Bulgaria

Bulgaria offers pleasures for each one's taste. It is amazingly kaleidoscopic - wild mountain ranges and lush green hills, endless sandy beaches along the Black Sea, fertile plains, magnificent gorges, rivers, health spas and natural springs Bulgaria's natural landscape is full of surprises. It is famous for long balmy Summers, dreamy scented rose fields, richly colored orchards and sun drenched vine yards... It's also renowned as a Winter Wonderland-with snow-laden mountains and pine forests starching out as the eye can see, glistening like diamonds against an ever-blue sky. Modern resorts, as well as secluded nooks where one is alone with the nature, are part of its landscape. Thinking of an active holiday- Bulgaria has it - swimming, skiing, riding, climbing, hunting, fishing... Thinking of relaxing - amazing nature, sunny beaches, healing spas, monasteries and churches, hospitable towns and villages... Bulgaria is an interesting and intriguing experience for anyone: for those who love warm southern sea or snow covered slopes, for those who want to see it's cultural and historic monuments, who wish to delight in its unique and living folklore. Come and see for yourself! Location Bulgaria, country in southeastern Europe, officially called the Republic of Bulgaria. Situated in the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria is bounded on the north by Romania, on the east by the Black Sea, on the south by Turkey and Greece, and on the west by Serbia and Montenegro (formerly the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. To the East Bulgaria touches the Black Sea, which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. Capital Sofia (pop. 1,141,000) History The Bulgarian people is one of the most ancient. The Bulgarian state was founded on the present-day territory of Europe in 681 and ever since that time the name of the country has always been the same. The Bulgarian lands are ancient crossroads.It remembers many ancient civilizations and great peoples which wrote the pages of its turbulent history: bronze and iron spears and arrows, ruins of palaces and cities, wise words carved on rocks and stone columns, written on parchment and leather. What follows are some of the most significant dates and events in the history of Bulgaria: 885 - Cyril and Methodius created the Slavonic script 864 - 866 - Bulgaria adopted Christianity 1018- 1185 - Bulgaria fell within the limits of the Byzantine Empire and Rule 1185 - Restoration of the Bulgarian state 1396 - 1878 - Bulgaria was under the Turkish Yoke 1878 - 1944 - Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy 1944 - 1989 - Bulgaria was a people's republic, governed by the communist party Since 10 th of November, 1989 - Bulgaria has been a parliamentary republic. For several decades now, under UNESCO aegis, attempts have been made to preserve the planet's most valuable cultural and natural heritage.The UNESCO List of World Heritage now features over 300 landmarks. Nine Bulgarian wonders - seven cultural and two natural sites - are included among them: Rila Monastery,Nessebur, the Kazanluk Tomb, the Sveshtari Tomb, the Madara Horseman, Boyana Church, the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries, Pirin National Park and Sreburna Lake. State government Bulgaria is an independent state and the form of government is of people's democracy. All citizens have equal rights as the law is concerned disregarding sex, nationality, race, religion, education, occupation, social and material status. In 1991 a new Constitution of Republic of Bulgaria is approved. The Members of the Parliament are elected at free democratic elections. Since july 2001 Bulgarians prime minister is Simeon Saksckoburgotski who is the ex-king of Bulgaria. Economy - Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and positive growth rates since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. The current government, elected in 2001, has pledged to maintain the fundamental economic policy objectives of its predecessor, i.e., retaining the Currency Board, practicing sound financial policies, accelerating privatization, and pursuing structural reforms. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 will help the government maintain economic stability as it seeks to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment. Nature Bulgaria occupies a relatively small area - 111 000 sq. km, but is nevertheless distinguished by generous and varied nature - a sea with a 380 km. long coastal strip and golden beaches, 16 mountains with their own characteristic features, shelters valleys and high plateaus, over 550 curative mineral springs, dozen of unique natural phenomena and 2000 thrilling caves, a healthy climate and diverse flora and fauna. More then one quarter of the country's territory is covered with forests. Bulgaria is famous for its oleaginous rose which bloom in the Valley of Roses. The Bulgarian fauna is no less interesting, with almost 13 000 animal species and subspecies, or about 14 percent of all European species. Fishing is possible in lakes, dams, mountain brooks and sea, hunting - in special hunting grounds. Climate Most of Bulgaria has a continental climate A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the southwestern Rhodope Mountains; the northern limit of the climatic zone is the Balkan Mountains. The average January temperature in Sofia ranges from -4° to 2°C (25° to 35°F) and the July temperature ranges from 16° to 27°C (60° to 81°F). In Varna, along the Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges from -1° to 6°C (30° to 42°F) and the July temperature ranges from 19° to 30°C (65° to 85°F). The average rainfall in Bulgaria is about 630 mm (about 25 in) per year, ranging from a low of about 190 mm (about 7 in) in the northeast, to a high of about 1,900 mm (about 75 in) in the Rila Mountains. The wettest period is early summer in most of the country and autumn or winter in the southern valleys. Population The population of Bulgaria (2003 estimate) is 7,537,929. The population became increasingly urbanized after 1945, and today 67 percent of the people live in urban areas. About 85 percent of the population is classified as ethnic Bulgarian and about 9 percent is Turkish. Small groups of Armenians, Roma (Gypsies), Greeks, and Macedonian Slavs also inhabit the country Religion 85 percent of the population belonged to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (an Eastern Orthodox branch), while another 13 percent were followers of Islam. There are also Jews, Roman Catholics, Uniate Catholics, and Protestants. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch. Language The official language is Bulgarian, spoken by about 90 percent of the population English, German, French and Russian is spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants. The official alphabet is Cyrillic. Signs along international motorways, in airports and resorts are also spelled in Roman letters.