Map of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country in Europe with its capital at Sofia, home to about 6.43 million people across 110,994 km². The interactive map below plots 18 cities and towns, 3 rivers, 3 mountain summits and 1 ports recorded for Bulgaria in YearMaps.
- Population
- 6.43 million
- Area
- 110,994 km²
- Capital
- Sofia
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Bulgaria
Centred on Sofia at 42.6853° N, 23.3147° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, and Romania across the Danube river to the north. It covers a territory of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi), making it the tenth largest within the European Union and the sixteenth-largest country in Europe by area. Sofia is the nation's capital and largest city; other major cities include Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas.
One of the earliest societies in the lands of modern-day Bulgaria was the Karanovo culture (6,500 BC). In the 6th to 3rd century BC, the region was a battleground for ancient Thracians, Persians, Celts, and Macedonians; stability came when the Roman Empire conquered the region in AD 45. After the Roman state splintered, tribal invasions in the region resumed. Around the 6th century, these territories were settled by the early Slavs. The Bulgars, led by Asparuh, attacked from the lands of Old Great Bulgaria and then permanently invaded the Balkans in the late 7th century. They established the First Bulgarian Empire, recognised by treaty in 681 AD by the Byzantine Empire. It dominated most of the Balkans and significantly influenced Slavic cultures by developing the Cyrillic script. The First Bulgarian Empire lasted until the early 11th century, when Byzantine emperor Basil II conquered and dismantled it. A successful Bulgarian revolt in 1185 established a Second Bulgarian Empire, which reached its apex under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241). After numerous exhausting wars and feudal strife, the empire disintegrated and in 1396 fell under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries.
The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 resulted in the formation of the third and current Bulgarian state, which declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Many ethnic Bulgarians were left outside the new nation's borders, which stoked irredentist sentiments that led to several conflicts with its neighbours and alliances with Germany in both world wars. In 1946, Bulgaria came under the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc and became a socialist state. The ruling Communist Party gave up its monopoly on power after the revolutions of 1989 and allowed multiparty elections. Bulgaria then transitioned into a democracy.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Bulgaria (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Bulgaria
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century, the Ottoman Turks overran the country. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878, and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.
- Location
- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey.
- Climate
- Temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers.
- Terrain
- Mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast.
- Highest point
- Musala 2,925 m.
- Lowest point
- Black Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 354 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,806 km; border countries: Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km.
- Major rivers
- Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.); arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.); forest: 36.2% (2023 est.); other: 17.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Earthquakes; landslides.
- Geographic note
- Strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia.
- Languages
- Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)
- Religions
- Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)
- Economy
- Upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Bulgaria in Numbers
- Population
- 6.43 million
- GDP
- US$130.8 billion
- GDP per person
- US$20,328
- Life expectancy
- 75.8 years
- Population growth
- -0.13% a year
- Population density
- 59 per km²
- Urban population
- 74.2%
- Surface area
- 111,000 km²
- Forest cover
- 36.4%
- Arable land
- 32.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 82.4%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Bulgaria in Depth
History
Neanderthal remains dating to around 150,000 years ago, or the Middle Paleolithic, are some of the earliest traces of human activity in the lands of modern Bulgaria. Remains of Homo sapiens dated c. 47,000 years BP found in the Bacho Kiro cave indicate the earliest arrival of modern humans in Europe. The Karanovo culture arose c. 6,500 BC and was one of several Neolithic societies in the region that thrived on agriculture. The invention of goldworking is credited to the Varna culture, which produced the oldest golden jewellery in the world with an approximate age of over 6,000 years. This treasure has contributed to the understanding of social hierarchy and stratification in Europe's earliest societies.
Geography
Bulgaria is a middle-sized country situated in Southeast 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. Bulgaria's geographic coordinates are 43° N 25° E. The most notable topographical features of the country are the Danubian Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Upper Thracian Plain, and the Rila-Rhodope massif. 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.
Economy
Bulgaria has an advanced, high-income economy where the private sector accounts for more than 70% of GDP. From a largely agricultural country with a predominantly rural population in 1948, by the 1980s Bulgaria had transformed into an industrial economy, with scientific and technological research at the top of its budgetary expenditure priorities. The loss of COMECON markets in 1990 and the subsequent "shock therapy" of the planned system caused a steep decline in industrial and agricultural production, ultimately followed by an economic collapse in 1997. The economy largely recovered during a period of rapid growth several years later, but the average salary of 2,072 leva ($1,142) per month remains the lowest in the EU.
Demographics
According to the government's official 2022 estimate, the population of Bulgaria consists of 6,447,710 people, down from 6,519,789 according to the last official census in 2021. The majority of the population, 72.5%, reside in urban areas. As of 2019, Sofia is the most populated urban centre with 1,241,675 people, followed by Plovdiv (346,893), Varna (336,505), Burgas (202,434) and Ruse (142,902). Bulgarians are the main ethnic group and constitute 84.6% of the population.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Bulgaria (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Bulgaria: Key Facts
| Official language | Bulgarian |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Iliana Iotova |
| Head of government | Rumen Radev |
| Form of government | parliamentary republic |
| Calling code | +359 |
| Internet domain | .bg |
| Highest point | Musala |
| Lowest point | Black Sea |
| Established | 13 July 1878 |
Facts from Wikidata Q219 (CC0).
History of Bulgaria: Empires and States
The atlas records 21 polities whose mapped territory included part of Bulgaria, from Achaemenid Empire in 480 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Achaemenid Empire | 480–451 BCE | A small part |
| Achaemenid Persian Empire | 480–451 BCE | A small part |
| Odrysian Kingdom | 450–338 BCE | Most |
| The Macedonian Empire of Alexander | 337–324 BCE | Most |
| Kingdom of Lysimachus | 323–282 BCE | Most |
| Thracian Kingdom | 87 BCE – 50 CE | Most |
| The Roman Empire | 27 BCE – 476 CE | Most |
| Eastern Roman Empire | 395–632 CE | Most |
| The Byzantine Empire | 395–1343 CE | Most |
| Hunnic Empire | 443–450 CE | A large part |
| Avar Khaganate | 617–626 CE | A small part |
| First Bulgarian Empire | 682–1014 CE | Most |
| Kievan Rus' | 970–979 CE | A large part |
| Second Bulgarian Empire | 1188–1394 CE | Most |
| Latin Empire | 1210–1226 CE | A small part |
| Nicaean Empire | 1250–1278 CE | A small part |
| Despotate of Vidin | 1363–1401 CE | A small part |
| The Ottoman Empire | 1375–1884 CE | Most |
| Principality of Bulgaria | 1880–1944 CE | Most |
| People's Republic of Bulgaria | 1948–1990 CE | Most |
| Republic of Bulgaria | 1991–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Bulgaria
Bulgaria on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Bulgaria
Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България), officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria (Република България), is a country in the Balkan region of Europe, west of the Black Sea and south of the Danube river.
Bulgaria boasts sublime beaches on its seaside, lovely churches and winter sports opportunities in its mountains, as well as a unique combination of architectural styles in each of its cities and towns. It is one of Europe's oldest nations and it offers a wide diversity of landscapes, as well as numerous historical sites, each possessing its own unique beauty.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Bulgaria (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Bulgaria
18 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | 1.19 million | Grad Sofiya | National capital |
| 2 | Plovdiv | 340,494 | Plovdiv | Populated place |
| 3 | Varna | 312,770 | Varna | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Burgas | 195,966 | Burgas | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Ruse | 184,270 | Ruse | Populated place |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 143,431 | Stara Zagora | Populated place |
| 7 | Pleven | 118,675 | Pleven | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Sliven | 96,368 | Sliven | Populated place |
| 9 | Dobrich | 94,831 | Dobrich | Populated place |
| 10 | Shumen | 87,283 | Shumen | Populated place |
| 11 | Pernik | 82,467 | Pernik | Populated place |
| 12 | Khaskovo | 79,699 | Haskovo | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Vratsa | 71,633 | Vratsa | Populated place |
| 14 | Turnovo | 53,115 | Veliko Tarnovo | Populated place |
| 15 | Kyustendil | 51,067 | Kyustendil | Populated place |
| 16 | Montana | 47,445 | Montana | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Lovec | 42,211 | Lovech | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Razgrad | 38,285 | Razgrad | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Bulgaria
3 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Musala | 2,925 m | 9,596 ft | Europe |
| 2 | Botev | 2,376 m | 7,795 ft | Europe |
| 3 | Midzor | 2,168 m | 7,113 ft | Europe |
Musala
Mountain · 2,925 m
Musala is a mountain rising to 2,925 metres (9,596 ft) in Bulgaria, in the Europe region.
Musala (Bulgarian: Мусала [mosɐˈɫa]; from Arabic through Ottoman Turkish: from Musalla, "near God" or "place for prayer") is the highest peak in the Rila Mountains, as well as in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula, standing at 2,925.42 metres (9,597.8 ft).
With a topographic prominence of 2,473 metres (8,114 ft), Musala is also the 6th highest peak by topographic prominence in mainland Europe. It is also the 3rd most topographically isolated major peak in Continental Europe.
Musala is situated within the Rila National Park, which is noted for its rich flora, including species such as Macedonian Pine and Bulgarian Fir in the forests on its middle slopes, and fauna; it is one of the easiest places in Europe to see the wallcreeper. All major mountain ranges of Bulgaria can be seen from the top; these include Vitosha to the northwest, Sredna Gora towards the northeast, the Balkan Mountains along most of the northern horizon behind Vitosha and Sredna Gora, the Rhodope Mountains to the southeast, Pirin to the south, Osogovo and Ruy Mountain to the west, and of course, the rest of Rila.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Musala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,925 m (9,596 ft)
- Global rank
- #256 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#16)
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Coordinates
- 42.1798°, 23.5868°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Musala ranks #256 by elevation, below Pulog (2,934 m) and above Mount Olympus (2,917 m).
- Ranges:
- Balkan Mountains (Europe), Transylvanian Alps (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Midzor (2,168 m), Mount Olympus (2,917 m), Korab (2,764 m)
- Settlements below:
- Sofia (60 km), Pernik (67 km), Kyustendil (75 km)
More about Musala
Climate
Musala has an alpine climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Usually, through winter, the temperatures do not exceed the freezing point for months. Snow cover lasts for about 8–9 months. Through the summer, temperatures rarely go above 14-15C. The summer season only lasts for 2 months, and snowfalls are possible. For the period 1931–2013, the highest recorded temperature was 20.0 °C (68.0 °F), and the lowest - −31.2 °C (−24.2 °F). The average annual temperature is −2.5 °C (27.5 °F), which makes the peak the coldest place in Bulgaria.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Musala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Musala: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,473 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Rila |
Facts from Wikidata Q209341 (CC0).
Midzor
Mountain · 2,168 m
Midzor is a mountain rising to 2,168 metres (7,113 ft) in Bulgaria and Serbia, in the Europe region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Midžor (Serbian Cyrillic: Миџор, pronounced [mîdʒɔr]) or Midzhur (Bulgarian: Миджур, pronounced [miˈd͡ʒur]) is a peak in the Balkan Mountains, situated on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. At 2,169 metres (7,116 ft), it is the highest peak of the Western Balkan Mountains, as well as the highest in Serbia.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Midžor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,168 m (7,113 ft)
- Global rank
- #388 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#38)
- Countries
- Bulgaria, Serbia
- Coordinates
- 43.3901°, 22.6800°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Midzor ranks #388 by elevation, below Huanggang Shan (2,170 m) and above Monte Viglio (2,156 m).
- Ranges:
- Balkan Mountains (Europe), Transylvanian Alps (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Musala (2,925 m)
More about Midzor
Midzor: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,478 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Balkan Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q962856 (CC0).
Rivers in Bulgaria
3 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Bulgaria
1 port recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varna | 38.4 m | Major | Black Sea & Sea of Azov | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria
10 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boyana Church | 1979 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
| 2 | Madara Rider | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iii) |
| 3 | Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo | 1979 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
| 4 | Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) |
| 5 | Ancient City of Nessebar | 1983 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 6 | Pirin National Park | 1983 | Natural | (vii) (viii) (ix) |
| 7 | Rila Monastery | 1983 | Cultural | (vi) |
| 8 | Srebarna Nature Reserve | 1983 | Natural | (x) |
| 9 | Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari | 1985 | Cultural | (i) (iii) |
| 10 | Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe | 2007 | Natural | (ix) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Bulgaria
3 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | Pontic Steppe | 102,190 km² | Plain | Europe |
| 3 | Balkan Mountains | 36,812 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
Pontic Steppe
Plain · 102,190 km²
Pontic Steppe is a plain in Europe, covering an estimated 102,190 km². It extends across Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Moldova.
The Pontic–Caspian steppe extends across Eastern Europe to Central Asia, formed by the Caspian and Pontic steppes. It stretches from the northern shores of the Black Sea (the Pontus Euxinus of antiquity) to the northern area around the Caspian Sea, where it ends at the Ural-Caspian narrowing, which joins it with the Kazakh Steppe in Central Asia, making it a part of the larger Eurasian Steppe. Geopolitically, the Pontic–Caspian Steppe extends from northeastern Bulgaria and southeastern Romania through Moldova, southern and eastern Ukraine, through the North Caucasus of southern Russia, and into the Lower Volga region where it straddles the border of southern Russia and western Kazakhstan. Biogeographically, it is a part of the Palearctic realm, and of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.
The area corresponds to Cimmeria, Scythia, and Sarmatia of classical antiquity. Across several millennia, numerous tribes of nomadic horsemen used the steppe; many of them went on to conquer lands in the settled regions of Central and Eastern Europe, West Asia, and South Asia.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Pontic–Caspian steppe (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Plain
- Mapped extent
- 102,190 km²
- Size rank
- #63 of 231 landforms
- Region
- Europe
- Countries
- Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Moldova
- Coordinates
- 53.2330°, 46.3431°
- Ranges:
- Balkan Mountains (Europe), Transylvanian Alps (Europe)
More about Pontic Steppe
Geography and ecology
The steppe covers an area of 994,000 km2 (384,000 sq mi) of Central and Eastern Europe, that extends from northeastern Bulgaria and southeastern Romania, through Moldova, and southern and eastern Ukraine, through the Northern Caucasus of southern Russia, and into the Lower Volga region of western Kazakhstan, to the east of the Ural Mountains. It is bounded by the East European forest steppe to the north, a transitional zone of mixed grasslands and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. To the south, the steppe extends to the Black Sea, except the Crimean and western Caucasus mountains' border with the sea, where the Crimean Submediterranean forest complex defines the southern edge of the steppes.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Pontic–Caspian steppe (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Pontic Steppe: Key Facts
| Area | 994,000 km² |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q599529 (CC0).
Balkan Mountains
Range/mtn · 36,812 km²
Balkan Mountains is a range/mtn in Europe, covering an estimated 36,812 km². It extends across Bulgaria and Serbia.
The Balkan mountain range is located in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. It is conventionally taken to begin at the peak of Vrashka Chuka on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. It then runs for about 560 kilometres (350 mi), first in a south-easterly direction along the border, then eastward across Bulgaria, forming a natural barrier between the northern and southern halves of the country, before finally reaching the Black Sea at Cape Emine. The mountains reach their highest point with Botev Peak at 2,376 metres (7,795 ft).
In much of the central and eastern sections, the summit forms the watershed between the drainage basins of the Black Sea and the Aegean. A prominent gap in the mountains is formed by the predominantly narrow Iskar Gorge, a few miles north of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The karst relief determines the large number of caves, including Magura, featuring the most important and extended European post-Palaeolithic cave painting, Ledenika, Saeva dupka, Bacho Kiro, etc. The most notable rock formation are the Belogradchik Rocks in the west.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Balkan Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 36,812 km²
- Size rank
- #95 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Europe
- Countries
- Bulgaria, Serbia
- Coordinates
- 42.9891°, 26.0413°
- Adjacent ranges:
- Transylvanian Alps (Europe), Carpathian Mountains (Europe)
More about Balkan Mountains
Geography
The Balkan Mountains are, technically, a chain of fold mountains—mountains formed by the compression and breaking of layers of rock. On a geological time scale, they are a rather young and recently formed part of the Alp-Himalayan chain which stretches across most of Eurasia. The Balkan Mountains can be divided into two parts—the main Balkan Chain and the Pre-Balkans (Fore-Balkan) to the north, which extend slightly onto the Danubian Plain. To the south, the mountains border the Sub-Balkan valleys, a row of 11 valleys running from the Bulgarian-Serbian border east to the Black Sea, separating the Balkan Mountains from a chain of other ranges known as Srednogorie (which includes Vitosha and Sredna Gora).
Protected areas and ecology
Significant areas of the Balkan mountains are under protection by Bulgarian law, including one national park — Central Balkan National Park; three nature parks — Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, Bulgarka Nature Park and Sinite Kamani Nature Park, over 20 nature reserves, as well as numerous natural landmarks.
Central Balkan National Park is among the largest and most valuable of the protected areas in Europe. Since 2017, its ancient beech forests have been included in the Primeval Beech Forests UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the third largest protected territory in Bulgaria, spanning an area of 716.69 km2 with total length of 85 km from the west to the east and an average width of 10 km.
History
The Balkan Mountains have had a significant and special place in the history of Bulgaria since its founding in 681. It was a natural fortress of the Bulgarian Empire for centuries and formed an effective barrier to Moesia where most of the medieval capitals were located. The Balkan mountains were the site of numerous battles between the Bulgarian and Byzantine Empires including the Battle of the Rishki Pass (759), Battle of the Varbitsa Pass (811), the Battle of Tryavna (1190) and the Battle of Devina (1279). In the battle of the Varbitsa Pass, Khan Krum decisively defeated an enormous Byzantine army, killing Emperor Nikephoros I. For many centuries, the Byzantines feared these mountains, their armies reportedly retreating upon approaching them.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Balkan Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Balkan Mountains: Key Facts
| Length | 530 km |
|---|---|
| Area | 11,596 km² |
| Highest point | Botev Peak |
| Part of | Balcanides |
Facts from Wikidata Q170427 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Bulgaria
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Bulgaria: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Bulgaria?
- The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
- What is the population of Bulgaria?
- Bulgaria has a population of about 6.43 million, the #112 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Bulgaria?
- Bulgaria covers 110,994 km², ranking #106 by area, with about 58 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Bulgaria in?
- Bulgaria is in Europe.
- Which countries border Bulgaria?
- Bulgaria shares a land or maritime border with Greece, Turkey, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia.
- What is the largest city in Bulgaria?
- Sofia is the largest city in Bulgaria, with a metropolitan population of about 1.19 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Bulgaria?
- The highest summit recorded for Bulgaria in YearMaps is Musala at 2,925 m (9,596 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.