 Geographically
and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity with
the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila,
Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast;
from the typically continental Danubian Plain (ancient Moesia) in
the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in the
valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts
of Thrace.
Phytogeographically, Bulgaria straddles the Illyrian and Euxinian
provinces of the Circumboreal region within the Boreal kingdom.
According to the WWF and to the European Environment Agency's
Digital Map of European Ecological Regions, the territory of
Bulgaria subdivides into two main ecoregions: the Balkan mixed
forests and Rhodope montane mixed forests. Small parts of four other
ecoregions also occur on Bulgarian territory.
In the northern-hemisphere winter, Samokov, Borovets,
Bansko and Pamporovo become well-attended ski-resorts. Summer
resorts exist on the Black Sea at Sozopol, Nessebur, Golden Sands,
Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Albena, Saints Constantine and Helena and
many others. Spa resorts such as Bankya, Hisarya, Sandanski,
Velingrad, Varshets and many others attract visitors throughout the
year. Bulgaria has started to become an attractive tourist
destination because of the quality of the resorts and prices below
those found in Western Europe.
Bulgaria has enjoyed a substantial growth in income from
international tourism over the past decade. Beach-resorts attract
tourists from Germany, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom. The ski-resorts have become a favourite
destination for British and Irish tourists. |
