site.btaAstronomical Summer Begins at 5.42 A.M.

On June 21 at 5.42 a.m. local time, the astronomical summer officially began in Bulgaria, coinciding with the summer solstice, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology said on Saturday.

In Sofia, the sun rose at 5.49 a.m. and will set at 9.08 p.m., marking a day length of 15 hours and 19 minutes - the longest day of the year.

During the summer season, the highest average daily temperatures across most of Bulgaria are typically recorded in July. Along the Black Sea coast and in mountainous regions, however, the hottest period tends to be in August.

Summer is one of the four temperate climate seasons, alongside autumn, winter, and spring. The season begins with the summer solstice (around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 22 in the Southern Hemisphere) and ends with the autumnal equinox (around September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and March 22 in the Southern Hemisphere).