Official name Republic of Bulgaria, Bulgarian Republika Bulgariya, formerly People's Republic of Bulgaria (194190)
Local name B?lgarija Timezone GMT +2 Area 110 912 km²/42 812 sq mi population total (2002e) 7 890 000 Status Republic Date of independence 1908 Capital Sofia Languages Bulgarian (official), Turkish Ethnic groups Bulgarian (85%), Turkish (9%) Religions Bulgarian Orthodox (85%), Muslim (13%) Physical features Traversed WE by the Balkan Mts, averaging 2000 m/6500 ft; in the SW, Rhodope Mts, rising to 3000 m/9600 ft; rivers include Maritsa, Iskur, Danube. Climate Continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters; average annual temperatures -2°C (Jan), 21°C (Jul); average annual rainfall 635 mm/25 in. Currency 1 Lev (BGL) = 100 stotinki Economy Mainly agricultural produce; coal, iron ore; offshore oil (Black Sea), natural gas; tourism; tobacco, wine exports. GDP (2002e) $49·23 bn, per capita $6500 Human Development Index (2002) 0·779 History Bulgars crossed the Danube in the 7th-c; their empire continually at war with Byzantines until destroyed by Turks, 14th-c; remained under Turkish rule, 1396-1878; full independence, 1908; became a kingdom, 190846; aligned with Germany in both World Wars; occupied by USSR, 1944; Socialist People's Republic founded, 1946; unicameral National Assembly established, 1971; proclaimed Republic of Bulgaria in 1990; new constitution, 1991; joined EU 2007; governed by an elected President, and a 250-member National Assembly.|
Република България Republika Balgaria Republic of Bulgaria |
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Motto: Bulgarian: Съединението прави силата (English: "Unity Makes Strength") |
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Anthem: Mila Rodino ("Dear Motherland") |
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| Capital |
Sofia 42°41′N 23°19′E |
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| Largest city | Sofia | ||||
| Official language | Bulgarian | ||||
| Government | Parliamentary democracy | ||||
| - President | Georgi Parvanov | ||||
| - Prime Minister | Sergey Stanishev | ||||
| Independence | From the Ottoman Empire | ||||
| - Founded | 681 | ||||
| - Christianized | 865 | ||||
| - Gained autonomy | March 3, 1878 | ||||
| - Declared |
October 5, 1908 (September 22 O.S.) |
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| Accession to EU | January 1, 2007 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total |
110,912 km² (104th) 42,823 sq mi |
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| - Water (%) | 0.3% | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - 2005 estimate | 7,726,000 (93rd) | ||||
| - 2001 census | 7,932,984 | ||||
| - Density |
70/km² (124th) 181/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||||
| - Total | $71.235 billion (66th) | ||||
| - Per capita | $9,600 (66th) | ||||
| HDI (2004) | 0.816 (high) (54th) | ||||
| Currency | Lev (BGN) | ||||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .bg | ||||
| Calling code | +359 | ||||
Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, IPA: [bɤlˈgarijə]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Република България, IPA: [rɛˈpubliˌkə bɤlˈgarijə]), is a country in Southeastern Europe.
Bulgaria is an active member of NATO and is joining the European Union on January 1, 2007.
History
The Thracians were an ancient people who inhabited what is now Bulgaria.
In the late 7th century a branch of the Bulgars led by Khan Asparuh migrated into the northern Balkans, where they merged with the local Slavic and Thracian population to form the First Bulgarian Empire in AD 681.
In 1185 the Bulgarian Empire was reestabilished under the Asenevtsi Dynasty and continued to be an important power in Europe for two more centuries, while fighting for dominance in the region with the Byzantine Empire, the Crusader states and Hungary, reaching its zenith under Ivan Asen II (1218-1241).
Following the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 and the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878, an autonomous Bulgarian principality was proclaimed.
He became the Bulgarian prince after Alexander Battenberg abdicated in 1886 following a coup d'etat staged by pro-Russian army officers.
In 1912 and 1913 Bulgaria became involved in the Balkan Wars, entering into conflict with Greece and Serbia against the Ottoman Empire and then against its former Balkan allies in desperate effort to achieve its national unity.
These numbers increased in the 1930s following Serbian state-sponsored aggression against its native Bulgarian population.
Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence after World War II, became a People's Republic in 1946 and one of the USSR's staunchest allies.
Bulgaria joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and is set to join the European Union on 1 January 2007 after signing the Treaty of Accession on 25 April 2005.
Politics
The president of Bulgaria (Georgi Parvanov since 22 January 2002 was re-elected for a second mandate on 29 October 2006 and will enter on his duties in January 2007 for the next five years) is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to one re-election.
The Council of Ministers is chaired by the PM (Sergey Stanishev since 18 August 2005), and is the principal body of the Executive Branch and presently consists of 20 ministers.
The current governmental coalition is made of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), National Movement Simeon II (NMS) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (representing mainly the Turkish minority).
The Bulgarian unicameral parliament, the National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie, consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year-terms by popular vote.
The last elections took place on June 2005.
The Bulgarian judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a Supreme Court of Cassation.
The Constitutional Court is in charge of reviewing the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed.
The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into provinces and municipalities.
Administrative divisions
Since 1999 Bulgaria consists of 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), after having been subdivided into 9 provinces since 1987. All are named after the provincial capital, with the national capital itself forming a separate province:
| Blagoevgrad Burgas Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Kardzhali Kyustendil | Lovech Montana Pazardzhik Pernik Pleven Plovdiv Razgrad | Ruse Shumen Silistra Sliven Smolyan Sofia Sofia Province | Stara Zagora Targovishte Varna Veliko Tarnovo Vidin Vratsa Yambol |
Geography
Bulgaria comprises portions of the classical regions of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia.
The Bulgarian climate is temperate, with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers, and Mediterranean along the Black Sea coast
The Balkan peninsula derives its name from the Balkan or Stara Planina mountain range which runs through the center of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia.
The largest cities in the country are Sofia (1,246,791), Plovdiv (376,918), Varna (345,522), Burgas (259,985), Rousse (177,538), Stara Zagora (163,193), Pleven (121,700), Dobrich (115,861), Sliven (100,300).
Bulgaria has its own scientific base on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.
See also:
List of cities in Bulgaria Rivers of Bulgaria Reservoirs and dams in BulgariaEconomy
Bulgaria's economy contracted dramatically after 1989 with the loss of the market of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) member states, to which the Bulgarian economy had been closely tied.
The former government, elected in 2001, pledged to maintain the fundamental economic policy objectives adopted by its predecessor in 1997, i.e., retaining the Currency Board, practicing sound financial policies, accelerating privatisation, and pursuing structural reforms.
Agricultural output has decreased since 1989 but production is growing in the recent years.
Industry is of great importance for the economy.
The production of steel and pig iron is concentrated in Kremikovtsi and Pernik.
Ferrous metallurgy is very important.
About 14% of the total industrial production is related to machine building and 24% of the people are employed in this field.
Science, technology and telecommunications
Bulgaria offers excellent conditions for high-tech and telecommunication industries and services with its strategic location, highly-qualified workforce, macroeconomic stability, growing domestic market and good education.
Telecommunications is perhaps the fastest growing industry in the country.
The country has good traditions and perfect opportunities in science.
There are two major astronomic observatories: the Rozhen Observatory, which is the biggest in South Eastern Europe and the Belogradchik Observatory with three telescopes.
Transport
Bulgaria has unique and strategically important geographic location.
The total length of the roads is 102,016 km of which 93,855 km are paved.
The ports of Varna and Burgas are by far the most important and with largest turnover.
There is well organised public transport in the cities and in many smaller towns.
Demographics
According to the 2001 census, Bulgaria's population is mainly ethnic Bulgarian (83.9%), with two sizable minorities, Turks (9.4%) and Roma (4.7%).
Bulgarian is the mother-tongue of 84.8% of the population;
Most Bulgarians (82.6%) are, at least nominally, members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the national Eastern Orthodox church.
Bulgaria has had the slowest population growth of any country in the world since 1950, with the exception of St. Kitts &
Culture
A country often described to lie at the crossroads linking the East and West, Bulgaria was the centre of Slavic Europe during much of the Middle Ages, exerting considerable literary and cultural influence over the Eastern Orthodox Slavic world by means of the Preslav and Ohrid Literary Schools.
Bulgaria is well-known for its rich folklore, distinctive traditional music, rituals and tales, but the country's contribution to humanity also continued in the 19th and 20th century, when individuals such as John Atanasoff - born in USA with Bulgarian origin, regarded as the father of the digital computer, a number of noted opera singers (Nicolai Ghiaurov, Boris Christoff, Raina Kabaivanska, Ghena Dimitrova) and successful artists (Christo Javacheff, Pascin, Vladimir Dimitrov) popularized the culture of Bulgaria abroad.
A number of ancient civilizations, most notably the Thracians, Greeks, Romans and Bulgars have left their mark on the culture, history and heritage of Bulgaria.
List of famous Bulgarians Bulgarian customs Music of Bulgaria Bulgarian dances Bulgarian cuisineTourism
In winter, Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo are ski resorts.
Bulgaria has enjoyed a substantial growth in income from international tourism over the past decade.
Sports
Football is by far the most popular sport in the country.
Bulgaria boasts great achievements in other sports areas.
Religion
Most citizens of Bulgaria are associated — at least nominally — to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is the independent national church of Bulgaria like the other national branches of Eastern Orthodoxy and is considered an inseparable element of Bulgarian national consciousness.
Despite the dominant position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Bulgarian cultural life, a number of Bulgarian citizens belong to other religious denominations, most notably Islam, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
In the 16th and the 17th century missionaries from Rome converted Bulgarian Paulicians in the districts of Plovdiv and Svishtov to Roman Catholicism.
According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005 , only 40% of Bulgarian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 40% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", 13% that "they do not believe there is a God, spirit, nor life force", and 6% did not answer.
See also: Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Islam in Bulgaria, Roman Catholicism in Bulgaria, and Protestantism in BulgariaNational parks
Bulgaria has more than ten major national parks and many reservation areas.
Central Balkan National Park Pirin National Park Rhodope National Park Rila National Park Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) Strandja National Park Vitosha National ParkMiscellaneous data
The oldest golden treasure in the world was discovered in Bulgaria (the Varna Necropolis) Founded in 681, Bulgaria is the oldest contemporary country in Europe. In many agricultural productions per capita, the country is among the top 10 in the world (tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, sunflower seed, levander, strawberries and others)Gallery
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The Belogradchik Rocks |
Bulgarian National Revival (18th-19th century) architecture in Plovdiv's old town part |
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Varna |
Shipka Pass, Stara Planina in winter |
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A Black Sea beach near Dyuni |
The capital city of Sofia |
Typical architecture and natural surroundings of Melnik |
The inner yard of the Bachkovo Monastery |
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Baroque architecture in Rousse |
Tsarevets, Veliko Tarnovo, the main stronghold of the medieval Second Bulgarian Empire |
The Roman amphitheatre in Stara Zagora |
The Danube between Belene and Belene Island |
High Resolution Images from Bulgaria
Further reading
A Concise History of Bulgaria RJ Crampton Beyond Hitler's Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Jews Michael Bar-Zohar Blue Guide: Bulgaria James Pettifer Crown of Thorns : The Reign of King Boris III of Bulgaria, 1918-1943 Stephane Groueff The Fragility of Goodness: Why Bulgaria's Jews Survived the Holocaust Tzvetan Todorov Lonely Planet World Guide: Bulgaria Paul Greenway Music of Bulgaria Timothy Rice The Rough Guide To Bulgaria Jonathan Bousfield Voices from the Gulag: Life and Death in Communist Bulgaria Tzvetan Todorov The Iron Fist-inside the Bulgarian secret archives Alexenia DimitrovOfficial
Council of Ministers - Official Governmental Site Diplomatic missions of Republic of Bulgaria abroad - Diplomatic missions of Republic of Bulgaria abroad European Youth Parliament — Bulgaria President.bg - Official Presidential Site Narodno Sabranie - Official Parliamentary Site Ministry of Finance of Bulgaria Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Bulgaria Ministry of Economy of Bulgaria Ministry of Education Ministry of Energy and Energy Resources of Bulgaria Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria National Radio - Official Radio Site Antarctic Place-names Commission of BulgariaEnglish-language Bulgarian media
Bulgarian News Agency Radio Bulgaria – the world service of the Bulgarian National Radio Dnevnik News The Bulgarian Post Focus English News Sofia News Agency Standart (daily) The Sofia Echo (weekly) The Frontier Times — Veliko Tarnovo's English Language Newspaper (monthly)Other
See Bulgaria - A virtual tour of Bulgaria Zone Bulgaria - a Multilingual Travel Guide USC Center on Public Diplomacy Nation Profile Bulgarian musical instruments Collection of Bulgarian Art Bulgarian Folklore (Eurofolk) The Surva International Festival of the Masquerade Games in city of Pernik CIA World Factbook entry on Bulgaria Tourist Information about Bulgaria Bulgaria Travel Guide
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