Geography
RIVERS

Bulgarian rivers are quite short, with small catchment basins, which are not very deep. Rivers flow to the two sea basins - the Black Sea Basin and the Aegean Basin. About 2200 dam lakes are built for the adjustment of the river run-off. Danube River å is the largest Bulgarian River. It outlines the north border of Bulgaria and is the common border between Bulgaria and Romania for 470 km.

  • The Danube provides great opportunities for the development of water tourism. It is the biggest international waterway, which connects Bulgaria with the countries from West and East Europe. The river has great economic, cultural and historical significance for Bulgaria. Along the Bulgarian bank of the Danube river are situated the big cities Vidin, Ruse and Silistra.

  • Iskar is the longest river running entirely on the territory of Bulgaria. It is 368-km long and takes its source from the Rila Mountain. Iskar River is the only river, which crosses the Balkan Mountains and flows into the Danube River. It forms two defiles - Pancharevsko defile and Iskarsko defile, characterized with interesting rock formations, which accommodate many monasteries.

  • Maritsa is the deepest river in Bulgaria, It rises from the Marichini ezera in Rila Mountain and runs southeastwards through the Thracian lowland. In its lower stream Maritsa River outlines the border between Turkey and Greece and flows into the Aegean Sea. Besides Plovdiv (the second largest city in Bulgaria) few other cities like Stara Zagora, Svilengrad and Belovo are also situated along the way of Maritsa river.

  • Tundzha who takes its source from the Balkan mountain, goes to the east, then to the south, crosses Bulgaria and finally enters Greece where it runs into Maritsa.

  • In Rodope mountains, the river Arda, which springs near the town of Smolyan also makes several extremly beautiful curves on its way.

  • Struma is situated in Southwest Bulgaria. It rises from Vitosha Mountain and runs southwards through the territory of Bulgaria for 290 km, then through North Greece and flows into the Struma Bay of the Aegean Sea.

  • Mesta is a river in the Southwestern part of Bulgaria. It is formed by the confluence of the two rivers - Cherna Mesta (Black Mesta) and Byala Mesta (White Mesta) both taking their source from Rila mountain. Mesta goes to the south and enters Greece where it runs into White sea.