Geography of Bulgaria

One of the four vessels used in the construction of the South Stream pipeline's underwater section has arrived at the port of the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Burgas.

The huge pipe-laying ship is expected to be in constant motion while carrying out building activities, Bulgarian national private channel NOVA TV has reported.

Tourists can spend their holidays at Bulgarian southern Black Sea coast at prices up to 50% lower, due to the traditional September discounts.

September is the month preferred for vacation mostly by Bulgarians and Western European pensioners, Bulgarian National Radio notes.

The Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and power distributor CEZ have signed a memorandum of cooperation on searching technical and economic solutions to extend the life of the Varna Thermal Power Plant.

A working group has been formed for the purpose and it is to function by October 31.

Five coal mining companies in Bulgaria are directly affected by the decision of the Ministry of Environment and Water to stop one of the units of the Bobov Dol Thermal Power Plant, according to trade unionists.

Workers at the Bobov Dol Coal Mine (Vagledobiv Bobov Dol EOOD) staged a one-hour protest and threatened to take further steps to defend their interests.

Bulgaria's caretaker government has approved the issuance of a metallic mineral prospecting permit at the Borimechkovo terrain.

The permit will be granted to Asarel-Exploration EAD, the investment arm of leading copper ore mining and processing company Asarel-Medet, for a period of three years, according to reports of money.bg.

Bulgarian poet, playwright, script writer and translator Valeri Petrov is in a serious condition in the intensive care unit of the Military Hospital in Sofia, report the media. 

Petrov, 94, suffered a massive stroke in Varna last week and was transported to Sofia over the weekend.

According to medics, quoted by the media, Petorv is in a coma and on mechanical ventilation.

The 30-th anniversary edition of the Apollonia Art Festival will take place in Bulgaria's seaside town of Sozopol between August 28 and September 6.

The festival has established itself as a gathering point of artists, musicians, writers, poets, actors and architects and has become one of the major points in the summer art programme in Bulgaria. 

Out of a total of 5009 villages in Bulgaria, 564 have a population of 0-9 people, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

According to NSI data by December 31, 2013, there were a total of 395 settlements with a population of up to 9 people, while 169 settlements had zero permanent residents and 60 settlements had one permanent resident.

Police have detected cannabis weighing over 3600kg in two operations in fields near the village of Dragush, Petrich District, and the village of Laki, Gotse Delchev District.

Bulgaria launches Saturday celebrations for the 137th anniversary of the heroic Shipka Pass Battle during the 1877-1878 Liberation War.