General Information
Bulgaria lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia in the heart of the Balkan peninsula. The North has a boundary with Romania and on the west with the Serbia and Montenegro. On the south west it is conterminous with former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia while on the south-east it is contiguous to Turkey and Greece. On the east the country is bounded by the Black Sea.
The total length of the Bulgarian border line is 2245 km, 1181km of which are land frontier, 686 km river and 378 km sea frontage.
The country Bulgaria is now a full member of European Union and NATO. The country has a notable economic growth and its inflation is minimal. Bulgaria is a politically stable country, and the introduction of a currency board in 1997 stabilised the country's economy. Bulgarian laws are in accordance with the laws in other countries of the EU.
Country Details
Territory: 110 993 square km
Population: 7,707,495, (2001)
Language: Bulgarian
Capital: Sofia
Religion: Eastern Orthodox
Alphabet: Cyrillic
State system: A Parliamentary republic
Government: Democratic coalition government
Currency: the Bulgarian Lev
Climate: Usually snowy winters, long hot summers, mild autumn and spring
Main Rivers: The Danube, Maritsa, Strouma, Iskar, Yantra
Main Mountains: The Balkan Range, Rila (its peak, Moussala, is the highest in the Balkans), the Rhodopes, Pirin, Vitosha
Plant and animal world: Extremely diverse; an Act on the Protected Territories is operating in Bulgaria, aimed at the preservation of the country`s flora and fauna
Time: GMT +2 hours
Checkpoints:
with Serbia: Kalotina, Vrashka Chuka, Otomantsi
with Republic of Macedonia: Gyueshevo, Zlatarevo
with Turkey: Kapitan Andreevo, Malko Turnovo
with Greece: Kulata
with Romania: Vidin, Oryahovo, Rousse, Silistra
Black Sea Ports: Varna, Burgas
Airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas
Visas: For EU citizens - 30 days visa free regime
Speed limits:
residential areas - 50 km/h
country roads - 90 km/h
motorways - 130 km/h c
Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz [UK visitors require standard 2-pin adaptor]
International telephone code: +359
Getting there:
by air: 2.5 hours from London and Moskow
by car: E79, E80
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About Bulgaria