Geography of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula’s northeastern region. Its boundaries are 44°13′ to 41°14′ north latitude and 22°22′ to 28°37′ east longitude. It is a European nation bordered by the Balkans, the Black Sea, and the Danube. Due to its physical position, it lies at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Bulgaria is closer to the Equator than it is to the pole. It is located in the southernmost portion of the temperate climatic zone, which is influenced by subtropics. Its position on the boundary of two climatic zones has an effect on the climate, soils, flora, and animal species. Each of them is marked by a high degree of variety. Additionally, the country’s geographic location influences the relatively broad angle of sunlight that falls on it, resulting in a largely sunny climate. Bulgaria’s official time zone is Eastern European Time, two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Additionally, the Black and Aegean Seas have an effect on the country’s climate. The Mediterranean has a significant impact on the climate in the country’s south, while the Black Sea has a significant influence on the climate across a region stretching around 40 kilometers inland, sustaining a rich flora and fauna. The Danube River is critical to the country’s water supplies and wildlife variety. Bulgaria’s advantageous geographic position provides ideal circumstances for tourist growth.

Bulgaria is also a transportation hub, with routes connecting it to Western Europe, the Near and Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Bulgaria is crossed by a number of key European transport routes. These corridors include the international highways that connect Western and Central Europe to the Near East and Middle East (via Beograd to Sofia and Svilengrad), including connections to Baghdad and Basra on the Persian Gulf; from the Baltic Sea to the Aegean Sea (via Moscow to Kiev, Bucharest, Ruse, and Stara Zagora to Thessaloniki); and from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea (via Moscow to Kiev, Bucharest, Ruse, and Star (from Sofia through Skopje to Drach). Another vital highway connects Constanta to Varna, Burgas, Tsarevo, Malko Tarnovo, and Istanbul. Bulgaria is also linked to the Trans-European network, which connects Berlin to Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Thessaloniki, and Istanbul, as well as Durres to Tirana, Skopje, and Sofia, which connects to the Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas. Rail service is also available on these routes. Bulgaria’s Black Sea ports are connected to all other Black Sea nations, providing exceptional prospects for the growth of transportation through the enormous bays that front Burgas and Varna. The Danube River links the nation to the transit corridor leading to the Rhine and to the network of waterways that traverse Western Europe.

The total length of Bulgaria’s borders is 2,245 km. Of these borders, 1,181 km are on land, 686 km are on rivers, and 378 km are on the sea. Bulgaria borders to the north with Romania, to the east with the Black Sea, to the south with Turkey and Greece, and to the west with Macedonia1 and Serbia. The distances between Sofia and the capitals of the neighboring Balkan states are: Skopje – 239 km, Beograd – 374 km, Bucharest – 395 km, Athens – 837 km, Ankara – 1,012 km. The following checkpoints (BCCP) operate on Bulgaria’s borders – along the Bulgaria-Serbia border – BCCP Bregovo, BCCP Vrashka Chuka, BCCP Kalotina, BCCP Strezimirovtsi, BCCP Oltomantsi; along the Bulgaria-Macedonia border – BCCP Gyueshevo, BCCP Stanke Lisichkovo, BCCP Zlatarevo; along the Bulgaria-Turkey border – BCCP Malko Tarnovo, BCCP Lesovo, BCCP Kapitan Andreevo; along the Bulgaria-Greek border – BCCP Kulata, BCCP Ilinden, BCCP Kapitan Petko Voyvoda, BCCP Ivaylovgrad, BCCP Zlatograd; along the Bulgaria-Romania border – BCCP Vidin (by ferry), BCCP Oryahovo (by ferry), BCCP Ruse – the Danube bridge, BCCP Silistra, BCCP Kardam, BCCP Durankulak; on the river ports – BCCP Vidin, BCCP Lom, BCCP Somovit – Nikopol, BCCP Svishtov, BCCP Ruse, BCCP Tutrakan, BCCP Silistra; at the sea ports – BCCP Balchik, BCCP Varna, BCCP Burgas, BCCP Tsarevo, and at the airports – BCCP Sofia Airport, BCCP Plovdiv Airport, BCCP Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport, BCCP Varna Airport, and BCCP Burgas Airport.