Bulgaria is a middle-sized country situated in Southeastern Europe, in the east of the Balkans.

Its territory
covers an area of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi), while land borders with its five neighbouring
countries run a total length of 1,808 kilometres (1,123 mi), and its coastline is 354 kilometres (220 mi)
long.[114] Bulgaria's geographic coordinates are 43° N 25° E.[115] The most notable topographical
features of the country are the Danubian Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Thracian Plain, and the Rila-
Rhodope massif.[114] The southern edge of the Danubian Plain slopes upward into the foothills of the
Balkans, while the Danube defines the border with Romania. The Thracian Plain is roughly triangular,
beginning southeast of Sofia and broadening as it reaches the Black Sea coast.[114]

The Balkan mountains run laterally through the middle of the country from west to east. The
mountainous southwest has two distinct alpine type ranges—Rila and Pirin, which border the lower but
more extensive Rhodope Mountains to the east, and various medium altitude mountains to west,
northwest and south, like Vitosha, Osogovo and Belasitsa.[114] Musala, at 2,925 metres (9,596 ft), is the
highest point in both Bulgaria and the Balkans. The Black Sea coast is the country's lowest point.[115]
Plains occupy about one third of the territory, while plateaux and hills occupy 41%.[116] Most rivers are
short and with low water levels. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the Iskar, has a
length of 368 kilometres (229 mi). The Struma and the Maritsa are two major rivers in the south.[117]
[114]

Climate

Bulgaria has a varied and changeable climate, which results from being positioned at the meeting point
of the Mediterranean, Oceanic and Continental air masses combined with the barrier effect of its
mountains.[114] Northern Bulgaria averages 1 °C (1.8 °F) cooler, and registers 200 millimetres (7.9 in)
more precipitation, than the regions south of the Balkan mountains. Temperature amplitudes vary
significantly in different areas. The lowest recorded temperature is −38.3 °C (−36.9 °F), while the highest
is 45.2 °C (113.4 °F).[118] Precipitation averages about 630 millimetres (24.8 in) per year, and varies from
500 millimetres (19.7 in) in Dobrudja to more than 2,500 millimetres (98.4 in) in the mountains.
Continental air masses bring significant amounts of snowfall during winter.[119]

Köppen climate types of Bulgaria

Köppen climate types of Bulgaria

Considering its relatively small area, Bulgaria has variable and complex climate. The country occupies the
southernmost part of the continental climatic zone, with small areas in the south falling within the
Mediterranean climatic zone.[120] The continental zone is predominant, because continental air masses
flow easily into the unobstructed Danubian Plain. The continental influence, stronger during the winter,
produces abundant snowfall; the Mediterranean influence increases during the second half of summer
and produces hot and dry weather. Bulgaria is subdivided into five climatic zones: continental zone
(Danubian Plain, Pre-Balkan and the higher valleys of the Transitional geomorphological region);
transitional zone (Upper Thracian Plain, most of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the lower Sub-Balkan
valleys); continental-Mediterranean zone (the southernmost areas of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the
eastern Rhodope Mountains, Sakar and Strandzha); Black Sea zone along the coastline with an average
length of 30–40 km inland; and alpine zone in the mountains above 1000 m altitude (central Balkan
Mountains, Rila, Pirin, Vitosha, western Rhodope Mountains, etc.).[121]

Biodiversity and conservation

Belogradchik Rocks

Belogradchik Rocks are among Bulgaria's numerous protected areas

The interaction of climatic, hydrological, geological and topographical conditions has produced a
relatively wide variety of plant and animal