Editing Bulgaria (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Bulgaria}}
[[File:Bulgaria-geographic map-en.svg|thumb|Topography of Bulgaria|right|alt=Topographic map of Bulgaria]]
[[File:Кадър към Рила.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Rila]], the highest mountain range in the Balkans and Southeast Europe]]

Bulgaria is a middle-sized country situated in Southeast Europe, in the east of the Balkans. Its territory covers an area of {{convert|110994|km2|0}}, while land borders with its five neighbouring countries run a total length of {{convert|1808|km|0}}, and its coastline is {{convert|354|km|0}} long.{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}} Bulgaria's geographic coordinates are [[43rd parallel north|43° N]] [[25th meridian east|25° E]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook">{{Cite CIA World Factbook |country=Bulgaria |access-date=4 December 2011}}</ref> The most notable [[topographical]] features of the country are the [[Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)|Danubian Plain]], the [[Balkan Mountains]], the [[Upper Thracian Plain]], and the [[Rila]]-[[Rhodope Mountains|Rhodope]] [[massif]].{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}} The southern edge of the Danubian Plain slopes upward into the foothills of the Balkans, while the [[Danube]] defines the border with Romania. The [[Thracia]]n Plain is roughly triangular, beginning southeast of [[Sofia]] and broadening as it reaches the [[Bulgarian Black Sea Coast|Black Sea coast]].{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}}

The Balkan mountains run laterally through the middle of the country from west to east. The mountainous southwest has two distinct [[Glacial landform|alpine type]] ranges—[[Rila]] and [[Pirin]], which border the lower but more extensive [[Rhodope Mountains]] to the east, and various medium altitude mountains to west, northwest and south, like [[Vitosha]], [[Osogovo]] and [[Belasitsa]].{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}} [[Musala]], at {{convert|2925|m|ft|0}}, is the highest point in both Bulgaria and the Balkans. The Black Sea coast is the country's lowest point.<ref name="CIA World Factbook" /> Plains occupy about one third of the territory, while plateaux and hills occupy 41%.{{Sfn|Topography}} Most rivers are short and with low water levels. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the [[Iskar (river)|Iskar]], has a length of {{convert|368|km|0}}. The [[Struma River|Struma]] and the [[Maritsa]] are two major rivers in the south.{{Sfn|NSI Brochure|2018|pages=2–3}}{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}}

=== Climate ===
[[File:Bulgaria Köppen.svg|alt=Köppen climate types of Bulgaria|left|thumb|upright=1.3|Köppen climate types of Bulgaria]]
Bulgaria has a varied and changeable climate, which results from being positioned at the meeting point of the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]], [[Oceanic climate|Oceanic]] and [[Continental climate|Continental]] air masses combined with the barrier effect of its mountains.{{Sfn|Library of Congress|2006|page=4}} Northern Bulgaria averages {{convert|1|C-change|1}} cooler, and registers {{convert|200|mm|1}} more precipitation, than the regions south of the Balkan mountains. Temperature amplitudes vary significantly in different areas. The lowest recorded temperature is {{cvt|-38.3|°C|°F|1}}, while the highest is {{cvt|45.2|°C|°F|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/bulnc2.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/bulnc2.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Bulgaria Second National Communication |publisher=[[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]] |access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] averages about {{convert|630|mm|in|1}} per year, and varies from {{convert|500|mm|1}} in [[Dobrudja]] to more than {{convert|2500|mm|1}} in the mountains. Continental air masses bring significant amounts of snowfall during winter.{{Sfn|Climate}}

Considering its relatively small area, Bulgaria has variable and complex climate. The country occupies the southernmost part of the [[continental climate|continental climatic zone]], with small areas in the south falling within the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean climatic zone]].<ref>{{harvnb|Donchev|Karakashev|2004|p=52}}</ref> The continental zone is predominant, because continental air masses flow easily into the unobstructed [[Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)|Danubian Plain]]. The continental influence, stronger during the winter, produces abundant snowfall; the Mediterranean influence increases during the second half of summer and produces hot and dry weather. Bulgaria is subdivided into five climatic zones: continental zone (Danubian Plain, Pre-Balkan and the higher valleys of the Transitional geomorphological region); transitional zone (Upper Thracian Plain, most of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the lower Sub-Balkan valleys); continental-Mediterranean zone (the southernmost areas of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the eastern Rhodope Mountains, Sakar and Strandzha); Black Sea zone along the coastline with an average length of 30–40&nbsp;km inland; and alpine zone in the mountains above 1000&nbsp;m altitude (central Balkan Mountains, Rila, Pirin, Vitosha, western Rhodope Mountains, etc.).<ref>{{harvnb|Donchev|Karakashev|2004|pp=59–61}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity and conservation ===
[[File:Lynx_lynx_poing.jpg|alt=a lynx|left|thumb|300x300px|The [[Eurasian lynx]] has a growing population in Bulgaria.]]
The interaction of climatic, hydrological, geological and topographical conditions has produced a relatively wide variety of plant and animal species.<ref name="biodiversity">{{cite web |url=http://www.flora.biodiversity.bg/bg_flora_fr.htm |title=Характеристика на флората и растителността на България |publisher=Bulgarian-Swiss Program For Biodiversity |access-date=21 March 2013 |archive-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427002409/http://www.flora.biodiversity.bg/bg_flora_fr.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Bulgaria's [[biodiversity]], one of the richest in Europe,<ref name="diversity of flora and fauna">{{cite web |url=http://unesco-bg.org/file_store/2._bogatstvobr_25.1.10.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://unesco-bg.org/file_store/2._bogatstvobr_25.1.10.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |script-title=bg:Видово разнообразие на България |trans-title=Species biodiversity in Bulgaria |publisher=UNESCO report |language=bg |date=2013 |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> [[List of protected areas of Bulgaria|is conserved]] in three national parks, 11 nature parks, 10 [[biosphere reserve]]s and 565 protected areas.{{Sfn|NSI Brochure|2018|page=29}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gorabg-magazine.info/bg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&showall=1 |title=Бъдещето на природните паркове в България и техните администрации |trans-title=The future of Bulgaria's natural parks and their administrations |publisher=Gora Magazine |first=Toma |last=Belev |date=June 2010 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=2 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102101145/http://www.gorabg-magazine.info/bg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&showall=1 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/ |title=Europe & North America: 297 biosphere reserves in 36 countries |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=4 April 2016 |archive-date=5 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805094626/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america |url-status=live }}</ref> Ninety-three of the 233 [[mammal]] species of Europe are found in Bulgaria, along with 49% of [[butterfly]] and 30% of [[vascular plant]] species.<ref name="IUCN">{{cite web |url=https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/bulgaria_s_biodiversity_at_risk_fact_sheet_may_2013.pdf |title=Bulgaria's biodiversity at risk |publisher=[[IUCN Red List]] |date=2013 |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504023321/https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/bulgaria_s_biodiversity_at_risk_fact_sheet_may_2013.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Overall, 41,493 plant and animal species are present.<ref name="IUCN" /> Larger mammals with sizable populations include [[deer]] (106,323 individuals), [[wild boar]] (88,948), [[golden jackal]] (47,293) and [[red fox]] (32,326). [[Partridge]]s number some 328,000 individuals, making them the most widespread [[Game (hunting)|gamebird]].{{Sfn|NSI Brochure|2018|page=3}} A third of all nesting birds in Bulgaria can be found in [[Rila National Park]], which also hosts Arctic and alpine species at high altitudes.<ref name="EB Bio">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulgaria#ref42692 |title=Bulgaria: Plant and animal life |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |first=John D. |last=Bell |access-date=28 July 2018 |archive-date=28 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828192550/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulgaria#ref42692 |url-status=live }}</ref> Flora includes more than 3,800 vascular plant species of which 170 are [[Endemism|endemic]] and 150 are considered endangered.<ref name="biodiversity" /> A checklist of larger [[fungi]] in Bulgaria by the Institute of Botany identifies more than 1,500 species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/denchev-v111-checklist.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/denchev-v111-checklist.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Checklist of the larger basidiomycetes ın Bulgaria |publisher=Institute of Botany, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences |first=Cvetomir |last=Denchev |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> In Bulgaria [[forest cover]] is around 36% of the total land area, equivalent to 3,893,000 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 3,327,000 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 3,116,000 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 777,000 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 18% was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 18% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 88% of the forest area was reported to be under [[State ownership|public ownership]] and 12% [[Private property|private ownership]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Bulgaria |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/BGR/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.un.org/en/iso/bg.html |title=Bulgaria – Environmental Summary, UNData, United Nations |publisher=United Nations |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222045515/http://data.un.org/en/iso/bg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Belogradchishki skali panorama.jpg|upright=2|thumb|alt=Belogradchik Rocks|[[Belogradchik Rocks]] are among Bulgaria's numerous protected areas.]]In 1998, the Bulgarian government adopted the National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy, a comprehensive programme seeking the preservation of local ecosystems, protection of endangered species and conservation of genetic resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enrin.grida.no/biodiv/biodiv/national/bulgaria/index.htm |title=Biodiversity in Bulgaria |publisher=GRID-Arendal |access-date=21 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430050257/http://enrin.grida.no/biodiv/biodiv/national/bulgaria/index.htm |archive-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Bulgaria has some of the largest [[Natura 2000]] areas in Europe covering 33.8% of its territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/bg/soertopic_view?topic=biodiversity |title=Report on European Environment Agency about the Nature protection and biodiversity in Europe |publisher=European Environment Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322001515/http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/bg/soertopic_view?topic=biodiversity |archive-date=22 March 2014 |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> It also achieved its [[Kyoto Protocol]] objective of reducing [[carbon dioxide emissions]] by 30% from 1990 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=106682 |title=Bulgaria Achieves Kyoto Protocol Targets – IWR Report |publisher=[[Novinite]] |date=11 August 2009 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716082406/http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=106682 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Bulgaria ranks 37th in the 2024 [[Environmental Performance Index]], but scores low on air quality.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-country-report/BGR |title=Bulgaria |publisher=[[Environmental Performance Index]]/[[Yale University]] |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422215154/https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-country-report/BGR |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Particulates|Particulate]] levels are the highest in Europe,<ref>{{cite news |first=Danny |last=Hakim |title=Bulgaria's Air Is Dirtiest in Europe, Study Finds, Followed by Poland |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/business/international/bulgarias-air-is-dirtiest-in-europe-study-finds-followed-by-poland.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/business/international/bulgarias-air-is-dirtiest-in-europe-study-finds-followed-by-poland.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |url-access=limited |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> especially in urban areas affected by automobile traffic and coal-based power stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=89367 |title=High Air Pollution to Close Downtown Sofia |publisher=[[Novinite]] |date=14 January 2008 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=11 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111130614/http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=89367 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=117439 |title=Bulgaria's Sofia, Plovdiv Suffer Worst Air Pollution in Europe |publisher=[[Novinite]] |date=23 June 2010 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511094347/http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=117439 |url-status=live }}</ref> One of these, the [[lignite]]-fired [[Maritsa Iztok Complex|Maritsa Iztok-2]] station, is causing the highest damage to health and the environment in the European Union.<ref name=EEA>{{cite web |url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/industrial-facilities-causing-the-highest-damage#tab-daviz-tabular |title=Industrial facilities causing the highest damage costs to health and the environment |date=24 November 2014 |publisher=European Environment Agency |access-date=25 November 2014 |archive-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212152824/https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/industrial-facilities-causing-the-highest-damage#tab-daviz-tabular |url-status=live }}</ref> Pesticide use in agriculture and antiquated industrial sewage systems produce extensive soil and water pollution.<ref name="ESI">{{cite web |url=http://www.esiweb.org/index.php?lang=en&id=379 |title=Bulgaria's quest to meet the environmental acquis |publisher=European Stability Initiative |date=10 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717121204/http://www.esiweb.org/index.php?lang=en&id=379 |url-status=live }}</ref> Water quality began to improve in 1998 and has maintained a trend of moderate improvement. Over 75% of surface rivers meet European standards for good quality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/bg/soertopic_view?topic=freshwater |title=Report on European Environment Agency about the quality of freshwaters in Europe |publisher=European Environment Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416022753/http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/bg/soertopic_view?topic=freshwater |archive-date=16 April 2014 |access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref>