|
Hikes in:
Canada
USA
South America
Asia
Europe
|
|
Explore the unexplored, choose your mountain and
book a tour that fits to your style best!
"One morning
God gathered all people on Earth to give each of them a country. The
Bulgarian, not being in a hurry, came out to be the last facing the
Creator when everything was over. As there was not a spare place on
Earth, God gave him a piece of Paradise..."
(old Bulgarian legend)
A land rich in
unspoiled nature, abundant wildlife, history, fine architecture and
orthodox art, but most of all - a land, boasting some of Europe's
finest mountain sceneries! Still untouched from mass tourism and
hiding spectacular views for the traveler who seeks authentic, rural
villages with traditional architecture in a mountain background with
sweeping panoramas.... Experience you have dreamed of! Memories that
last long… Opportunity not to be missed!
|
Bulgaria - an ancient land
As a state established by khan Asparoukh, Bulgaria has been existing for more
than 13 centuries. Thracians were the first settlers in the Bulgarian lands and
their civilisation is evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds, uncovered
tombs, discovered gold and silver treasures. Testimonies for the presence of
life in the pre-historic ages have been preserved in the best-preserved
Neolithic housings discovered world-wide - namely those off the town of Stara
Zagora, in the "Bacho Kiro" cave off the town of Dryanovo and in the Magurata
cave - close to the town of Belogradchik. The first written reference where the
name "Bulgarians" is to be found is included in an anonymous Roman chronograph
of 452 AD.
Location
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 neighbours 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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flora and fauna
Bulgaria has many regions which have preserved in their natural state unique
natural nooks, preserving a remarkable biodiversity.
Contemporary natural vegetation demonstrates considerable ecological diversity.
Over 12,400 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 22,500 species, over 770 of which are vertebrates
(of them - over 420 species of birds). Rare mammal species are to be found in
this country. 22 globally threatened species (Dalmatian pelican, Pygmy Cormorant
and Ferruginous Duck among them) are also of great interest for the birdwatching
tourism.
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), 10 natural parks (over 180,000
hectares), 55 reserves and 35 managed reserves, over 350 protected areas and 500
natural monuments are dedicated to conserve greater part of unspoiled nature and
wildlife.
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.
|
