Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, IPA: [bɤlgˈariɤ]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Република България, IPA: [rɛpˈubliˌkɤ bɤlgˈariɤ]), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north, mostly along the Danube.
Bulgaria's civilized history dates back more than six millennia to a prehistoric time and place within the heart of its territory that marks the birth of Europe's and possibly the world's first literary culture. Though relatively small in terms of territory and population, Bulgaria's continuous historical wealth throughout prominent cyclical eras of growth, decline and medieval renaissance rivals that of the much larger and more populous countries of China, India and Egypt.
Part of the Eastern Bloc after World War II, today Bulgaria is a democratic, unitary, constitutional republic, a member of the European Union and NATO. The capital is Sofia, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe.
The province has a territory of 6,449.5 km² and a population of 341,245. It is the third largest in Bulgaria after Burgas and Sofia Provinces and comprises 5.8% of the country's territory. Blagoevgrad Province includes the mountains, or parts of, Rila (highest point of the Balkans — Musala summit, 2925 m), Pirin (highest point — Vihren summit, 2914 m), the Rhodopes, Slavyanka, Belasitsa, Vlahina, Maleshevska, Ograzhden and Stargach. There are two major rivers — Struma River and Mesta River — with population concentrations along their valleys, which are also the main transport corridors.
Shkorpilovtsi is a resort town on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Black Sea Coast beaches occupy approximately 130 km of the 378 km coast. The region is an important centre for tourism during the summer, drawing foreign and Bulgarian tourists alike.
Bulgaria • Education • Religion • Sport • Healthcare
Society • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns
Geography • Subdivisions • Environment • Buildings and structures • Visitor attractions • Rivers • Extreme points
Economy • Companies • Communication • Science and technology • Tourism • Transport
Culture • Arts • Cuisine • Languages • Literature • Media • Music
History • Thracians • Slavs • Bulgars • Old Great Bulgaria • First Bulgarian Empire • Second Bulgarian Empire • History of Ottoman Bulgaria • National awakening • History of Independent Bulgaria • Balkan Wars • During World War I • During World War II • History of the People's Republic of Bulgaria • History since 1989
Geography • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns • Villages • Rivers • Extreme points