Bulgaria
Once a part of the Ottoman empire for around 500 years Bulgaria
is a country in the southeast of Europe and borders the Black Sea
to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and Montenegro
and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north
along the river Danube.
Communist rule in Bulgaria ended in 1990, when the country held its
first multiparty election since World War II. In 1990 Zhelyu Zhelev
became the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria. The
country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
Travel overview
A Balkan country with stunning mountains and a 370km coastline on
the Black Sea, Bulgaria is a compelling destination for the visitors.
Half of the country’s area is occupied by mountains. This has
led Bulgaria to emerge as a new bargain ski destination. Welcoming
and hospitable people of Bulgaria make your travel to the country
a memorable one.
The country has several world-class resorts that are ideal for both
traditional seaside family holidays or more active stays.
Bulgaria is fast emerging as a famous tourist destination. Famous
for its old cities, museums and monasteries, scenic beaches and snow
capped peaks, the country boasts nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The fascinating capital Sofia is famous for its wonderful architecture,
opera houses, museums and art galleries. Other tourist attractions
of this wonderful country include the museum towns of Koprivshtitsa
and Plovdiv, the ancient Greek town of Nesebâr, the Rila Monastery,
Rozhen Monastery dating back to the 13th century, Etâr Ethnographic
Village Museum, the historic Shipka Pass, Madara National Historical
and Archaeological Reserve, and St Constantine Resort. The Thracian
Kazanluk Tomb, known for its well-preserved 4th century BC murals
and the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries are travel attractions. For adventure
tourists, Bulgaria presents activities like surfing whitewater rafting,
water-skiing, sailing, canoeing and hiking.
Capital: Sofia
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania
and Turkey
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Total Area: 110,910 sq km
Total Population: 7,322,858
Population Growth Rate: -0.837%
Sex Ratio: 0.924 male(s)/female
Literacy: 98.6%
Ethnic Groups: Bulgarian, Turk, Roma, Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar,
Circassian
Irrigated land: 5,880 sq km
Languages: Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma
Time Zone: UTC+2
Currency: lev (BGL)
Neighbouring countries: Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey
Type of govt.: parliamentary democracy
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev
Major Political Parties: Confederation of Independent Trade Unions
of Bulgaria or CITUB, Podkrepa Labor Confederation
Participation in International Organizations: ACCT, Australia Group,
BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, G- 9,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer),
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Major Agricultural Products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat,
barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
Natural Resources & Minerals: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal,
timber, arable land.
Industry & Transport: electricity, gas, water; food, beverages,
tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products,
coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
Airports: 217
Railways: 4,294 km
Roadways:
44,033 km
Waterways: 470 km
Major Trade Partners: Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece
9.5%, Belgium 5.9%, France 4.6% (2005), Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany
9.8%, Greece 9.5%, Belgium 5.9%, France 4.6% (2005
Exports: $15.5 billion
Imports: $23.8 billion
