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Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
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 Lounge on sandy Black Sea beaches, hike in the spectacular Rila Mountains and soak up Bulgaria's fascinating history in frescoed monasteries and Roman ruins. At the crossroads of Europe, cresting the Balkan Peninsula and facing the Black sea, Bulgaria has a long and Colorfu l history.GEOGRAPHY The Republic of Bulgaria is a country on the Balkan Peninsula, in Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria has an outlet on the Black sea , and also shares a sea border with Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. The capital is Sofia Bulgaria lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. An amazing variety of landforms are jammed into its relatively small area of 110,912 sq.km Stara Planina Mountains, the longest mountain range in the Balkans.The Stara Planina almost stretches from the Yugoslavian border in the west to the Black sea in the east and, as the geographical backbone of Bulgaria, nearly split the country into two. The Sredna Gora Mountains are separated from the main range by a fault in which lies the valley of Roses.   Southern Bulgaria is even more mountainous. Mt.Musala (2925m) in the Rila Mountains, south of Sofia, is the highest peak between the Alps and Transcaucasia and is almost eqalled by Mt.Vihren (2914 m) in the Pirin Mountains farther south. The Rila Mountain sharply glaciated massifs with their bare rocky peaks, steep forested valleys glacial lakes are the geographical core of the Balkans and a paradise for hikers. The Rodopi Mountains stretch along the Greek border east of Rila and Pirin Mountains and spill over into Greece. The Thracian plain opens onto the black sea coast. The 378 km-long coast is lined with some of  Europe’s finest beaches and also features coastal lakes near Burgas, spectacular cliffs near Kaliakra and several huge bays. In addition of the mighty Danube River, witch forms much of the border with Romania, the major rivers include the Yantra, which meanders its way through Veliko Tarnovo; the Iskar which stretches from south of Samokov to the Danube, past Sofia; and the Maritsa, which runs through Plovdiv. Other significant geographical features include about 700 caves, the deepest of witch is 415m., and the longest over 15 km.; and some 1600 sources of mineral water among the mountains and along the Black Sea coast.TOURISM DEVELOPMENT  Ski resorts are confined to the four major areas of Borovets, Pamporovo, Bansko and Mt Vitosha.FLORA AND FAUNA Although not a large country, Bulgaria has a significant quantity diversity and flora and fauna, no doubt helped by the varied climate, topography and relatively small human population.  FLORA There are about 3500 species of vascular plants, of which 31 are endangered. Of the 6500 or so types of non-vascular plants, about 250 are endemic and many have indigenous names, such as Bulgarian blackberry and Rodopi tulip. About 2650 plants found in Bulgaria have medicinal uses and over 200 types of fungi are edible.Squeezed between the mighty Stara Planina and Sredna Gora ranges, the Valley of Roses was, until recently, the source of 70% of world’s supply of rose oil. Roses are still grown there exstensively, and can be seen and enjoyed most of the year.35% of the country is covered with the forests, of which 60% are original.  FAUNA  Bulgaria is home to some 56,000 kinds of living creatures, including 383 species of birds (about 75% of all species found in Europe), 36 types of reptiles, 207 species of fresh wither and saltwater fish and 27,000 types of insects.Many larger animals live in the hills and mountains, and understandably far from the urban centers, so most visitors will probably see little wildlife in Bulgaria. If you are keen to see some natural fauna, join an organized tour. Alternatively, Hike in the Stranja Nature Park; the Rusenski Lom Nature Park, home to 67 species mammals. The Rila National Park, or the Pirin National Park, were 42 species of animals such as bears, deer’s and wild goats thrive. Bird lovers can admire plenty of our feathered friends at Burgas lakes, the largest wetland complex in the country, and home to about 60% of all bird species in Bulgaria. The Ropotamo Nature Reserve, with more than 200 species  of birds; the Strandja Nature Park with almost 70% of all bird speciesfound in Bulgaria; the cliffs in Kaliacra Nature Reserve; the Rusenski Lom National  Park, home to 170 species of wather birds and the Srebarna Nature Reserve, where over 160 types of water birds can be seen. NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES Bulgaria has beautiful mountains and pleasant climate and four seasons. The summer is hot and dry but nice, and the winter is cold. There is an abundance of fish, birds and wild animals The Bulgarian government has officially established 12 national parks where the flora fauna and environment are protected. There include 89 national reserves where most of the wildlife and environment is protected, and 2234 vaguely defined conservation areas where strange and  unique landscapes (such as caves mineral springs and mountains) are found. Environmental groups continue to lobby the Bulgarian government to expand areas already under protection especially the Pirin Rila and Vitosha mountains, and create new parks and reserve, especially in the unprotected Rodopi.Mountins and along the Black Sea coast.RELIGION Bulgaria is secular state which allows freedom of religion- Orthodox Christianity Islam and other. Bulgaria also has a small catholic community, mostly emigrants from northern Europe. Judaism was introduced by refugees from Catholic Spain in the 15th century and is still practiced at synagogues in Sofia and Vidin. There are also small communities of Armenians, who maintain  American Orthodox churches in Sofia Varna and Plovdiv. |
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