Bulgaria

Country on the South-East of Europe, is located on the Balkan peninsula (from 1946 to 1990 was named the National Republic
Bulgaria). In the North it borders with Romania, in the South — with Turkey and Greece, in the West — with Serbia and former
Yugoslavian Republic Macedonia. In the East is washed by waters of the Black sea. The area of Bulgaria is 110912 sq.km. More
than half of the territory of the country is mountainous or hilly: The Balkan mountains cross Bulgaria from the North-West to
the Black sea and form a watershed between the river Danube and the Egeysk sea. There are the Rodopsk mountains on the
South,where the border with Greece passes. In the South-West of Bulgaria there are mountains Rila, where the highest point of
the country — mountain Musala (2925 m) is located. Closer to the East there are some valleys, including Trakiyskaya. The
main river of Bulgaria is Danube, there are Iskyr and Yantra its inflows. Other important rivers are Maritsa, Struma,
Kamchiya.

Slavs settled on the territory of modern Bulgaria in the VI century, and in the VII century the Turksk tribe of bulgar
arrived here, who assimilated with Slavs and by the IX century have accepted christianity. From Х to XII century Bulgaria was
a powerful empire, however in 1396 it got under the power of the Ottoman empire and stayed in its structure about 500 years.
After the revolt in 1876 Bulgaria became an independent Kingdom. On the 8th of September 1946 the monarchy has been cancelled,
and in a week Bulgaria has been proclaimed the Republic. The country is the member of UNO (from 1955), and also about 300
other international and regional organizations and establishments. Bulgaria is a member of Council of Europe, IMF and MBRR,
and in October 1996 was accepted in WTO.

Climate is continental with cold winter and hot summer On the main part of Bulgaria. Temperature during a year is about 13
С. Approximately the third part of the country is covered by forests, 30% of forests — coniferous. Most representatives of
fauna live in the mountain south-west area of the country. It is, basically, bear, wolf, elk, fox and wild cat.

In the country it is totaled more than 200 museums. The main of them are in Sofia: the Botanical museum in National Botanical
garden; the Zoological Museum in the Zoo; the National Archeologic Museum; the National Ethnographic Museum; the National
Museum of Natural History; The Museum of History of Sofia; the National Art Gallery. Among the monuments of architecture of
the capital: St. George Cathedral (IV century); the rests of St. Sofia Cathedral (VI century); Alexander Nevskiy’s Cathedral
(XIX century),was erected in honour of 200 thousand Russian soldiers who had fallen in struggle for release of Bulgaria from
Turkish sovereignty; Buyuk Dzhamiya’s Mosque (XV century). Near to Sofia there is Bojana’s Church with unique frescos ХIII
century. In Pernik city (also near to Sofia) ruins of the Byzantian fortress were kept. In Plovdiv: a monastery of XI century Bachkovo; a Catholic cathedral.

The head of the state — the president
The supreme executive and administrative authority — Ministerial Council
Monetary unit — leva