Bulgaria can be divided into four main climate and vegetation zones. Each zone has its own height above sea level, type of soil, and characteristic trees.
The Warm Zone
The Warm Zone includes lowlands and areas up to about 400 metres above sea level. In the past, this region was covered by large forests, but today most of the land has been cleared and is used for farming and cultivation.
The soil in this zone is moist and rich, which supports a wide variety of plants. The main tree species found here is the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). It often grows alone or together with other trees such as elm (Ulmus), field maple (Acer campestre), ash (Fraxinus), hornbeam (Carpinus), and lime (Tilia). Another species, Turkey oak (Quercus cerris), grows well in dry and poor soils Customized Guided Turkey Tours.
The Moderate Zone
The Moderate Zone lies just above the Warm Zone and runs almost parallel to it. The typical tree of this region is the sessile oak (Quercus petraea). The forests here are dense, and the trees are tall and well-formed. In the higher parts of this zone, beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) also appear, marking the transition to the next zone.
The Cold or Beech Zone
The Cold Zone starts where beech forests begin and continues up to about 1,300 metres above sea level. It is the largest and most forested of all the zones, but also the least economically valuable. Because it is located in hilly and remote areas, it is difficult to transport timber from here.
Beautiful pure beech forests can be found in this zone, as well as mixed woods containing ash and plane trees. On the southern slopes of the Rila Mountains and the Rhodopes, many fir trees (Abies species) grow. Higher up, Norway spruce (Picea abies) becomes common and dominates the upper parts of this zone.
The Alpine or High-Mountain Zone
The fourth and highest zone extends from about 1,300 to 2,000 metres above sea level. It begins with mixed forests of beech and spruce, but as the altitude increases, the spruce (Picea abies) becomes the main tree species. These areas often have dense and dark forests.
Lower down, pine trees (Pinus species) are scattered among the spruce. Higher still, around 1,800 metres, the mountain pine (Pinus mugo) appears, forming beautiful groups or growing as single, strong trees. Above this height, the vegetation becomes very sparse. Finally, near the mountain tops, there are only bare rocks with almost no trees at all.
In summary, Bulgaria’s vegetation changes gradually with altitude—from rich, cultivated plains in the Warm Zone to bare mountain peaks in the Alpine Zone. Each zone supports its own set of trees and plants, shaped by the climate, soil, and elevation.