Bulgaria is a Balkan country in south-eastern Europe.
It shares a border with Serbia & Montenegro to the north-west, Romania to the north, Turkey to the south-east, Greece to the south and Macedonia to the south-west. It also has a glorious coastline along the Black Sea to the east of the country.
This wonderful country has an area of 42,855 square miles (110,994 square kilometres).
Should you wish to moor your boat upon its golden shores, the coordinates are 42.7500° N, 25.5000°
Bulgaria’s population was 7.3 million in 2013.
Bulgaria’s capital city is called Sophia; it covers an area of 521 square miles (1,349 square kilometres) and has a population of 1.2 million (2011).
Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe, having been founded 7000 years ago!
‘Mastika’ is a popular drink here; it’s 47% proof and made with tree resin! Barmy!
The terrain here is mostly mountainous, with lowlands bordering Romania in the north, and also to the south-east.
Bulgaria enjoys a temperate climate with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. We all know about the wet wintery bit!
Much like Scotland, the bagpipe is the national instrument of Bulgaria. They are called ‘Gaida’ and are typically made from goat or sheep hide.
Did you know, Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, is half Bulgarian? We certainly didn’t!
Bulgaria is one of the few countries where nodding your head means no and shaking it means yes!
The average life expectancy here is a lengthy 72 years.
Despite being part of the European Union, the currency of Bulgaria is the Lev.
Bulgarian rose oil is world famous and used in many expensive perfumes!
Attention historians! The oldest known gold treasure was discovered at a burial site in Bulgaria in 1972. Around 3000 gold artefacts were discovered in nearly 300 graves, believed to date back to an incredible 4560 – 4450 BC.
They grow vegetables, fruit and tobacco, rear livestock and produce that famous rose oil here.
The country’s industry consists of electricity, gas, food, beverages and tobacco.
Bulgaria exports rose oil (as you now know), iron, steel, clothing, footwear, machinery and equipment.
