A BULGARIAN LIFE
Bulgaria is joining the European Union on January 1, 2007
Location> (Bulgaria)
==Situated
in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the
northeastern part of the Balkan
Peninsula. To the North, via
the Danube River, it borders on Romania, to the West –
on Serbia
and Montenegro and on the Former Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia. To the South its neighbors are Greece and Turkey. To
the East Bulgaria touches the Black Sea, which links it also to
Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. The Black Sea borderline is 378 km
(240 miles) long. The country’s
total territory is 111 000 sq. km (43 000 sq.
miles).
Relief
(Bulgaria)
==Bulgaria
possesses a variety of natural forms, located in the range of
altitude from 0 to
2,925 m. Its
territory includes part of the lower Danube Plain, The Balkan
Range part of the Alpine-and-Himalayan chain, part of the
Thracian lowland and to the south the mountain structures of the
Macedonian-Thracian massif. The best-known mountain ranges are
Rila (highest peak Mussala 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren 2,914 m.),
Stara Planina or the Balkan range (Botev Peak 2,376 m.), and the
Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik- 2,191 m.) as well as Mount Vitosha (Cherni
Vrah 2,291 m.)
==The
mountains occupy half of this country's territory, with the
high-mountain relief i.e.
an altitude above
1,600 m, comprising 5 % of its entire area. The Bulgarian
mountains are easily accessible and the presence of towns and
villages in them that have preserved the authentic Bulgarian
spirit and hospitality, gives a chance for receiving and
accommodating tourists at village houses.
Waters
(Bulgaria)
The rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains and flow into
the Black Sea and into the
Aegean Sea.
Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than 2.3 km. The only navigable
river is the Danube, which lies along the North Bulgarian
border. There are good prerequisites for the development of
adventure tourism: wild waters – rafting and canoe, diving,
hanggliding and paragliding in the river valleys of Vatcha,
Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.
==The
longest rivers on the territory of Bulgaria (in km): Iskar
(368.0 km), Toundga
(349.5 km),
Maritsa (321.6 km), Osum (341.0 km), Struma (290.0 km), Yantra
(285.5 km), Kamchiya (244.5 km), Arda (241.3 km), Louda Kamchiya
(200.9 km) and Roussenski Lom (196.9 km).
==There
are about 330 natural lakes; the largest are the Black Sea lakes
(Alepou,
Arkoutino, Pomorie,
Beloslav, Bourgas, Varna and the Shabla lakes), the most
numerous (over 260) are the high-mountain glacial lakes in the
Rila and Pirin mountain ranges. Dams have been built as a part
of waterpower systems – Iskar, Arda, Batak Water Power System,
Belmeken-Sestrimo, Dospat-Vucha, and a great number of smaller
dams.
Climate
(Bulgaria)
Predominant
climate
==The
predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional
continental. (2,000 to
2,400 hours of
sunlight per year). Four seasons. Dry and hot summer. Average
temperature (April - September): + 23 °C. Cold winter with
snowfalls, average temperature: 0 °C. The average yearly
temperature is 10.5 °C. A Mediterranean climate, with dry
summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the
southwestern Rhodope Mountains. The northern limits of the
climatic zone is the Balkan Range.
Average
temperatures
The average January temperature in Sofia ranges between -4° and
2°. The July temperature ranges between 16° and 27° C. Along the
Black Sea, the average January temperature ranges between -1°
and 6° C and the July temperature ranges between 19° and 30° C.
The soft transitional Mediterranean climate and the fertile
soils are very suitable for growing the century-famed Bulgarian
attar-yielding rose – a valuable raw material for perfumery,
medical products, food and wine, and tobacco industries.
Flora and Fauna
(Bulgaria)
==Bulgaria
has many regions which have preserved in their natural state
unique natural
nooks, preserving
a remarkable bio-diversity. Contemporary natural vegetation
demonstrates considerable ecological diversity. 12,360 species
have been found in its composition, of which 3,700 are higher
plants. The Bulgarian endemic plants, which are to be found
nowhere else in the world, number more than 250: Rila primrose,
Balkan violet, Bulgarian blackberry, Rhodopean tulip etc.
Forests abound with wild fruits, briars, blueberries,
blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms – all of them
of proven flavour and of qualities that strengthen the body.
There is also a great diversity of herbs and healing plants.
==Bulgaria’s
fauna numbers some 13,000 species, which is 14% of the total
number of
registered animal
species in Europe. Rare mammal species are to be found in this
country. Pelicans, stags, deer, does, wild goats, quails,
pheasants etc. inhabit reserves and hunting grounds.
==A
network of 3 national parks – Rila, Pirin, and the Central
Balkan - has been set up
(with a total area
of 221,252.2 hectares), 9 natural parks (over 180,000 hectares),
reserves, as well as 2,234 protected territories and natural
landmarks. Two of them (Pirin National Park and Sreburna
biosphere reserve have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage
List. Together with 16 further biosphere reserves they offer
wonderful conditions for photo-hunting, scientific-and-cognitive
tourism and hobby tourism.
Mineral Springs
(Bulgaria)
==Bulgaria
has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with over 1,600 water
sources.
These are
localised chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts of
national significance are Bankya, Velingrad, Sandanski, the
mineral baths of Stara Zagora, Narechen, Sliven and Haskovo, as
well as Kyustendil, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Hissarya, Merichleri,
Momin Prohod, and Kostenets. Climatic sea-side resorts offering
various recreation services are Albena, Balchik, Bourgas, Varna
(Zlatni Pyassatzi – Golden Sands), Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko,
Nessebur (Slantchev Bryag – Sunny Beach) and Sozopol.
Picturesque lakes hide in the folds of the Rila and Pirin
mountain ranges. Reservoirs of recreational potential are to be
found in the Rhodope Mountains – namely Batak, Vatcha, Studen
Kladenets, at the foot of the Balkan Range – Ticha, as well as
in some other places. There are good prerequisites for the
development of adventure tourism: wild waters– rafting and
canoe, diving, delta and para glidting in the river valleys of
Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.
Demographic data
(Bulgaria)
=Population:
7,973,671 Men: 3,888,440 Women: 4,085,231 Population in towns:
5,500,695
Population growth: –5.1% Employed (December, 2000): 3,272,200.
General Data
(Bulgaria)
Territory:
110,993,6 km2
Population:
7,973,671
Capital: Sofia
Official language:
Bulgarian
Religion: Orthodox
Political system:
Parliamentary Republic
Head of State:
Georgi Purvanov
Prime Minister:
Simeon Saxe–Coburg Gotha
Administrative
regions: Sofia – city, Sofia district, Bourgas, Varna, Plovdiv,
Rousse, Haskovo, Lovetch, Montana, Sliven, Yambol, Dobrich,
Silistra, Shumen, Gabrovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratza, Veliko Turnovo,
Pazardjik, Smolyan, Razgrad, Targovishte, Blagoevgrad, Pernik,
Kardjali, Stara Zagora.
Official holidays:
January 1st – New
Year’s Holiday;
March 3rd –
National Holiday;
Easter, and the
first Monday after Easter;
May 1st – Labour
Day;
May 6th –
Gergyovden (Saint George's Day), and the Day of the Bulgarian
Army Day;
May 24th – Cyril
and Methodius Day;
September 6th –
Unification Day;
September 22d –
Independence Day;
November 1st -
National Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders; December 24th
,25th, and
26th – Christmas
Days;
National currency:
Lev
Measures and
scales: the metric system
Time zone: GMT +2
|
Product
|
Price
|
|
Electricity
|
0,10 euro/kWh
|
|
Water
|
0,50 euro/m3
|
|
Inhabited house
duty |
50 euro/year
|
|
Cleaner
|
50 euro/month
|
|
Internet-LAN
|
15 euro/month
|
|
Ground phone
|
90 euro/once
4 euro/month
0,10 euro/city call
|
|
Mobile phone
|
"M-TEL" 6-22 euro/month
0,07-0,7 euro/min.
|
|
Fuel
|
0,7 euro/litre
|
|
Diesel
|
0,5 euro/litre
|
|
Gas
|
0,3 euro/litre
|
|
Taxi
|
0,25 euro/km.
|
|
Security "СОТ"
|
220 euro/once 30
euro/month |
|
Dinner in
restaurant for 2: Includes: 2 juices 2 salads 2
soups 2 dishes with meat+garnish 2 coffees
|
10 euro
|
|
Bulgarian wine
|
from 1 euro to 6
euro/bottle-0,75л
|
|
accountant
|
50-80 euro/month
|
|
lawyer
|
100-130 euro/month
|
|
secretary
|
100-130 euro/month
|
|
manager
|
150-180 euro/month
|
|
office manager
|
150-300 euro/month
|
|
tip in restaurant
|
1-3 euro
|
|
|
|
|
Prices on food
(Bulgaria)
|
Product |
Price
|
|
chill chicken
|
2.5 euro/kg.
|
|
English bacon
|
4 euro/kg.
|
|
salami
|
1.6 euro/kg.
|
|
surlion
|
7,39 euro/kg.
|
|
cheese
|
1.4 euro/kg.
|
|
milk
|
0.5 euro/liter
|
|
sauce
|
0.5 euro/kg.
|
|
olive
|
1.7 euro/kg.
|
|
mushroom with
sauce |
2.4 euro/kg.
|
|
rice
|
0.4 euro/kg.
|
|
paste
|
0.5 euro/0.220
kg. |
|
jam
|
0.4 euro/0.3
kg. |
|
Coffee Jacobs
Monarch |
0.6 euro/0.10
kg. |
|
Coffee NESCAFE
GOLG |
2 euro/0.1 kg.
|
|
bread
|
0.3 euro/0.8
kg. |
|
fruits
|
0.6 euro/kg.
|
|
ABSOLUT vodka
|
8 euro/litre
|
|
bulgarian
brandy |
1.5 euro/0,7
litre |
|
Daily goods
(Bulgaria)
|
Product |
Price |
|
Fa deodorant
|
1.2 euro/50
ml. |
|
NIVEA cream
|
0.8 euro/75
ml. |
|
DOVE shower
gel |
1.2 euro/250
ml. |
|
TEO soap
|
0.4 euro/0.1
kg. |
|
ELSEVE shampoo
|
1.5 euro/250
ml. |
|
COLGATE TRIPLE
tooth-paste |
0.5 euro/50
ml. |
|
ASTERA
bulgarian tooth-paste
|
0.3 euro/100
ml. |
|
BONUX washing
powder |
0.3 euro/0.5
kg. |
|
BELLE COLOR
dye |
2 euro
|
|
