A HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF BULGARIA

Bulgaria was established as an independent nation-state in 1878, having rebelled against the Ottoman Empire, under whose domain it had been for 500 years.

After World War II the monarchy was replaced by a republic, which was ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party. During its rule (1945–1989) the Bulgarian society adopted an urban and industrial character. The main changes during this period were: collectivization of the agricultural household; nationalization of industry and the land; reduction of private property; and changes in the ratio between industrial and agrarian development favoring industry and exclusive emphasis on the development of the productive sectors. In 1989 the social system changed. The Communist Party gave up its monopoly of power and the new established government was a coalition of several parties. After that, Bulgaria turned toward the realization of social and political reforms as well as the transformation into a market economy.

The present-day population of Bulgaria is approximately 8,300,000 inhabitants. Sofia is the capital, with 1,100,000 inhabitants. Bulgaria has 238 towns and 4,445 villages. Bulgaria became a member of the European Free Trade Association in 1999 and is currently a pre-integration member of the European Union; it is also a member of NATO and the United Nations.

ECOLOGICAL FEATURES

Bulgaria is situated in southeastern Europe, in the center of the Balkan peninsula. Its total area is 111,000 km2, 30 percent of which is mountainous, and the remainder consists of plains, valleys, and hills.