Bulgaria: The Land of Alpine Peak

Bulgaria’s earliest inhabitants were the Thracians and despite continuous conquests they have left out a considerable imprint on the present Bulgarian territory. In the early 1990’s, Bulgaria faced constant political instability and was under a communist regime until the 19th century when it gained independence. Presently, Bulgaria stands distinct comprising a significant number of historical relics, magnificent churches and an upholder of Balkan Christian tradition.

Bulgaria Fast Facts:

· National Name: Republic of Bulgaria
· Capital: Sofia
· Total area: 110,994 sq km (42,855 sq miles)
· Population: 7.6 million (UN, 2007)
· Currency: Lev (BGL)
· Languages: Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
· Ethnicity/ Races: Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
· Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
· GDP (Per Capita): $11,800 (2007 est.)
· Life Expectancy: 69 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
· Literacy Rate: 98.2% (2001 census)

Geography, Climate and Economy of Bulgaria:
Bulgaria has a notably diverse terrain comprising rugged snow capped peaks of Alpine Balkan Mountains, Black sea coast and Macedonian valleys in the southern Thrace. The southwestern part of the country has two prominent alpine ranges known as Rila and Prin and the more extensive Rhodope Mountains. The lowest point is Black Sea at 0m and the highest point is Musala at a height of 2,925m.

The climate of Bulgaria is usually temperate having cold and damp winters and hot, dry summers. The Black Sea’s coastal area has a relatively temperate climate along with strong and violent storms during the winters. While at the highest points of Bulgarian relief the climate is alpine in nature and the lowest parts have subtropical temperature.

Bulgaria’s main industries include refined petroleum, machinery equipments, beverage and tobacco and also it exports the same.

Culture and Cuisine of Bulgaria:
Bulgarians are orthodox Christian believers due to the past influences of Ottoman and Communist rule. They are very proud of their cultural heritage, which has Thracian imprints. Folklore and story telling form an integral part of their traditional rituals. They are also known for their love for traditional as well as modern music along with folk dances.

A typical Bulgarian cuisine consists of variety of salads. Besides this some of the main dishes are Moussaka, Gyuvetch, Sarmi, Kebabche, Kavarma and many others. Along with this Bulgaria offers a wide variety of alcoholic drinks such as rakia, mastika, menta and the most popular Bulgarian wine.

Tourist Attractions of Bulgaria:
Bulgaria offers a plethora of tourist sites to visit ranging from architecturally built churches to National Art galleries and ethnographic museums. One of the unique Belgian cultural center is at Plovdiv Old Town, which incorporates a Roman amphitheatre dating back to 18th and 19th century. And the Rila Monastery is one of the prominent symbols representing Bulgaria’s national identity.

Some other Tourist Sites are:

· Boyana Church in Sofia
· National Art Gallery
· Aladzha Monastery
· Beglik Tash
· Dourankoulak Moor
· Kaliakra Cape
· Taukliman
· Yaylata / Kamen Briag

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