|RNational holiday:|N National Liberation Day, March 3.
|RNature and climate:|N In the northern part a plateauland crossed and irrigated by several of the Danubes tributary rivers. The Danube form the northern border against Romania.
In south several mountainchains with peaks up to 2 925 m.a.s.l., the highest of the Balkan Peninsula.
Average temperature in January -3°C and in July + 20°C. Percipitation variable from 400 mm at the Black Sea coast to 1000 mm in the interior.
|RPeople:|N Bulgarian Slavs 85%, Turks 8,5% and minorities of Jews, Gypsies, Armenians and Romanians.
|REconomy:|N Before World War II agriculture dominated, but since the war manufacturing has been strongly developed. In 1947 all industry was nationalized.
Agriculture occupies 20% of the population. Most important crops are wheat, maize, sugar beets and oats, as well as tobacco, tomatoes, sunflowers, cotton, fruits and grapes. Also extensive plantations of roses, which give roseoil for the perfumeindustry.
Rich resources of iron, coal, lead, zink, copper and manganese, but not enough to support the industry. Extensive manufacturing of electric engines, electronic components, steel, cars, agricultural machinery, radio and TV-sets, rubber and other synthetic products. During the last decades manufacturing of consumerproducts have increased.
|RHistory:|N During the first centuries AD the original Thrak-Illyrian tribes were forced away by Slavs. In the 9th and 10th centuries the first Bulgarian nation reached a time of prosperity under the kings Boris and Simeon.
1015 Bulgaria was conquered by the East Roman Empire, but was soon independent again.
1237 conquered by the Mongolians and 1393 by Ottomans, who kept power to the end of the 19th century.
Several uprisings during the 19th century, and finally the "Third Bulgarian Nation" was proclaimed. This newfounded monarchy was under Ottoman sovereignty. In 1908 Bulgaria claimed independency.
In World War II Bulgaria pursued a pro-german policy and declared war against Great Britain and the USA. At the final stage of the war Bulgaria was occupied by the Sovjetunion.
After the war the communists gained a dominating power, thanks to Sovjet support and extensive purge of the opposition. After a referendum in 1946 Bulgaria was declared a peoples republic and the 9 year old king Simeon was forced in exile.
After World War II Bulgaria has been closely tied to the Sovjetunion, but since 1981 the economic exchange with the western industry nations have increased.
In 1989 the communist leader and head of state was imprisoned under charges for corruption and abuse of power and in January 1990 the parliament revoked the constitutionally guaranteed dominant role of the communist party.
