Geography and population<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n History<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Economics<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Other data<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/p>\n Republic of Bulgaria<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Republic of Bulgaria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>is a country in southeastern Europe, in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsular and it takes 23% of its territory. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Republic of Macedonia to the west, by Greece to the south and Turkey to the southeast. To the east throughout the whole coastline, the country is on the waters of the Black Sea. The total length of the state border is 2245 km, of which 1181 km are land 686 km – river (mainly Danube river) and 378 km – sea. Besides the mainland, Bulgaria also has 62 islands in the Danube river, of which the most significant are Belene, Kozlodui, Vardim, Batin, Golyama burzina, Lilac and others and 7 small islands in the Black Sea (St. Ivan, St. Kirik, St. Anastasia and others) with a total area of \u200b\u200b100 square kilometers. With its 111 000 km2 area and 7.364 million people, Bulgaria ranks respectively the102nd and 96th place in area and population in the world. By area Bulgaria is 11th in the EU and 15th in whole Europe.<\/p>\n CLIMATE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n In Bulgaria prevails the mild climate with cold winters and hot summers. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains has a strong influence on the climate in the country \u2013 the northern part of Bulgaria has lower temperatures and has more rain than the southern part.<\/p>\n WATERS:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Rivers<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n The longest river on the territory of Bulgaria is Danube river – 470 km (in its Bulgarian part). It, however, only crosses our territory, and is a natural border with our northern neighbor – Romania. Other major tributaries of the Danube river are Lom, Ogosta, Vit, Osam. From all the rivers that flow directly into the Black Sea, the biggest the Kamchia – 245 km. Other famous rivers, flowing into the Black Sea are Ropotamo and Veleka (southern Black sea coast). The rivers that flow into the Aegean part are those, located in the Upper Thracian Valley and the Rila -Rhodope massive. The biggest is the Maritsa River – 321 kilometers. Struma springs from Vitosha mountain, is 290 km long and has a well developed river terrace. The river Mesta starts from the Rila Mountain. Both rivers are important for the economy of the country.<\/p>\n Lakes<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Bulgaria has over 400 lakes with a total area of \u200b\u200b95 sq.km. Depending on the type, they are divided into: tectonic, karst lakes, landslides, high mountain lakes, riverside and seaside lakes.<\/p>\n Seaside lakes<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n They are generally two types \u2013 firth lakes (Varna lake – 19 m depth), Bourgas lake (with area of 27,6 sq.km) and Atanasovsko lake. Lagoon type lakes – Pomorie lake.<\/p>\n High mountain lakes<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n They have occurred, based on the action of glaciers in the high parts of the Rila mountain and Pirin. In Rila mountain there are 140 lakes, in Pirin – 119. The biggest lake in Rila mountain is the Smradlivoto with an area of \u200b\u200b212dka, and the deepest is Okoto (the Eye) -38m. In Pirin mountain the first place is taken by the Popovoto lake.<\/p>\n Mineral<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Bulgaria is among the countries with the largest resource of mineral water. The mineral water may be divided into two types, according to the substances in it, and according the temperature. According to the temperature there are the following types: cold \u2013 up to 37 degrees, warm \u2013 from 37 to 60 degrees and hot – over 60 degrees. There is mineral underground water in Hisar, Haskovo, village Banya, Stara Zagora and others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n POPULATION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n According to the last official 2011 national census, the population of Bulgaria is 7,364,570 people. The state formatting ethnicity – the Bulgarians is 84,8% from all of the population. Two of the minority groups are quite bigger than the rest of the minority groups \u2013 the Turks \u2013 8.8% and the Roma minority \u2013 4.9%; the rest 1.5% includes other minority groups \u2013 Russians, Armenians, Chinese, Vlachs, Karakachans, Ukrainians, Greeks, Jews, Romanians. All ethnic groups speak Bulgarian, either as a first or as a second language. The Bulgarian language is official and native for 85.2 per cent of the population and the rest of the population speaks Bulgarian as a second language. Turkish language is a native language for 9.1% and the Roman minority group language is native for 4.2%.<\/p>\n 72.5% of the population of Bulgaria lives in the cities and 27.5% live in the villages. Almost 18% live in the capital and the biggest city \u2013 Sofia. The cities with population of more than 100 000 citizens are Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora and Pleven and Plovdiv and Varna are with more than 300 000 citizens and Sofia is with population of over 1 million people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n LANGUAGE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Bulgarian is an Indo-European language from the group of the South Slavic languages. It is the official language of the Republic of Bulgaria and is one of the 23 official languages \u200b\u200bof the European Union. The Bulgarian language is the earliest written recorded Slavic language. The Cyrillic originated in Bulgaria and it is an alphabet most probably created by St. Kliment Ohridski and called on his teacher and creator of the Glagolitic alphabet St. Cyril \u2013 the Philosopher. The Bulgarian alphabet is the one, with which the written submission of the literary Bulgarian language is done. It is the basis of the Cyrillic alphabet and contains 30 letters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RELIGION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n According to the Constitution, Bulgaria has no official religion.\u00a0 Instead of that, the Orthodox Christianity is defined as a \u201ctraditional religion\u201d for the country and the people who identify themselves as Orthodox Christians are 59% of the population. The largest minority religion is Islam, which is 7.8% of the population (mostly of the Turkish minority, but also by Bulgarian Muslims and one-fifth of the Roma minority group, as 7.4% are Sunni, 0.4% were Shiites and others). The following religion is the Protestant 0.9%, Roman Catholic 0.7%, followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church 0.02%, 0.13% follow other religions, and the remaining 31%, indicate that they have no religion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n POLITICS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n According to the Constitution of 1991 Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic, with a clear separation of the powers. Bulgarian parliament – the National Assembly is a unicameral Parliament and consists of 240 members elected for 4 years. The powers, work and role of the Parliament are described in Chapter Three of the Constitution (Art. 62 – Art. 91). They include the adoption of laws, control over the executive branch of the political system, approval of the budget, scheduling of the elections for president, selection and dismissal of the Prime Minister and other ministers, declaration of war, deployment of troops outside of Bulgaria, and ratification of international treaties and agreements. Since 2006, the National Assembly shall elect the Ombudsman, who protects the rights and the freedom of the citizens.<\/p>\n The President of the Republic is elected directly for 5-year term with the right to one re-election. He is the head of state, supreme commander of the armed forces and chairman of the Advisory Council on the National Security. While the President does not have legislative power or initiative, he can return a project of a law for revision, although Parliament can reject the veto with a simple majority vote. The President has also a Vice-president, who is elected with him by a direct vote.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n National Symbols<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The national symbols of the Bulgarian state are\u00a0the flag, the anthem, the coat of arms and the Guard of the Republic.<\/strong><\/p>\n The national flag<\/strong>of Bulgaria has a rectangular shape and consists of three colors: white, green and red, placed horizontally from top to bottom, as the colored fields are identical in shape and size. The coat of Arms of Bulgaria\u00a0<\/strong>is a rampant gold crowned lion on dark red field facing on the right heraldic side and is put on a shield. On both sides there are lions \u2013 which are holding a shield and above it – a royal crown. Under the shield there is a pedestal of oak branches with golden fruit and motto strip with the three lines of the flag edge, which has written the national motto \u201cUnity makes strength\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Administrative Division<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n From 1999 \u2013 until now the Republic of Bulgaria is administratively divided into 28 districts All of them are named after their regional center, as the capital itself forms a separate province. Each area is managed by a regional governor (supported by regional administration), who is appointed by the Council of Ministers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ECONOMY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Bulgaria is an industrial-agrarian country with an open market economy, medium developed private sector and a number of strategic state enterprises. The largest share in the economy has the industry and the agriculture, although the services sector has sustainable increases in its share in the GDP. Bulgaria produces significant amounts of iron, copper, gold, bismuth, coal, electronics, refined petroleum fuels, parts for vehicles, weapons and construction materials.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CURRENCY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Lev (abbreviation: lv.) is the currency of Bulgaria, issued by the Bulgarian National Bank. It is divided into 100 cents. Bulgarian lev is pegged to the Euro at a ratio of 1.95583 lev for 1 euro. In circulation there are banknotes with nominal value of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 levs. <\/p>\n CUSTOMS RESTRICTIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Cash, amounting up to \u20ac 10,000 is not subject to a written declaration to the customs authorities at import and passengers can pass through the \u201cGreen Corridor\u201d, which means that the person has nothing to declare.<\/p>\n When the imported cash is \u20ac 10,000 or more, the person declares in a specific Declaration of the cash form the total value of the imported cash in euro, the origin and the purpose, the transport route and the transport and has to pass through the \u201cRed Corridor\u201d.<\/p>\n The imports and exports regimes of gems and precious metals<\/strong>from local and foreign physical persons are governed by the Minister of Finance and are free in the following measures:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unwrought gold and platinum and the same in semi – manufactured type – up to 37 grams<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jewelry and accessories made of gold and platinum – up to 60 grams<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Silver, unwrought and in semi – manufactured\u00a0 type, and jewelry \u2013 up to 300 g<\/p>\n Each passenger over 17 years old may import:<\/strong><\/p>\n a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>tobacco products:\u00a0<\/strong>200 cigarettes, or 100 thin cigars (cigars with a maximum weight of three grams each), or 50 cigars or 250 g pipe tobacco or for other type of smoking;<\/p>\n b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0alcohol and alcoholic beverages:\u00a0<\/strong>Distilled and spirits drinks with alcoholic content above 22% of undenatured ethyl alcohol with an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% and more – 1 liter, or distilled beverages and spirits and aperitifs with a wine or alcohol base, tafia, sake or similar beverages with an alcoholic content not higher than 22%, sparkling wines, liqueur wines – 2 liters or non-sparkling wines – 2 liters;<\/p>\n c)\u00a0perfumes:<\/strong>\u00a050 grams and toilet waters – 0.25 liters;<\/p>\n d)\u00a0medicines:<\/strong>\u00a0in quantities that meet the needs of the passenger;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AIR TRANSPORT<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n In Bulgaria there are four international airports: Sofia (SOF), Bourgas (BOJ), Varna (VAR) and Plovdiv (PDV) Varna \u2013\u00a0www.varna-airport.bg<\/a><\/p>\n Burgas \u2013\u00a0www.bourgas-airport.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n Area<\/td>\n 110 994 \u043a\u043c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Waters<\/td>\n 0,5 %<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Borders<\/td>\n Romania (to the north);<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Serbia (to the northwest);<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Republic of Macedonia (to the southwest);<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Greece (to the south);<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Turkey (to the southeast);<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Black sea (to the south)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Climate<\/td>\n mild continental<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Capital<\/td>\n Sofia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Official language<\/td>\n Bulgarian<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Population (census in 2011)<\/td>\n 7 364 570<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Density<\/td>\n 66,35 \u0434\/\u043a\u043c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n City population<\/td>\n 73 %<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n \n Form<\/td>\n Unitary parliamentary republic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Organizations<\/td>\n EU, NATO, BSEC, OSCE, UN, Antarctic Treaty, \u00a0Council of Europe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n \n Establishment<\/td>\n year 681<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n First Bulgarian Kingdom<\/td>\n year 681 \u2013 1018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Second Bulgarian Kingdom<\/td>\n year 1185 \u2013 1396<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Third Bulgarian State<\/td>\n Since 1878<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Joining the EU<\/td>\n 1 January 2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n \n GDP( 2013)<\/td>\n 104,6 billion USD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Literacy<\/td>\n 98,3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Currency<\/td>\n Currency<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n \n Time zone<\/td>\n EET<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Summer time zone<\/td>\n EEST<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Internet domain<\/td>\n .bg (.eu)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Phone code<\/td>\n + 359<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Official web site<\/td>\n www.bulgaria.bg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nIskar is the longest Bulgarian river – 368 km. It springs from the Rila Mountain and flows into the Danube river.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMila Rodino\u201d became the national anthem of Bulgaria in 1964. The basis of the music and lyrics is the song \u201cStara Planina\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Zname](\"https:\/\/www.dineviestates.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Zname-Bulgaria-300x166.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n
\n 1st<\/sup>\u00a0of January<\/td>\n New year\u2019s Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3rd<\/sup>\u00a0of March<\/td>\n Liberation day from the Ottoman rule<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Friday (March – May)<\/td>\n Orthodox Good Friday<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday (March \u2013 May)<\/td>\n Orthodox Great Saturday<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n April\/ May<\/td>\n April\/ May<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1st<\/sup>\u00a0of May<\/td>\n Labour Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6th<\/sup>\u00a0of May<\/td>\n St. George\u2019s Day \u2013 Day of the Bulgarian Army<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 24th<\/sup>\u00a0of May<\/td>\n Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6th<\/sup>\u00a0of September<\/td>\n Unification Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 22nd<\/sup>\u00a0of September<\/td>\n Independence Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1st<\/sup>\u00a0of November<\/td>\n Revival Leaders\u2019 Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 24th<\/sup>\u00a0of December<\/td>\n Christmas Eve<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 25th<\/sup>\u00a0and 26th<\/sup>\u00a0of December<\/td>\n Christmas Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sunday<\/td>\n every Sunday throughout the year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nExchange of currency may be done in banks or change bureaus. The banks work from Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00. It is advisable to carry your identity document.<\/p>\n
\nSofia \u2013\u00a0www.sofia-airport.bg<\/a><\/p>\n