, Thrace, and Macedonia. Old European culture within the territory of present-day Bulgaria started to produce golden artifacts by the fifth millennium BCE.^[4] Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Moesia (Greek: , Moisia; Bulgarian: Мизия, Miziya; Serbian: Мезија, Mezija) is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Some archaeologists and ethnographers use the term Old Europe to characterize the autochthonous (aboriginal) peoples who were living in Neolithic southeastern Europe before the immigration of Indo-European peoples (for this reason also called Pre-Indo-European). ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Varna Necropolis (Bulgarian: ) is a burial site in the western industrial zone of Varna (approximately half a kilometre from Lake Varna and 4 km from the city centre), Bulgaria. ...

The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name, language, and alphabet) of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/681 – 1018), which at times covered most of the Balkans and spread its alphabet, literature and culture among the Slavic and other peoples of Eastern Europe. Centuries later, with the decline of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1396/1422), the country came under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 led to the re-establishment of a Bulgarian state as a constitutional monarchy in 1878, with the Treaty of San Stefano marking the birth of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. After World War II, Bulgaria became a communist state and part of the Eastern Bloc. In 1990, after the Revolutions of 1989, the Communist party gave up its monopoly on power and Bulgaria transitioned to democracy and free-market capitalism. Imperial Emblem Bulgarian Empire at its greatest extent c. ... Balkan redirects here. ... Countries with dominating Slavic ethnicities  West Slavic  East Slavic  South Slavic Slav redirects here. ... Eastern Europe is a concept that lacks one precise definition. ... Imperial Emblem (under the Shisman Dynasty) Bulgarian Empire c. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... It has been suggested that Romanian War of Independence be merged into this article or section. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A constitutional monarchy or limited monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state, as opposed to an absolute monarchy, where the monarch is not... Borders of Bulgaria according to the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3rd, 1878 The Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. ... The Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 provided for a self-governing Bulgarian state, which comprised the geographical regions of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      This article is about a form of government in which the state operates under the control of a Communist Party. ... A map of the Eastern Bloc 1948-1989. ... The Eastern Bloc prior to the political upheavals of 1989. ... The Bulgarian Communist Party (Balgarska Komunisticeska Partija) was the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when it ceased to be a Communist state. ... In theoretical economics, a free market is a controversial model of an idealized economy, wherein exchanges are free from coercion and control except for guardianship which allows for private property ownership in land, natural resources, and the broadcast spectrum, as well as intellectual property and corporations. ...

Currently Bulgaria functions as a parliamentary democracy under a unitary constitutional republic. A member of the European Union since 2007 and of NATO since 2004, it has a population of approximately 7.7 million, with Sofia as its capital and largest city. 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the legislative institution. ... A map showing the unitary states. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A constitutional republic is a state where the head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the governments power over citizens. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Bulgaria

Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically continental Danubian Plain (ancient Moesia) in the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of Thrace. Bulgaria is a country situated in south-eastern Europe, bordering Romania, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Turkey and the Black Sea. ... For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see climate) for a region above the tree-line. ... Rila as seen from the space Rila as seen from Kostenets Malyovitsa (right), Little Malyovitsa (left) and the Eaglet (middle) Rila (Bulgarian: ) is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. ... Vihren from the south Kamenitsa Peak and the lake Tevno ezero South Pirin in the distance seen from Kalimantsi village The Gazey peak looked from Polejan and the Upper Gazey Lake The Pirin Mountains (Bulgarian: Пирин) are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren (2,914 m high) the highest... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains View from Ray Resthouse towards the Central Balkan Mountains. ... Regions containing a continental climate exist in portions of Northern Hemisphere continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. ... The Danubian Plain (Bulgarian: , transliterated Dunavska ravnina) constitutes the northern part of Bulgaria, situated north of the Balkan Mountains and south of the Danube. ... Moesia (Greek: , Moisia; Bulgarian: Мизия, Miziya; Serbian: Мезија, Mezija) is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ...

Phytogeographically, Bulgaria straddles the Illyrian and Euxinian provinces of the Circumboreal region within the Boreal kingdom. According to the WWF and to the European Environment Agency's Digital Map of European Ecological Regions, the territory of Bulgaria subdivides into two main ecoregions: the Balkan mixed forests and Rhodope montane mixed forests. However, small parts of four other ecoregions also occur on Bulgarian territory. Phytogeography is the branch of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of plant species. ... This article is about the ancient region in the south of Europe. ... The Boreal Kingdom is a Floristic kingdom identified by botanist Ronald Good, which includes the temperate-to-arctic portions of North America and Eurasia. ... The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization for the conservation, research and restoration of the natural environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada. ... European Environment Agency (EEA), agency of the European Union devoted to establishing a monitoring network for the monitoring of the European environment. ... An ecoregion, sometimes called a bioregion, is a relatively large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities. ...

Relief

The Balkan Peninsula derives its name from the Balkan or Stara Planina mountain-range, which runs through the centre of Bulgaria and extends into eastern Serbia. Balkan redirects here. ... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains The Stara Planina (Old Mountain) or Balkan mountain range is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost...

The Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria

Bulgaria comprises portions of the regions known in classical times as Moesia, Thrace, and Macedonia. The mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges — Rila and Pirin — and further east stand the lower but more extensive Rhodope Mountains. The Rila range includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, Musala, at 2,925 meters (9,596 ft); the long range of the Balkan mountains runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous Rose Valley. Hilly country and plains lie in the southeast, along the Black Sea coast in the east, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube in the north. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1185 KB) The Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1185 KB) The Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria. ... The Seven Rila Lakes (Седем(те) Рилски езера) are a group of lakes of glacial origin, situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Moesia (Greek: , Moisia; Bulgarian: Мизия, Miziya; Serbian: Мезија, Mezija) is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Rila as seen from the space Rila as seen from Kostenets Malyovitsa (right), Little Malyovitsa (left) and the Eaglet (middle) Rila (Bulgarian: ) is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. ... Vihren from the south Kamenitsa Peak and the lake Tevno ezero South Pirin in the distance seen from Kalimantsi village The Gazey peak looked from Polejan and the Upper Gazey Lake The Pirin Mountains (Bulgarian: Пирин) are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren (2,914 m high) the highest... Landscape of the Rhodopes near the village of Hvoyna View from the Belintash Rock towards the village of Vrata The Rhodopes (Bulgarian: , Rodopi, usually used with a definite article: Родопите, Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа, Rodopa or Родопа планина, Rodopa planina; Greek: , Rodopi, red aspect) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over... Rila as seen from the space Rila as seen from Kostenets Malyovitsa (right), Little Malyovitsa (left) and the Eaglet (middle) Rila (Bulgarian: ) is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. ... Musala (Bulgarian: Мусала) is the highest peak in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula, standing at 2,971 m (9,747 ft). ... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains View from Ray Resthouse towards the Central Balkan Mountains. ... Rose Valley is a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan mountains and famous for its rose growing industry from which 70% of the worlds rose oil is produced. ... The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast covers the whole eastern border of Bulgaria. ... This article is about the Danube River. ...

Mineral resources

The country possesses relatively rich mineral-resources, including vast reserves of lignite and anthracite coal; non-ferrous ores such as copper, lead, zinc and gold. It has large deposits of manganese ore in the north-east. Smaller deposits exist of iron, silver, chromite, nickel and others. Bulgaria has abundant non-metalliferous minerals such as rock-salt, gypsum, kaolin and marble. Strip mining lignite at Tagebau Garzweiler near Grevenbroich, Germany Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad, is the lowest rank of coal and used almost exclusively as fuel for steam-electric power generation. ... Anthracite coal Anthracite (Greek Ανθρακίτης, literally a form of coal, from Anthrax [Άνθραξ], coal) is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster. ... Coal Example chemical structure of coal Coal is a fossil fuel formed in ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... General Name, symbol, number manganese, Mn, 25 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 7, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 54. ... Fe redirects here. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Chromite, iron magnesium chromium oxide: (Fe,Mg)Cr2O4, is an oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or halite, is a chemical compound with formula NaCl. ... For other uses, see Gypsum (disambiguation). ... Kaolin Kaolinite (Aluminium Silicate Hydroxide) Kaolinite is a mineral with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. ... -1...

Hydrography

A waterfall in Pirin

The Vacha Dam in the Rhodope Mountains

Bulgaria has a dense network of about 540 rivers,^[5] but with the notable exception of the Danube, most have short lengths and low water-level. Landscape of the Rhodopes near the village of Hvoyna View from the Belintash Rock towards the village of Vrata The Rhodopes (Bulgarian: , Rodopi, usually used with a definite article: Родопите, Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа, Rodopa or Родопа планина, Rodopa planina; Greek: , Rodopi, red aspect) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over...

Most rivers flow through mountainous areas; fewer in the Danubian Plain, Upper Thracian Plain and especially Dobrudzha. Two catchment basins exist: the Black Sea (57% of the territory and 42% of the rivers) and the Aegean Sea (43% of the territory and 58% of the rivers) basins. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the Iskar, has a length of 368 km. Other major rivers include the Struma and the Maritsa River in the south. View of the city of Sliven and the eastern Upper Thracian Plain from southern Stara Planina The Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgarian: , Gornotrakiyska nizina) constitutes the northern part of the historical region of Thrace. ... Dobruja or sometimes Dobrudja (Dobrogea in Romanian, Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobruca in Turkish) is the territory between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, which includes the Danube Delta and the Romanian sea-shore. ... For other uses, see Black Sea (disambiguation). ... Look up Aegean Sea in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Iskar (Bulgarian: Искър; Latin Oescus) is the longest river in Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Danube. ... The Struma (Bulgarian: Струма, Greek: Strimonis, Turkish: Karasu (meaning black water in Turkish)) is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. ... For other uses, see Maritsa (disambiguation). ...

Rila and Pirin feature around 260 glacial lakes; the country also has several large lakes on the Black Sea coast and more than 2,200 dam lakes. Many mineral springs exist, located mainly in the south-western and central parts of the country along the faults between the mountains.

The Bulgarian word for spa, баня, transliterated as banya, appears in some of the names of more than 50 spa towns and resorts including Sapareva Banya, Hisarya, Sandanski, Bankya, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Devin, Velingrad and many others. Look up spa, Spa, SpA in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about a town frequented for health reasons. ... Sapareva Banya (Сапарева баня) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, part of Kyustendil Province. ... Hissarya (also spelled Hisar or Hisarya) is a small resort town in Bulgaria, in the Plovdiv Region. ... Sandanski (Bulgarian: , formerly Свети Врач, Sveti Vrach) is a town and recreation centre in southwestern Bulgaria, part of Blagoevgrad Province. ... Bankya (Bulgarian Банкя) is a town in Western Bulgaria. ... Varshets is a spa town in the Montana Province, Bulgaria. ... Pavel Banya (Bulgarian: Павел Баня) is a small town in the Stara Zagora Province, central Bulgaria. ... Devin may refer to: Devin (name), a Gaelic name meaning poet Devin, Bulgaria, a town in Bulgaria Devín Castle and city part in Bratislava, Slovakia Devin Cars, a racing car company Also, see Devon. ... Velingrad is the most beautiful and most famous among the Bulgarian Balneological resorts. ...

Climate

Bulgaria has a temperate climate, with cool and damp winters, very hot and dry summers, and Mediterranean influence along the Black Sea coast. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains influences climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria gets slightly cooler and receives more rain than the southern regions. Precipitation in Bulgaria averages about 630 millimetres per year. Drier areas include Dobrudzha and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the Rila and Stara Planina Mountains receive the highest levels of precipitation. In summer, temperatures in the south of Bulgaria often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, but remain cooler by the coast. A site near Plovdiv has recorded the highest known temperature: 46.7 degrees Celsius. In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide. ... Dobruja or sometimes Dobrudja (Dobrogea in Romanian, Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobruca in Turkish) is the territory between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, which includes the Danube Delta and the Romanian sea-shore. ... Filiba redirects here. ...

Urban geography

Landscapes from Bulgaria. Clockwise from top left: a cloudy forest; Todorka Peak in Pirin; Belogradchik Rocks; Lake Shabla on the Black Sea coast.

Bulgaria's larger cities include: The Belogradchik Rocks The Belogradchik Rocks (Bulgarian: Белоградчишки скали, Belogradchishki skali) is a group of bizarre sandstone and limestone rock formations, reaching up to 200 m in height. ...

Place	City	Population	Place	City	Population
1.	Sofia	&0000000001380406.0000001,380,406	6.	Stara Zagora	&0000000000163193.000000163,193
2.	Plovdiv	&0000000000376918.000000376,918	7.	Pleven	&0000000000121700.000000121,700
3.	Varna	&0000000000349031.000000349,031	8.	Dobrich	&0000000000115861.000000115,861
4.	Burgas	&0000000000220985.000000220,985	9.	Sliven	&0000000000106434.000000106,434
5.	Rousse	&0000000000176118.000000176,118	10.	Shumen	&0000000000103016.000000103,016

Bulgaria operates a scientific station, the St. Kliment Ohridski Base, on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands off the coast of Antarctica. Image File history File links BG_Sofia_coa. ... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... Image File history File links Plovdiv-coat-of-arms. ... Filiba redirects here. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Pleven (Bulgarian: Плевен , known as Plevna in English in some historical documents) is the seventh most populated town in Bulgaria. ... This article is about the city in Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Dobrich (Bulgarian: Добрич) is a town in northeastern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Dobrich Province. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Burgas (Bulgarian: , sometimes transliterated as Bourgas) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast with population 205,821. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sliven (Bulgarian: Сливен) is a town in southeast Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Sliven Province. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Dohodno Zdanie is a theatre building which is considered a symbol of the city Rousse (also transliterated as Ruse or Russe; Bulgarian: ; formerly also Rustchuk) is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria, with a population of 176,115. ... Shumen (Bulgarian: ; Turkish: ) is a city in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, capital of Shumen Province. ... St. ... Livingston Island (62°36′ S 060°30′ W) is 61 km (38 mi) long and from 3 to 32 km (2 to 20 mi) wide, lying between Greenwich and Snow Islands in the South Shetland Islands. ... Location of the South Shetlands The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula. ...

See also: List of cities in Bulgaria, Rivers of Bulgaria, and Reservoirs and dams in Bulgaria

This is a list of cities in Bulgaria with over 20,000 inhabitants. ... This is a list of rivers in Bulgaria (it includes all the rivers which flow even one metre in Bulgaria ). Archar Arda Batova reka Bistritsa Byala reka (Bulgarian: White river) Danube Deleynska reka Dospat Dzhulyunitsa Erma Fakiyska reka Iskar Cherni Iskar Palakariya Kamchiya Golyama Kamchiya (Bulgarian: Big Kamchiya) Luda Kamchiya... This is a list of Reservoirs and dams in Bulgaria: Batak Beli Lom (in Bulgarian: White Lom) Belmeken Chatalka Dospat Dushantsi Golyam Beglik Iskar Ivaylovgrad (Bulgarian: Ivaylos town) Kamchiya Kardzhali Koprinka Malko Sharkovo (Bulgarian: Little Sharkovo) Mandra (Bulgarian: dairy) Montana Ovcharitsa Palitsi Pasarel Pchelina (Bulgarian: Apiary) Pyasachnik (Bulgarian: Sandstone...

History

Main article: History of Bulgaria

The History of Bulgaria as a separate country began in the 7th century with the arrival of the Bulgars and the foundation of the First Bulgarian Empire together with the local seven Slavic tribes, a union recognized by Byzantium in 681. ...

Prehistory and Antiquity

Further information: Neolithic Europe, Bronze Age Europe, and Thrace}

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, a 3rd century BC tomb listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites

Prehistoric cultures in the Bulgarian lands include the Neolithic Hamangia culture and Vinča culture (6th to 3rd millennia BC), the eneolithic Varna culture (5th millennium BC; see also Varna Necropolis), and the Bronze Age Ezero culture. The Karanovo chronology serves as a gauge for the prehistory of the wider Balkans region. Map showing the Neolithic expansions from the 7th to the 5th millennium BC Europe in ca. ... A simplified map archaeological cultures of the late Bronze Age (c. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3026 KB) Reproduction of the Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, National Historical Museum, Sofia. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3026 KB) Reproduction of the Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, National Historical Museum, Sofia. ... The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is situated 2,5 km southwest of the village of Sveshtari, which is located 42 km northeast of Razgrad, in the northeast of Bulgaria. ... For the New York prison see The Tombs. ... Org type Specialized Agency Acronyms UNESCO Head Director General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura Japan Status Active Established 1945 Website www. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... Hamangia-Baia Menhir exhibited at Histria Museum Hamangia was a Middle Neolithic culture in the Dobruja to the right bank of the Danube in Muntenia and up to the northeast of Bulgaria. ... Map of European Neolithic at the apogee of Danubian expansion, c. ... The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos copper stone) period, also known as the Eneolithic or Copper Age period, is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools. ... The Varna culture belongs to the late Eneolithic of Northern Bulgaria. ... The Varna Necropolis (Bulgarian: ) is a burial site in the western industrial zone of Varna (approximately half a kilometre from Lake Varna and 4 km from the city centre), Bulgaria. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... Ezero culture, 3300—2700 BC, a bronze age archaeological culture occupying most of present-day Bulgaria. ... The Karanovo culture is a neolithic culture (Karanovo I-III ca. ...

The Thracians, the earliest known identifiable people to inhabit the present-day territory of Bulgaria, have left traceable marks among all the Balkan region despite its tumultuous history of many conquests.^[6][7] The Panagyuriste treasure ranks as one of the most splendid achievements of the Thracian culture. The Thracians were an Indo-European people, inhabitants of Thrace and adjacent lands (present-day Bulgaria, Romania, northeastern Greece, European Turkey and northwestern asiatic Turkey, eastern Serbia and parts of Republic of Macedonia). ... The Panagyuriste gold treasure The Panagyurishte gold treasure (Bulgarian: Панагюрско златно съкровище) is a spectacular perfectly made Thracian treasure, one of the most famous treasures in the world. ...

The Thracians lived divided into numerous separate tribes until King Teres united most of them around 500 BC in the Odrysian kingdom, which peaked under the kings Sitalces and Cotys I (383-359 BC). In 188 BC the Romans invaded Thrace, and warfare continued until 45 AD when Rome finally conquered the region. The conquerors quickly Romanised the population. By the time the Slavs arrived, the Thracians had already lost their indigenous identity and had dwindled in number following frequent invasions. Teres I (reigned 475-445 BC) was the first king of the Odrysian state of Thrace. ... The Odrysian kingdom was a union of Thracian tribes that endured between the 5th century BC and the 3rd century BC. It consisted of present-day Bulgaria, spreading from Romania to northern Greece and Turkey. ... Sitalkes (reigned 431 - 424 BC) was one of the great kings of the Thracian Odrysian state. ... Cotys I was born during the reign of Seuthes I. He became king after he killed the previous Thracian king Hebryzelmis. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ...

The Slavs and Old Great Bulgaria

Main article: Old Great Bulgaria

The Slavs emerged from their original homeland (location not definitively established: see Slavic peoples) in the early 6th century and spread to most of the eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, forming in the process three main branches — the West Slavs, the East Slavs and the South Slavs. The eastern South Slavs became part of the ancestors of the modern Bulgarians. They assimilated what remained of the Thracians^{[citation needed]}. Modern Bulgarians derive much of their culture, language and self-determination from these early immigrants. Old Great Bulgaria or Great Bulgaria (Η παλαιά μεγάλη Βουλγαρία in Byzantine chronicles; alternative name: Onoguria/Onoghuria) was a Bulgar state, founded by Kubrat, which briefly existed in the 7th century north of the Caucasus mountains in the steppe between the rivers Dnieper and Lower Volga[1]. // Main article: Kubrat Kubrat (also Kurt or... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... Countries with dominating Slavic ethnicities  West Slavic  East Slavic  South Slavic Slav redirects here. ... The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ...

In 632, the Bulgars, an ancient civilisation/nation that formed numerous kingdoms throughout Eurasia and stemmed from a largely enigmatic socio-cultural lineage (theorised as of either Aryan or Turkic descent), originally from Central Asia, formed under the leadership of Khan Kubrat an independent state called Great Bulgaria, situated between the lower course of the Danube^{[citation needed]} to the west, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea to the south, the Kuban River to the east, and the Donets River to the north. Bulgar soldiers, from the Menology of Basil II, 10th century. ... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... Aryan (/eərjən/ or /ɑːrjən/, Sanskrit: ) is a Sanskrit and Avestan word meaning noble/spiritual one. ... This is the disambiguation page for the terms Turk, Turkey, Turkic, and Turkish. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to... Kubrats Great Bulgaria and adjacent regions, c. ... In 632, Khan Kubrat united the Bulgars and formed a confederation of tribes, known as Great Bulgaria, or Bulgaria Magna, with a capital at the ancient city of Fanagoria. ... This article is about the Danube River. ... For other uses, see Black Sea (disambiguation). ... The shallow Sea of Azov is clearly distinguished from the deeper Black Sea. ... Kuban (Russian: ) is a river in Russia, in the Northern Caucasus region. ... The Donets River starts in Central Russia upland, north of Belgorod, in the Russian Federation. ...

Pressure from the Khazars led to the subjugation of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the 7th century. Some of the Bulgars from that territory later migrated to the northeast to form a new state called Volga Bulgaria (around the confluence of the Volga and Kama Rivers), which lasted until the 13th century. The Khazars (Hebrew Kuzari כוזרי Kuzarim כוזרים; Turkish Hazar Hazarlar; Russian Хазарин Хазары; Tatar sing Xäzär Xäzärlär; Crimean Tatar: ; Greek Χαζάροι/Χάζαροι; Persianخزر khazar; Latin Gazari or Cosri) were a semi-nomadic Turkic people from Central Asia, many of whom converted to Judaism. ... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... The Little Minaret in Bolghar For other uses, see Bulgaria (disambiguation). ... “Volga” redirects here. ... Kama (Russian: ; Tatar: Çulman) is a river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...