Geography & environment — Bulgaria
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Bulgaria: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
43 00 N, 25 00 E
- Total Area
42,810 Square Miles 110,879 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
41,888 Square Miles 108,489 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
923 Square Miles 2,390 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,123 Miles 1,808 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km
- Coastline
220 Miles 354 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Mostly mountains with lowlands in the north and southeast
- Highest Point
2,925 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Musala 2,925 m
- Lowest Point Location
Black Sea 0 m
- Natural Resources
Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
- Irrigated Land
404 Square Miles 1,046 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
The climate is usually designated as "continental, with many micro-climates." From May to November, the climate is pleasantly warm and sunny. Sofia is on the same latitude as Rome, but is 1,500 feet higher in elevation and has a climate similar to the Intermountain West of the United States. Plants, flowers, and fruits common to Britain and France grow well here, but the climate is too cold for citrus. November through April are snowy and cold, with temperatures ranging between -5°F to 50°F in Sofia. Summer temperatures may reach 105°F on occasion but tend to hover around 70°-75°F, and humidity is moderate to low. During July, the mean temperature is 68.7°F (20.4°C); during January, 30.6°F (8°C). Mildew and insects are not significant factors. Sofia's main climatic problem is winter smog, which is caused by industrial air pollution, soft-coal smoke, vehicle exhaust emissions, fog, and surrounding mountains that keep winds from blowing the smog away. Gray-brown dirt or coal dust and sand are scattered on Sofia's snow-covered streets in winter. Winters may often be gray but are quite beautiful in the nearby mountains. Mount Vitosha (altitude 2,290 m.), with its ski resorts and runs and walking paths, overlooks the city. Trees and flowers make Sofia a more colorful city the rest of the year. Rainfall is moderate, averaging 25 inches a year.
- Terrain
Mostly mountains with lowlands in the north and southeast
- Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
- Total Area
42,810 Square Miles 110,879 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Air pollution from industrial emissions
rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, and detergents
deforestation
forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain
soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
- Environment - International Agreements
Party To: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements