Geographical position,
borders, and size of the Balkan
Peninsula and the Republic of
Bulgaria
1st lecture of the course “Topography of the Balkan Peninsula”
1. Geographical positions, borders, and size of the Balkan Peninsula
The Balkan Peninsula is a part of Southern Europe, situated in close proximity to the
continent of Asia. It is separated from Asia by the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the
Aegean Sea, and the straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The following
European countries are located within its territory:
-Bulgaria -Greece -Macedonia -Albania -Bosnia and Herzegovina -Montenegro -Kosovo
Furthermore, the predominant parts of Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia are situated on the
peninsula. Small portions of its territory include Romania (Northern Dobruja) in the
northeast, Turkey (East Thrace) in the southeast, and Italy in the far western reaches.
To the north, the Balkan Peninsula is broadly connected to Central Europe. Its northern
border begins at the Gulf of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea and continues along the Isonzo
and Soca rivers to the Julian Alps. From there, following the valleys of the Sora and Sava
rivers and the course of the Sava and Danube rivers, it reaches the Black Sea.
The eastern border is formed by the inland seas - the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and
the Aegean Sea - and the straits connecting them: the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
To the west, it borders the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, as well as the Strait of Otranto.
The Balkan Peninsula is widest in the north and narrows significantly to the south. It
ranks third in surface area among the major European peninsulas.
1
borders, and size of the Balkan
Peninsula and the Republic of
Bulgaria
1st lecture of the course “Topography of the Balkan Peninsula”
1. Geographical positions, borders, and size of the Balkan Peninsula
The Balkan Peninsula is a part of Southern Europe, situated in close proximity to the
continent of Asia. It is separated from Asia by the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the
Aegean Sea, and the straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The following
European countries are located within its territory:
-Bulgaria -Greece -Macedonia -Albania -Bosnia and Herzegovina -Montenegro -Kosovo
Furthermore, the predominant parts of Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia are situated on the
peninsula. Small portions of its territory include Romania (Northern Dobruja) in the
northeast, Turkey (East Thrace) in the southeast, and Italy in the far western reaches.
To the north, the Balkan Peninsula is broadly connected to Central Europe. Its northern
border begins at the Gulf of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea and continues along the Isonzo
and Soca rivers to the Julian Alps. From there, following the valleys of the Sora and Sava
rivers and the course of the Sava and Danube rivers, it reaches the Black Sea.
The eastern border is formed by the inland seas - the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and
the Aegean Sea - and the straits connecting them: the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
To the west, it borders the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, as well as the Strait of Otranto.
The Balkan Peninsula is widest in the north and narrows significantly to the south. It
ranks third in surface area among the major European peninsulas.
1
