Bulgaria is a country situated in Bulgaria is a country situated in south-eastern south-eastern EEurope, bordering urope, bordering RRomania, Serbia, the omania, Serbia, the RRepublic of epublic of

MMacedonia, acedonia, GGreece, reece, TTurkey and the urkey and the BBlack lack SSea.ea.

The western and northern boundaries are shared with Serbia and Romania,respectively,and the Black Sea coastline constitutes the entire eastern border.The Romanian border follows the Danube for 464 km from the northwestern corner of the country to the city of Silistra and then cuts to the east-southeast for 136 km.Borders to the south are with Greece and Turkey,the border with Greece being 491 kilometres long,and the Turkish border having a length of 240 kilometres.

The land area of Bulgaria is The land area of Bulgaria is 110,910 square kilometers110,910 square kilometers.. Considering its small size, Considering its small size,

Bulgaria has a great variety of Bulgaria has a great variety of topographical features. Even topographical features. Even within small parts of the within small parts of the country, the land may be country, the land may be

divided into plains, plateaus, divided into plains, plateaus, hills, mountains, basins, hills, mountains, basins,

gorges, and deep river valleys.gorges, and deep river valleys.

Considering its small area, Bulgaria has an Considering its small area, Bulgaria has an unusually variable and complex climate. unusually variable and complex climate. The country lies between the strongly The country lies between the strongly

contrasting continental and Mediterranean contrasting continental and Mediterranean climatic zones. Bulgarian mountains and climatic zones. Bulgarian mountains and valleys act as barriers or channels for air valleys act as barriers or channels for air

masses, causing sharp contrasts in masses, causing sharp contrasts in weather over relatively short distances. weather over relatively short distances. The continental zone is slightly larger, The continental zone is slightly larger,

because continental air masses flow easily because continental air masses flow easily into the unobstructed Danubian Plain.into the unobstructed Danubian Plain.

TopographyTopography The main characteristic of The main characteristic of

Bulgaria's topography is alternatingBulgaria's topography is alternating bands of high and low terrainbands of high and low terrainss that that

extend east to west across the extend east to west across the country. From north to south, those country. From north to south, those bands are the Danubian Plain, Stara bands are the Danubian Plain, Stara Planina (the Balkan Mountains), the Planina (the Balkan Mountains), the central Thracian Plain, and the central Thracian Plain, and the

Rhodope Mountains. The easternmost Rhodope Mountains. The easternmost sections near the Black Sea are sections near the Black Sea are hilly, but they gradually gain hilly, but they gradually gain height to the west until the height to the west until the

westernmost part of the country is westernmost part of the country is entirely high ground.entirely high ground.

Danubian plainDanubian plain

The Danubian Plain extends from the western borders to the Black Sea. It

encompasses the area between the Danube River, which forms most of the country's northern border, and Stara Planina to the south. The plateau

slopes gently from cliffs along the river, then it abuts mountains of 750 to 950 m. The plateau, a fertile area with undulating hills, is the granary

of the country.

Stara Planina originates at the Timok Stara Planina originates at the Timok Valley in Serbia and runValley in Serbia and runss southward southward

towards the Sofia Basin in west central towards the Sofia Basin in west central Bulgaria. From there they run east to Bulgaria. From there they run east to the Black Sea. The Balkans are about the Black Sea. The Balkans are about 600 km long and 30 to 50 km wide. 600 km long and 30 to 50 km wide. They retain their height well into They retain their height well into

central Bulgaria, where Botev Peak, central Bulgaria, where Botev Peak, the highest point in the Balkan the highest point in the Balkan

Mountains, rises to about 2,376 m. Mountains, rises to about 2,376 m.

Stara PlaninaStara Planina

Rilo-Rhodope Rilo-Rhodope MMassifassif

Relatively high mountains occupy the area Relatively high mountains occupy the area between the Thracian Plain and Sofia Basin between the Thracian Plain and Sofia Basin

and the Greek border to the south. The and the Greek border to the south. The western parts consist of three ranges: the western parts consist of three ranges: the Vitosha Mountain south of Sofia, the Rila Vitosha Mountain south of Sofia, the Rila

Mountains further south, and the Pirin Mountains further south, and the Pirin Mountains in the southwestern corner of the Mountains in the southwestern corner of the

country. They are the most outstanding country. They are the most outstanding topographic feature of Bulgaria and of the topographic feature of Bulgaria and of the

entire Balkan Peninsula. The Rila range entire Balkan Peninsula. The Rila range includes Mount Musala, whose 2,925-metre includes Mount Musala, whose 2,925-metre peak is the highest peak is the highest on theon the Balkan Balkan peninsulapeninsula. . About a dozen other peaks in Rila are over About a dozen other peaks in Rila are over

2,600 meters.2,600 meters.

Drainage The Balkan Mountains divide

Bulgaria into two nearly equal drainage systems. The larger system drains northward to the Black

Sea, mainly by way of the Danube River. This system

includes the entire Danubian Plateau and a stretch of land running forty-eight to eighty

kilometers inland from the coastline. The second

system drains the Thracian Plain and most of the

higher lands of the south and southwest to the

Aegean Sea. Although only the Danube is navigable, many of the other rivers and streams in Bulgaria have a high potential for

the production of hydroelectric power and are sources of irrigation

water.

Bulgarian motto isBulgarian motto is

"Unity makes strength""Unity makes strength"