Area - 4 655,8 sq. km
Population- 330 745
Average temperature - 12,8°C

The citizens of Pleven district see their future in a prosperous European region along the Danube river with an intensive agriculture and wide implementation of high technology in modern industrial enterprises. It is very important that Pleven district is close to international transport roads and this fact will contribute to the development of cross-border cooperation and will facilitate the integration process in the Balkans and in Europe.
The climate is temperate - continental with hot summers and cold winters but low snowfalls. Three big rivers flow through the region: Iskar, Vit and Osam, all of them flowing into the Danube. The district is poor in natural resources, only fire-clay, stone and gravel pits, oil and gas are to be found.

Area - 4 006 sq. km
Population - 237 567
Average temperature - 12°C

The beginning of the 21st Century set new requirements, broadened human perceptions and opened new horizons for the development of our country as a part of the progressive world. Bulgaria started to search and keep its deserved place among the rest of European countries.

Vratsa District is a region, which in addition to the existing natural resources has good perspectives in terms of economy, resources and industrial base. Vratsa District can offer to foreign investors a number of opportunities, such as well-trained workforce, developed infrastructure and competitive business environment.

Area - 3 618 sq. km
Population- 183 353
Average temperature - 10,9°C

Montana district is a natural center of the Northwest area. It is a point of intersection of main country and foreign country roads - the international road E-79 crosses the territory of the country. One of the main factors for the development of the district is the Danube water transport. The Port in the town of Lom is the second one in the country, it is the river port of the Northwest Bulgaria and is the fastest way between West Europe, Bulgaria and the White sea.
The abundance of natural recourses - West Stara Planina, the mineral springs, interesting natural landmarks, the cultural and historical heritage, good game countries, authentic style of living and the pure region are a substantial reason for development of the tourism in the district.
The priorities for development of Montana district are the infrastructure improvement, industry restructure, revival of agriculture, development of tourist industry, the bio - diversion and preservation and development of human recourses. The economical revival of the district is essential.

Area - 3 022 sq.km
Population - 136 212
Average temperature - 11,2°C

If you visit Vidin and the district once you are sure to come back later again. All previous years of economic depression turned the district into a region of undeveloped field and a challenge for investors that can use the available industrial business premises for their start. The district is included in the tours of visitors because of the remarkable sites, for example, the ancient fortress Baba Vida, the world famous Belogradchik Sand Rocks and the Magura cave. They are worth any world tourist catalogue for their uniqueness. You are welcome to Vidin and Vidin district to feel their natural beauty and to contribute to their economic growth and welfare.

The national flag of the Republic of Bulgaria is rectangular in shape and consists of three colors: white, green and red, placed horizontally from the top downwards. The coloured pieces are the same in shape and dimensions:
Shape: rectangular, the width-length ratio being 3:5.
When hoisted vertically, the flag’s maximum length can reach five widths.
Dimensions: 18 sm x 30 sm, 24 sm x 40 sm, 90 sm x 150 sm, 129 sm x 215 sm.
Colours: white – the degree of whiteness greater than 80%, green - Number 17-5936 of the Pantone-textile scale and red – number 18-1664 of the Pantone-textile scale.
the standards of the colours of the national flags are kept at the Standardization and Meteorology Committee.

(Extract from the State Seal and National Flag Law)

Note: The representation of the flag in close colours in the 16-colour code: white #ffffff; green -#00966E; red - #D62612.

The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into 278 municipalities and 28 regions. Municipalities are legal entities and have the right of ownership and independent municipal budgets. Mayors of the municipalities and municipal councils are elected through direct local elections at every 4 years, following the law regulations. The municipal council is the local government authority, which determines the development policy of the municipality. The municipal council consists of the directly elected municipal councilors. The executive power body in the municipality is the mayor of the municipality.
The regions are administrative-territorial units executing the regional policy of the central government. The regional government is performed by regional governors and regional administration staff on municipality budget expenses. The regional governor is a monocracy body of the executive power in the region, performing the state government in the region and providing compliance of national and local interests in executing the regional policy. The regional governor is appointed by the Council of Ministers.

From 1946 to 1990, Bulgaria had a Communist form of government with only one legal political party, the Bulgarian Communist Party. Early in 1990, however, the Bulgarian constitution was amended to allow a multi-party system, and in July 1991 a new constitution was approved.

A. Executive and Legislature

The government is led by the president of the republic, who is directly elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years. The legislature is a unicameral body called the National Assembly, which consists of 240 members elected by popular vote, by proportional representation, for four-year terms. The Assembly elects the Council of Ministers, which is the highest administrative body in the Bulgarian government. The prime minister is the chair of the Council of Ministers.

B. Judiciary

The constitution enacted in 1991 provides for an independent judiciary and for the establishment of a constitutional court, consisting of 12 members elected or appointed for a term of 9 years. The Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation sit in Sofia. The Supreme Judicial Council consists of 25 members: the chief prosecutor, heads of both supreme courts, 11 members elected by the judiciary, and 11 members elected by the National Assembly. Other tribunals in Bulgaria include provincial courts, regional courts, and military courts.

C. Political Parties

During 1990 and 1991, the period of Communist domination ended and Bulgaria became a multi-party state. More than 60 political parties contested the parliamentary elections of October 1991 and over 35 at the June 2001 elections.

Prior to 1990, the Communist Party exercised political power through its mass organization, the Fatherland Front. The Front was formed in 1943 as a coalition of Communists, Socialists, and other factions. Membership of the Front totalled about 4.4 million in the late 1980s; the Communist Party at that time had some 930,000 members. The Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union, a remnant of what had formerly been the largest political party in Bulgaria, was a subordinate part of the Fatherland Front until 1990, when its former political rights were restored.

At the 2001 general election the leading parties, with the number of seats gained in parentheses, were as follows: National Movement Simeon II (120); United Democratic Forces, a coalition of 5 parties (51); Coalition for Bulgaria, formed by 16 parties (48); and the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, a union of 3 parties (21).

D. Local Government

All regions, municipalities, and communes are administered by popularly elected people’s councils. Council members are elected to terms of two and a half years. The councils are responsible for all economic, cultural, and social problems within the area and supervise all government-owned enterprises.

E. Health and Welfare

In 2005 average life expectancy at birth was 68.4 years for men and 75.9 years for women. Matters of health and medicine in Bulgaria are under the overall control of the ministry of public health. Health services are provided free to all, although doctors are permitted part-time private practice. In the mid-1990s Bulgarians were served by more than 29,300 doctors and 5,400 dentists.

A programme providing pensions, recreational facilities, and welfare benefits was established in 1958. Funds are contributed by employers, and payments are provided for in the national budget. The state provides monthly allowances to parents with children under the age of 16. In 2005 the infant mortality rate was 21 deaths per 1,000 live births, and in 1999 there was 1 doctor for every 290 people. Expenditure on health care in 2001 amounted to 9.64 per cent of total government spending.

F. Defence

The Bulgarian armed forces in 2003 totalled approximately 51,000 service personnel, including up to 49,000 conscripts serving a nine-month term. The army had about 1,786 tanks and 25,000 troops in 2001. Air force personnel numbered 13,100 in that year. The navy had a force of 4,370 and maintained three major bases on the Black Sea. Paramilitary forces, including border guards and security police, numbered about 34,000. In 2003, Bulgaria spent US$471 million (2.4 per cent of GDP) on defence.

G. International Organizations

Bulgaria is a member of the following organizations: Council of Europe (CE); Central European Initiative (CEI); Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact (BSECP); Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the Partnership for Peace (PFP); the World Trade Organization (WTO); the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and the United Nations (UN).

Until 1947 Bulgaria was predominantly agricultural, with virtually no heavy industry. In Communist Bulgaria following World War II, all industrial enterprises were nationalized and operated under a series of five-year economic plans, modelled after the Soviet system, with financial aid from the USSR. Heavy industry was the government’s highest priority. Privatization and other market reform measures were begun after 1992. Since the mid-1950s new resorts have been developed along the Black Sea, partly by private individuals, in an attempt to attract foreign visitors. The pace of privatization has been erratic and characterized by delays, inefficiencies, and corruption, and plans have been announced to find buyers for large enterprises still under state control. The enterprises include pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers, the national air carrier, a tourist resort on the Black Sea, the monopoly-holding telecommunications company, and the largest oil-refinery in the region. A radical plan was also unveiled to liquidate the enterprises should they remain unsold after 15 months. In 2003, the country’s GNP was US$16,637 million, equivalent to US$2,130 per head (World Bank figures). In 2003 exports were valued at US$7,540 million although imports amounted to US$10,901 million.

A. Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing

Bulgarian Tobacco

Bulgarian Tobacco
Tobacco is one of the chief crops of Bulgaria. Harvested tobacco is hung in sheds to dry before it is sent to market. By the early 1990s, some 60,000 tonnes of tobacco were harvested each year.
Encarta Encyclopedia
Christo Popoff Studio

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Collectivization of agriculture in Bulgaria was begun in the early 1950s; in the late 1980s most farmland was under the control of the country’s collective and state farms. Private holdings were limited to a small size, but accounted for more than one quarter of total agricultural output. Land reforms in the early 1990s redistributed land that had been collectively farmed during the communist era and fallen into disuse during the period of transition. The policy of returning the land to its pre-collective owners in small areas averaging less than 2.5 hectares, with only a small number receiving proper titles to the land, precluded leasing to professional farmers and the establishment of a market in land. Further reforms are proposed to allow leasing of unlimited areas of land and the participation of foreigners in bidding for leases at auction. The chief crops are wheat, rye, corn, barley, oats, cotton, tobacco, grapes, tomatoes, sugar beet, potatoes, and cabbage. In 2004 some 3.30 million tonnes of wheat, 1,400,000 tonnes of corn, and 60,000 tonnes of tobacco were harvested. In 2003 the livestock population included some 19.1 million poultry, 2.07 million sheep, 1.03 million pigs, and 668,311 cattle.

The principal Bulgarian timber areas are in the vicinity of the Rila, Rhodope, and Balkan mountains. In the early 1990s about 3.5 million cu m (124 million cu ft) of timber were produced each year.

The fishing industry, which began to expand in the 1960s and 1970s, produced a catch of about 8,140 tonnes in 2001 (in 1980 it had been 126,412 tonnes). Canning and processing plants are located at Varna and Burgas, on the Black Sea coast.

B. Mining

Coal furnishes the bulk of Bulgaria’s mineral production. Total annual coal production was about 25.8 million tonnes in 2002. Oil was discovered in 1951; in 2002 about 365,250 barrels of crude oil were produced. Production of iron ore was about 120,000 tonnes in 2003. Copper, zinc, lead, and natural gas are also commercially exploited.

C. Manufacturing

In 1939 manufacturing and construction together represented about one quarter of total production; in the mid-1990s the two sectors accounted for more than 35 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), but by 2003 this figure had dropped back to 30.7 per cent. The metalworking and chemical industries, as well as the food processing, tobacco-processing, and machinery-manufacturing enterprises, are among the newer, more productive areas. Textiles are the oldest manufacture of Bulgaria and, except for cotton goods, largely use domestic raw materials. The manufacture of building materials, including cement, brick, and glass, is well developed. Leather goods and leather and rubber footwear are well-established manufactures but are not yet equal to demand. Metallurgical and metalwork industries are largely dependent on imports of raw materials. The ores mined domestically, however, are also domestically refined and fabricated into manufactures. Machine-building and engineering industries are being expanded, especially in the light electrical equipment sector. A famous Bulgarian product is attar of roses, which is used as a base for perfume.

D. Energy

In 2002 48.08 per cent of Bulgaria’s electricity was generated in thermal plants fired by coal, lignite, and petroleum products. The country’s first nuclear power station was opened at Kozloduy in 1974, and within ten years nuclear facilities accounted for almost one third of electricity output. In December 2002 this plant was decommissioned as part of the deal intended to pave the way for EU membership. In the mid-1990s Bulgaria had an installed electricity-generating capacity of about 10.7 million kW, and by 2002 annual electricity production was some 32.71 billion kWh.

E. Currency and Banking

The monetary unit of Bulgaria is the lev of 100 stotinki (1.5079 leva equalled US$1; early 2005). The lev was revalued in July 1999 so that 1,000 old leva equalled one new lev. The Bulgarian National Bank is the bank of issue and handles government funds and nationalized enterprises. All banks were nationalized in 1947 but after the reforms started in 1992, a private banking sector emerged. The crisis in the banking system in 1996 resulted in the collapse of 14 of the country’s 35 banks, including 5 owned by the state. By mid-1997 state ownership accounted for 73 per cent of the banks; foreign and private banks 11 per cent each; with the remaining 5 per cent in the process of bankruptcy or liquidation.

F. Commerce and Trade

Most Bulgarian foreign trade is with the republics of the former USSR and other Eastern European countries. Russian long-term plans are to build new transit oil pipelines carrying oil from central Asia through Bulgaria and Greece to the Aegean Sea. In the West, Italy and Germany are the main trade partners.

Exports in 2003 were valued at about US$7,540 million. The chief exports were machinery, food products, tobacco, non-ferrous metals, cast iron, leather products, and textiles. Yearly imports in the same period were valued at about US$10,901 million. The principal imports were oil, natural gas, machinery, transport equipment, steel, cellulose, and timber.

G. Labour

In 1990 sweeping changes occurred in the labour movement in Bulgaria. In February the Central Council of Trade Unions declared its independence from the Communist Party and changed its name to the Executive Committee of Independent Trade Unions. In March the National Assembly legalized strikes and the once-underground labour organization Podkrepa held its founding congress.

H. Transport

Bulgaria is largely dependent on railways for transport, with about 4,318 km (2,683 mi) of track in use as of 2002. The country is also served by about 37,077 km (23,039 mi) of roads. A major event in the development of transport in Bulgaria was the opening of the Ruse-Giurgiu road-and-rail bridge over the River Danube in 1954; it is the chief bridge of its type connecting Bulgaria and Romania. In the mid-1990s there was a ratio of 4.7 people per vehicle.

The River Danube is a major artery of commerce. Of the dozen Danube ports, Ruse, Svishtov, Lom, and Vidin have the greatest importance. Much of the Bulgarian freight and passenger traffic uses the Danube and the Black Sea. The port of Burgas on the Black Sea, one of the few profitable state-owned industries, is expected to become the main transit point to service the increased traffic resulting from the Caspian oil industry and the developing economies of central Asia, and there are plans to develop new quays and terminals over the next 18 years.

Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, the national airline, serves the major cities of the country, including Vrazhdebna International Airport at Sofia.

I. Communications

In the mid-1990s about 2.9 million telephones were in operation in Bulgaria, and some 5 million radios were in use in 1997. Television started on an experimental basis in 1954 and was officially inaugurated in 1959. By the mid-1990s more than 20 television stations were in operation, and it was estimated that in 2000 3.7 million television sets were in use.

Until recently, all Bulgarian periodicals were published either by the government or by government-approved organizations, and reflected government policy. In 1999 52 dailies were being published. The leading dailies early in 1992 were Workers’ Cause, formerly the official organ of the Communist Party, and Democracy, both published in Sofia.

About 85 per cent of the population is classified as ethnic Bulgarian and about 9 per cent is Turkish, a group that has suffered serious discrimination. Small groups of Armenians, Roma (Gypsies), Greeks, and Macedonian Slavs also inhabit the country. The population of Bulgaria became increasingly urbanized after 1945, and by 2003 about 70 per cent of the population was defined as urban.

A. Population Characteristics

Bulgaria has a population of 7,450,349 (2005 estimate). At the 1985 census the population was 8,950,000, and the subsequent decrease is partly attributed to the mass migration of Turks fleeing government persecution in the late 1980s. Population density is about 67 people per sq km (175 people per sq mi).

B. Political Divisions

Bulgaria is divided into 28 administrative regions, including the capital, Sofia.

C. Principal Cities

Sofia is the largest city, with a population of 1,194,164 (2002 estimate). Other major cities are Plovdiv, population 340,638 (2001), a centre for light industry; and Varna, 314,539 (2001), the principal seaport.

D. Religion

For more than 40 years under Communist rule the Bulgarian government discriminated against practising believers, and promoted atheism, to which an estimated 65 per cent of the population subscribed in the early 1980s. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, a branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, was attended by about 27 per cent of the population. The government reforms of the late 1980s loosened religious restrictions, and by the early 1990s more than 80 per cent of the population claimed affiliation to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Other religious groups include Muslims, Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews.

E. Language

The official language is Bulgarian, a first language for about 85 per cent of the population. Turkish is also spoken, by about 9 per cent of the population as a mother tongue. Other languages spoken as mother tongues include: Balkan Romani (187,900 speakers; an Indo-Iranian language); Gagauz (12,000; a Turkic language, see Altaic Languages); Crimean Turkish (6,000); Macedo Romanian (2,000 to 3,000); and Gheg Albanian (1,000).

F. Education

All schools in Bulgaria are free and state controlled and were modelled after those in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A major aim of the Bulgarian educational system is to supply technical and skilled workers to meet the demands of heavy, as opposed to service, industry. Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16. In the mid-1990s approximately 1,218,000 pupils attended elementary schools in Bulgaria, and about 213,300 students were enrolled in secondary, vocational, or teacher-training schools.

The country has over 30 institutions of higher learning, including the University of Sofia (1888) and various specialized professional institutes. Total yearly enrolment in 2001–2002 amounted to approximately 228,394 students. In 2001–2002 expenditure on education amounted to some 3.6 per cent of gross national product (GNP).

G. Culture

Popular Wedding Music of Bulgaria

Popular Wedding Music of Bulgaria
By far the most popular music heard in Bulgaria is wedding music. Although music is also played at baptisms, house-warmings, and send-off celebrations for soldiers, wedding music—performed primarily by Gypsies—is a distinct folk genre that has increased in popularity in the cities and villages due to the amplification of instruments. Most wedding bands are made up of clarinet, saxophone, accordion, guitar, bass, and drums. The music is a mix of Turkish and Bulgarian dance rhythms, largely uneven by Western standards, that are based on Turkish and Arabic melodies.
Encarta Encyclopedia
“Mladeshki Dance” (Ivo Papasov) Rykomusic, Inc. from Ivo Papasov and His Orchestra: Balkanology (Cat.# Hannibal HNCD 1363) (p)1991 Rykodisc, Inc. All rights reserved.

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In the Middle Ages (especially in the 10th and 11th centuries), Bulgaria was the centre of Slavic culture. Over the centuries Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures. Bulgarian literature is an important cultural force.

Large libraries in Sofia include the Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the library of the University of Sofia, and the Cyril and Methodius National Library. The Ivan Vazov National Library is located in Plovdiv. In addition, there are many smaller public libraries.

The country has more than 200 museums. In Sofia are botanical and zoological museums and gardens; the National Archaeological Museum, with a collection of ancient coins and finds from many early burial mounds; and the National Ethnographical Museum. Other museums in the country are devoted to history, science, and the revolutionary movement.

Traditional Singing of Bulgaria

Traditional Singing of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is divided into six folkloric regions and within each region there is a rich vocal tradition, especially among women. Though each area is distinguished by its own style and technique, in the last 50 years the government has made an effort to bring singers from these regions together to form folkloric choirs and ensembles. This example is by a trio ensemble which performs music from each region. Today, Bulgarian folk music is a rich homogenous blending of polyphonic singing and folkloric nuances that represents all of Bulgaria.
Encarta Encyclopedia
“More, Zazheni Se Gyuro (Gyuro is Getting Married)” (arr. Philip Koutev) from Trio Bulgarka:The Forest is Crying (Lament for Indje Voivode) (Cat.# Hannibal HNCD 1342) (p)1988 Hannibal Records Ltd. All rights reserved.

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The 13th-century frescoes of the Boyana Church near Sofia are outstanding examples of the painting of that period. Bulgarian handicrafts include rich folk embroideries and ornaments. Some of the best sculpture, woodcarving, etchings, and painting are based on traditional culture and native subjects. Outstanding Bulgarian artists include the etcher Peter Morozov, the painter Vladimir Dimitrov, and the sculptors Ivan Lazarov and Christo. The last-named, an avant-garde artist noted for his technique of wrapping objects and landscape features, now lives in the United States.

The chief architectural monuments of Bulgaria are medieval churches and monasteries. The oldest is the circular Church of St George in Sofia, originally a pagan temple. The Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century, is striking in its mountainous setting. An important monument of the 11th century is Bachkovo Monastery, south of Plovdiv. A major modern structure is the large, ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

Traditional Bulgarian music includes folk songs and choral plain chants in the Greek mode for church services. The chief native musical instruments are the gaida (bagpipe) and the kaval (a wooden flute traditionally used by shepherds). The characteristic folk dances are variations of the hora, a round chain dance, and the ruchenitsa, a lively dance for two couples. Modern Bulgarian orchestral and operatic compositions have occasionally gained recognition in other countries. Among leading composers are Petko Stainov and Pancho Vladigerov.

A. Rivers and Lakes

The principal river draining Bulgaria is the Danube, which has among its Bulgarian tributaries the Iskŭr (about 370 km/230 mi long) and the Yantra (about 290 km/180 mi long). Other important rivers are the Kamchiya (about 180 km/110 mi long), which empties into the Black Sea, and in the south-west, the Struma and Mesta, which flow south to the Aegean Sea.

B. Climate

Most of Bulgaria has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The climate in general is more severe than in other European areas of the same latitudes, and the average annual temperature range is greater than that of neighbouring countries. Severe droughts, frosts, wind, and hail frequently damage crops. A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the south-western Rhodope Mountains; the northern limit of the climatic zone is the Balkan Mountains.

The average annual temperature is about 12.8° C (55° F). The average rainfall is about 635 mm (25 in) per year, ranging from a low of around 200 mm (8 in) in the north-east, to a high of 1,905 mm (75 in) in the Rila Mountains. The wettest period is early summer in most of the country and autumn or winter in the southern valleys.

C. Natural Resources

The main resources of Bulgaria are agricultural. The country also has a wealth of metallic and non-metallic minerals, mainly iron ore and coal. Other mineral reserves are small, but some deposits, particularly those of manganese and oil, are valuable.

D. Plants and Animals

Approximately one third of Bulgaria is forested, and half this area supports tall trees suitable for timber. About 30 per cent of the timber trees are conifers. The Balkan Mountains and their foothills support forests of various trees. Conifers, beech, and oak are found in the timber zone of the Rhodope Mountains and their western extensions. Wild animals are confined to the mountainous south-western portion of the country, where bear, wolf, elk, fox, and wildcat are found.

E. Soils

Soil types vary considerably. Some tablelands have fertile black and grey soils, high in humus content and well suited for growing grain. The Thracian Plain contains brown, loamy soils that are fertile and adapted to diversified cultivation. Deforestation and inadequate soil-conservation practices have caused gradual deterioration of several fertile areas.

F. Environmental Concerns

Bulgaria’s industrial economy has had a negative impact on the environmental health of the country. Virtually all of the middle and lower reaches of the major rivers are polluted by industrial centres that discharge detergents, heavy metals, nitrates, oils, and raw sewage. Water treatment facilities for industrial and municipal wastes are inadequate or non-existent. Two of the largest industrial cities, Varna and Burgas, are located on the Black Sea coast, and the water pollution generated by these centres has threatened the area’s tourist industry. Uncontrolled mining operations and environmentally insensitive practices also contribute to soil contamination. Air pollution, from motor vehicles and industrial emissions, is severe, leading to acid rain and the defoliation of a large portion of Bulgaria’s forests. During the early 1990s the European Community (now the European Union (EU)) granted Bulgaria aid money for the improvement of environmental and nuclear safety.

The government has ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to air pollution, Antarctic environmental protocol, Antarctic treaty, biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, environmental modification, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, and wetlands.