Vratsa Province in the context of Vratsa

The Iskar (Bulgarian: Искър, pronounced [ˈiskɐr]; Latin: Oescus) is a right tributary of the Danube. With a length of 368 km, it is the longest river that runs entirely within Bulgaria. Originating as three forks in Balkan's highest mountain range Rila, the Iskar flows in a northern direction until its confluence with the Danube. As it flows northwards it fuels the largest artificial lake in the country, the Iskar Reservoir, forms the divide between the Vitosha and Plana Mountains in the west and the Sredna Gora mountain range in the east before entering the Sofia Valley, which contains the nation's capital Sofia. From there the Iskar runs through the Balkan Mountains, forming the spectacular 84 km long Iskar Gorge. As it crosses the mountains, its water course turns in a north-eastern direction at Lakatnik. North of the Balkan Mountains, the river crosses the Danubian Plain and finally flows into the Danube between the villages of Baykal and Gigen. Geologically, Iskar is the oldest river in the Balkan Peninsula.

Its watershed drains 8,617 km in the provinces of Sofia, Sofia City, Vratsa, Lovech and Pleven. The Iskar flows through nine towns and numerous villages. The Iskar river basin is home to more than 50 species of fish, including Cottus haemusi that is endemic to the upper Iskar and Vit drainages.

42°40′N 23°40′E / 42.667°N 23.667°E / 42.667; 23.667

Sofia Province (Bulgarian: Софийска област, romanized: Sofiyska oblast) is a province (oblast) of Bulgaria. The province does not include Sofia in its territories, but Sofia remains the seat of its administration. The province borders on the provinces of Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Lovech, Vratsa, Montana, and "Sofia City Province" (which is in a separate oblast, see Sofia Administration), and borders with Serbia to the northwest.

Mezdra (Bulgarian: Мездра [ˈmɛzdrɐ]) is a town in northwestern Bulgaria, part of Vratsa Province. It is located on the left bank of the Iskar River, just north of its gorge through the Balkan Mountains.

43°25′N 24°40′E / 43.417°N 24.667°E / 43.417; 24.667

Pleven Province (Bulgarian: Област Плевен or Плевенска Област) is a province located in central northern Bulgaria, bordering the Danube river, Romania and the Bulgarian provinces of Vratsa, Veliko Tarnovo and Lovech. It is divided into 11 subdivisions, called municipalities, that embrace a territory of 4,653.32 km (1,796.66 sq mi) with a population, as of February 2011, of 269 752 inhabitants. The province's capital is the city of Pleven.

Vrachanska Skaklya (Bulgarian: Врачанска Скакля) or Skaklya is a plunge waterfall in the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park of Vratsa Province in northwestern Bulgaria. With a height of 141 or 148 m, it is claimed to be the highest intermittently flowing waterfall in Bulgaria and the Balkans. The waterfall lies 1.5 km south of Vratsa, behind the Kaleto hill, and can be observed from the town centre.

The Vrachanska Skaklya waterfall is protected as part of the Vrachanski Karst Reserve within the nature park. Several marked tourist trails lead to the waterfall, with lengths ranging from 1.5 to 5 km.

Svoge Municipality (Bulgarian: Община Своге, romanized: Obština Svoge) is located in western Bulgaria and is a part of Sofia Province. It covers a territory of 868,6 km and has a population of around 21,000 people, more than 1/3 of which lives in the town of Svoge itself. The municipality also includes 37 villages. The municipality is one of the largest by area in the country. It neighbours Montana Province, Vratsa Province & Sofia (City of) province.

Mizia (Bulgarian: Мизия, pronounced [ˈmizijɐ]) is a town and municipality in Vratsa Province, northwestern Bulgaria near the Danube river. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 3,354.

The town's original name was Bukyovtsi (Букьовци); an urban-type settlement, it was merged with Glozhene in 1970 to create the town of Mizia (meaning "Moesia"), but the two were separated again in 1978. However, Bukyovtsi retained the new name and its town status, while Glozhene kept its old name and village status.

Oryahovo (Bulgarian: Оряхово pronounced [oˈrʲaxovo]) is a port city in northwestern Bulgaria, part of Vratsa Province. It is located in a hilly area on the right bank of the Danube, just east of the mouth of the river Ogosta, a few more kilometres downstream from where the Jiu flows into the Danube on Romanian territory. The town is known for the ferry service that connects it to the Romanian town of Bechet across the river. There are also plans by local private companies for a bridge across the Danube.