This is the region where Bulgaria has a common border with Greece to the south. The border crosses the Rhodope Mountains. The biggest part of the mountain is on the territory of Bulgaria and a small part is on the territory of Greece. The size of the Rhodope Mountains on the territory of Bulgaria is 14 737 m² with an average altitude of 785 m. The mountain is divided into two parts - Western and Eastern Rhodope. The Western Rhodope is higher while the Eastern is hilly and comparatively low. The highest peak in Rhodope Mountains is mount Golyam Perelik (2191 m).

Provisionally South Central Region can be divided into two parts - Western Upper-Thracian-Rhodopean region and Eastern Upper-Thracian-Rhodopean Region.

To the north the western part of the South Central Region reaches the ridges of the Middle Sara Planina Mountains. This is the highest part of the Stara Planina Mountains with steep and treeless southern slopes. Then follows the Karlovo Field, which is part of the Rear Balkan Valley reaching to the Sredna Gora Mountains. To the south of which is the Pazardzhik-Plovdiv Field. The Western Rhodopes lie in the most southern part of the region.

The climate of the region is mainly transitional-continental and mountainous in the highest parts.

The water resources are the greatest and of highest quality in the country. The biggest is the influence of The Maritza River with its Rhodopean tributaries of Chepinska, Vacha, Chaya and the Sredna Gora tributaries Topolnitza, Luda Yana, Stryama and Pyasachnik. The region is rich in thermal waters mainly in the Western Rhodopes and the Rear Balkan Valley. The greatest part of them are used for bottling and spa treatment - Hissar, Velingrad, Devin, Narachen and Mihalkovo.

The forest resources are the richest and of highest quality in the whole country. The biggest part of the forest fund belongs to the coniferous trees - 56,6 % from the total area. The deciduous forests are small in percentage.

Due to the mountainous relief considerable part of the region are uncultivated lands - 71,2 %. About 2/3 from the uncultivated lands are covered by forests, 13 % are pastures and meadows. The arable land is 28,8 % and it is mainly in the Pazardzhik and Plovdiv sub-regions. The soil is very diverse. The Upper-Thracian Valley is covered by resinous earth, various meadow and maroon forest soils, while the western Rhodopean part is covered by light brown soil.

The relief in the eastern part of the South Central Region is very diverse. The most northern part is covered by Middle Stara Planina Mountains. It is covered at places by forests and mountainous pastures. To the south of it is the Kazanlak Filed which is part of the Rear Balkan Valley. The field reaches the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountains. The ridges of this mountain are rather low and further lowering to the east, reaching an altitude of less than 300 m. A small part of the territory to the south of the Sarnena Gora is occupied by the Chirpan Elevations. The soil cover and their southern layout make them a favourable location for the vine growing. The central part of the region is covered by the eastern part of the Upper-Thracian Valley with vast riverside low lands.

The flat relief and the fertile lands of the eastern Upper-Thracian Valley have a positive influence on the development of agriculture. A vast territory of the eastern part is occupied by the Eastern Rhodopes to the south and the western slopes of the Stara Planina Mountains.

In comparison with the Western part of the Couth Central Region here can be strongly felt the Mediterranean climatic influence. It is expressed by the higher average annual temperatures and the changing precipitation minimums and maximums. Combined with other natural conditions the climate has important influence on the agricultural products grown in the region. Most typical for the Kazanlak Field are the essential oil cultures such as lavender, mint and oil-bearing rose; for the Thracian Valley these are the vegetables and fruits, while for the Eastern Rhodopes and Sakar Mountains - the production of different types of tobacco.

The bigger rivers in the region are Tundzha, Maritza and Arda. On the territory of the region have been studied and are exploited several thermal springs - Starozagorski Mineralni Bani, Pavel Banya, Haskovski Mineralni Bani and Meri-chleri.

The uncultivated lands in the region are about 65 % of which 38% are covered by forests and 27 % by pastures and meadows. The cultivated lands in the region account for 35 %.

Most widely represented are the maroon forest and alluvial soil types. The resinous soils are the second most represented type. The main agricultural products for the region are the vegetables and the fruits.

The following administrative centers fall into the South Central Region of Bulgaria - Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, Haskovo and Kardzhali.