The city of Bourgas is situated on the coast of the Black Sea in Bourgas Bay in a flat area known as the Bourgas plate, it is considered the gateway to the southern part of the Black Sea coast. It was established in Roman times but emerged in the late 19-th century as an industrial and trade center, and valuable seaport. Due to the low level of the coast there are three lagoon lakes: Atanasovo lake, Bourgas lake and Mandra lake. The climate is suitable for recreation with mild winters and long sunny summers.
Atanasovo lake is to the north. It is a home for many marsh and sea birds from Gibraltar and the Bosphorous.
Bourgas lake is near the town. Pelicans, ibis, and herons nest there.
Mandra lake is 10 km south of Bourgas and is also an important ornithological reserve.
To the north and south of Bourgas there are salt lakes, which are protected areas because of the fact that they are part of the Via
Pontica route of migrating birds.
In the most southern part of the Region of Bourgas is the Strandja Mountain which is the biggest natural park in Bulgaria. It has an extremely rich natural collection of flora and fauna with over 50% of the flora of the country represented here. The park is a kind of ethnographic reserve and on its territory you can find the village of Bulgari, in which the traditional ritual of fire dancing is preserved.
Bourgas has the biggest port in the country with the only petrol terminal south of the Balkan Mountain. The airport has the best atmospheric conditions on the Balkan peninsular and is the only airport to accept ultrasonic airplanes.
According to the economic indicators the Municipality of Bourgas is second highest among the Bulgarian Municipalities. More than 15,000 companies are registered there, and unemployment is the lowest in the whole of the country at just 4.3%. Bourgas is an important industrial, commercial, transport and tourist center. Nowadays the city has great economic potential.
