Location



Bulgaria is situated in South-Eastern Europe, in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, between 41°14' and 44°14' northern latitude and 22°21' and 28°36' eastern longitude. Bulgaria covers an area of 110 993.6 square kilometres, which is about 22% of the area of the Balkan Peninsula. The overall length of the borders is 2,245 km - 520 km in length and 330 km in width.

Bulgaria has a very interesting and important socio-geographical position, as it is situated on the crossroads between Europe and Asia. It borders on Romania to the North, Serbia and the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia to the West, Greece and Turkey to the South and the Black Sea to the East. Bulgaria's territory is about the same size as that of Portugal in Europe, Jordan in Asia, Liberia and the Republic of Benin in Africa, Guatemala and Cuba in Latin America, the US state of Ohio in North America.

Relief

Situated on a relatively small area, Bulgaria's relief is quite varied, with altitudes ranging from 0 to 2,925 m above sea level. The average altitude of the country is 470 m above sea level. 30 % of its territory is mountainous. The highes mountain is Rila, with the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula - Mount Musala (2,925m). Other larger mountain formations in Bulgaria are:

Pirin - highest peak Vihren - 2,914m

Rhodopi - highest peak Goljam Perelik - 2,191m

Stara Planina (The Balkan) - highest peak Botev - 2,376m

Vitosha - highest peak Cherni Vrah - 2,290m

Sredna Gora - highest peak Bogdan (or Goljam Bogdan) - 1,604m

Ossogovo - highest peak Ruen - 2,251m

Slavjanka - highest peak Gotsev Vrah (old Alibotush) - 2,212m

Belassitsa - highest peak Radomir (or Kallabak) - 2,029m

Climate and Weather

Bulgaria can be relatively divided into 2 climatic zones. The Balkan Mountain is considered to be the watershed between them. Winters are colder in Northern Bulgaria, and considerably milder in the Southern part of the country. Summers, on the other hand, are hot and humid in the Northern part, especially along the Danube and in Dobrudja. To the South temperatures tend to be more like those in the Mediterranean region. Bulgaria has 4 clearly determined seasons. The average temperatures for the winter are 0 - 5°C and the average summer temperatures 26 - 32°C. Rainfalls are most frequent in May, October and November. The lowest temperature -38.3°C was measured in 1947. The highest temperature in Bulgaira measured on 05 July, 1916 was 45.2°C in the shade, near Sadovo station.

Nature

Although modest in area, Bulgaria's territory is most attractive and luring with its rare combination of sea, mountains, plains and valleys, orchards, vineyards and mineral springs.
The Black Sea coast strip is 384 km long and the overall sea area is 413,488 sq.km., which is nearly 4 times the territory of Bulgaria. The average depth of the water at sea is 1,245m and it reaches up to 2,245m at places. The water contains different kinds of salts, which have a beneficial effect on the human body. Its average temperature for the summer is about 26°C. The Black Sea coast has wonderful large beaches with fine, clean sand, rich in curative salts and shallow and clear water and breezes.

Flora and Fauna

There are 3 national parks, 9 nature parks, 89 reserves and 2,234 natural landmarks in Bulgaria. Two of them - Pirin National Park and Srebarna Nature Reserve have been included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage.

Bulgaria is rich in places where nature has been preserved almost unspoiled and vegetation demonstrates remarkable diversity. A total of 12,360 species have been found in its composition. The Bulgarian endemic plants, which are to be found nowhere else in the world, number more than 250 species: Rila Primrose, Balkan Violet, Bulgarian Blackberry, Rhodope Tulip, etc. Forests abound with various wild fruit all of them of proven flavour. There is also a great diversity of herbs. Bulgaria's fauna numbers more than 13,000 species. Rare mammal species are also to be found in the country. Sustainable development and tourism is deemed central for the preservation of dozens of endemic plants and species, natural phenomena, century-old trees.

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Mineral springs

Bulgaria is stepping up its claim as a good place to go for a healthy holiday. There are more than 500 recognized mineral springs with a total debit of 28,000 l. /sec. Almost 3/4 of them are hot - with temperatures varying from 37 to 100°C. The other 1/4 - so-called Hypothermal Springs have temperatures from 20 to 37°C. Spa-centres for balneal treatment and curative procedures are built at most of them. The most famous spa resorts are: Albena, Hissar, Sandanski and Velingrad.

Caves

LEDENIKA Cave

The Ledenika cave (the Glacier) is situated in the Northwest part of the Stresherski Balkan in the Vratsa Mountain, in which there are more than 52 caves. Its entrance is at the lowest part of the Ledenika land depression. Its altitude is 830 meters. The length is about 280 meters. The cave has 10 halls. The first chamber is the Predverieto (Antechamber). It is the lowest part of the cave. In winter and spring this chamber is enchanting with its crystal icicle decoration. That gave the name of the cave. For several meters one should lower down while moving in the pass Plaznyata (Sliding) to reach the Little Hall, which is round-shaped. There is another narrowing after that and you enter the Big Hall called the Concert Chamber. Everything is majestic and unique. You can see the Crocodile, the Giant's Head, the Falcon, father Christmas with the sack full of presents, the house of Yaga the Witch and many others. If we go on the right, we could reach the little Sinter Lake.

Its depth is 0.50 cm and it is believed that its water is magical. From the Big Chamber, going along metal bridges we pass over to the Little and the Big Chasms, through the corridor Zaveskite (the Draperies) and we come to the beautiful White Chamber. Here we can see the Mother-in-law's tongue, the Wife of the Giant, the Elephant, the Bathing girl and other figures. The highest point of the Ledenika cave is called the Seventh Sky and it is within the capacity of the most ambitious tourists. The Ledenika cave was opened for tourists for the first time in 1961. in 1962 it was proclaimed for a national landmark. The temperature in the cave varies from -7 C to -15°C (in winter in the Antechamber) and to 8°C in the inner parts. The moisture of the air is 92%. The animal variety can not be rich in these conditions: bats, cave beetles, wood lice, little spiders. You can see only here the insect "Ledenikus" or "Lighthalter". You can't see many plants here, just lichen and moss.

Sideview profile of Ledenika cave
1. Antechamber
2. Pluznjata (the Sliding)
3. The Little Hall
4. Koma tunnel
5. The Concenrt Hall
6. The Small Chasms
7. The Big Chasms
8. The Curtains
9. The White Chamber
10.The Seventh Sky

The Ledenika cave is open all the year round and there are guides that tour the cave with tourists. Please contact us if you wish to explore this cave.


MAGURATA Cave

The Magura cave is in the Northwest of Bulgaria, some 180 km. from the capital of Sofia. It is 17 km. away from the town of Belogradchik, 1,5 km. from the village of Rabisha, and 35 km. Southwest of the town of Vidin on the Danube river. It is hollowed out in the Rabisha hill limestone, 461 m. above sea level.

The Magura cave is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria. The total length of the galleries, discovered till now, exceeds 2000 m. It consists of one main gallery, pointing Southeast - Northwest and three side branches. The cave-halls are enormous in size. Each one of them is over 200 m. long, more than 50 m. wide and over 20 m. high.

Next to the cave is the Rabisha Lake - the largest inland lake in Bulgaria. It is up to 35-40 m. deep. The Rabisha Lake is of tectonic origin.



The Magurata cave is open all the year round, every day from 09:00 to 16:00 hours in the winter and from 09:00 to 17:00 hours in the summer and there are guides that take the tourists on a tour inside the cave. Please contact us if you wish to explore this cave on a private tour. Telephone numbers at the site: +359 99327-213/209.