Farmland and forest frame Bulgaria’s capital

Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, sits in a broad valley where dense neighbourhoods, farmland, and forested foothills create a diverse mosaic of habitats which help sustain urban biodiversity. Parks, river corridors, and forested slopes to the south form important ecological links for birds and pollinators, while also helping to reduce heat and manage surface runoff after heavy rain.

This image, acquired on 27 April 2026 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows Sofia in the centre, surrounded by agricultural land in shades of beige and green. The forested mountain slopes south of the city appear in dark green and brown, while reservoirs and lakes stand out in deep blue.

Copernicus Sentinel data support urban planners, researchers, and environmental authorities in monitoring land cover change, vegetation conditions, and surface water dynamics over time. These observations help improve understanding of urban expansion, seasonal changes in vegetation and surface water, and the relationship between cities and their surrounding landscapes.