Bulgaria - Brief Facts and Figures

Full name: Republic of Bulgaria

Government: Parliamentary democracy

Territory: 110,910 square kilometers

Population: 7,680,000 (estimated 2007)

Capital city: Sofia

International airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas, Plovdiv

Main harbors: on the Black Sea - Varna, Bourgas; on the Danube River - Vidin, Oriahovo, Rouse

Monetary unit: Lev (1 lev = ~ EUR 0.48), with bank-notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva

Official language: Bulgarian

Major religions: Orthodox Christianity (over 85%), Muslim, Jewish

Neighbouring countries: Romania (North), Serbia, Macedonia (West), Greece, Turkey (South), Black Sea (East)

Relief: 31% lowlands occupy 41% plains and hilly terrains, 28% mountains. The larger mountain ranges are the Stara Planina (Balkan) mountains, the Rhodopi, Rila (highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula Musala - 2925 m), Pirin, Vitosha.

Climate: The climate in Bulgaria is moderate continental with four yearly seasons and average annual temperature of 10.5 degrees centigrade. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 0 degrees centigrade. The average air temperature in the summer is 30 degrees c. and the average water temperature - 25 degrees c.

Most important historical dates and events:

• 681 - Bulgarian state was founded on the present-day territory
• 885 - Cyril and Methody created the Slavonic script
• 864 - Bulgaria adopted Christianity
• 870 - Independent Bulgarian Christian church
• 1018 - Bulgaria fell within the limits of the Byzantine Empire
• 1185 - Restoration of the Bulgarian state
• 1396 - Bulgaria was under the Turkish Slavery
• 1877-1878 - Liberation war; Bulgaria was proclaimed a constitutional monarchy
• 1885 - Unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Romalia (vassal of Turkey at the time)
• 1908 – Formal independence from Turkey
• 1944 – Bulgaria became part of the Soviet Block
• 1989 – Start of democratic reforms
• 2004 – Member of NATO
• 2007 – Member of EU