The Balkan mountain range, Stara Planina (Old Mountains) is one of the most beautiful mountain systems in Europe. Let's take a closer look at its main characteristics and distinctive features.
Getting to know the Old Mountains
Stara Planina (Serbian and Bulgarian toponym) is the second name for the Balkan Mountains or the Balkans, as they were called earlier. Today the latter name is assigned to the Balkan Peninsula itself. In ancient Greek mountains are called Αἶμος , in Latin - Haemus. They are considered the largest mountain system of the Bulgarian state, the western extensions of which can be found in the territory of today's Serbia.
The mountain range divides modern Bulgaria into North and South, crossing this country from west to east. Previously, the Balkan Mountains separated northern Moesia from southern Macedonia and Thrace. This mountain system is a natural continuation neighbor of the Southern Carpathian ranges, which are crossed by the Iron Gate (narrowing mouth) of the Danube River on the border of Romania and Serbia.
Where the Balkan Mountains are located is immediately clear from the name of the mountain system - it is the one that gives the name to the entire peninsula on which it is located. Detailed coordinates: 43.2482 north latitude, 25.0069 east longitude. Total length - 555 km. The height of the Balkan Mountains does not exceed 2376 m - this maximum is limited to the Botev mountain peak.
Characteristics of the Stara Planina mountain system
Stara Planina, formed during the Cenozoic era, has a number of distinctive characteristics:
- Geological indicators: The Balkan Mountains are peaks parallel to each other with seemingly smoothed ridges. Their composition is as follows: Precambrian and Paleozoic granites and crystalline schists, as well as Mesozoic conglomerates, flysch, sandstones, karst and limestones.
- Description of the relief: the northern half is represented by gentle slopes, turning into foothills closer to the Lower Danube Plain. The southern ridges, on the contrary, are steeper and steeper.
- Climatic characteristics: the mountains serve as a kind of climatic dividing wall between the northern and southern regions of Bulgaria. Their ridges collect up to 800-1000 mm of precipitation annually; For several months of the year, the peaks lie under snow caps.
- Hydrography: in the Balkan Mountains you can find the sources of such rivers as Ogosta, Vit, Lom, Osam, Timok - from here their channels head north, to the Danube. In the east, the Stara Planina is crossed by the valley of the Kamchia River, and in the west by the Iskar River.
- Flora: the tops of the mountains are meadows. The northern slopes, characterized by high humidity, are coniferous (pine forests) or beech, oak, hornbeam forests, rising to 1700-1800 m. The eastern regions of the Balkan Mountains are covered with a dense blanket of deciduous forests, characterized by evergreen undergrowth and a network of vines.
- Mining: brown and hard coal; iron, copper, lead-zinc ores.
History and modernity
The Bulgarian-Serbian name for the Stara Planina mountain system was first recorded in 1533. On the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains, tourists can encounter many monuments dating back to the era of the Bulgarian national liberation movement. The Freedom Monument stands out in particular. A number of monasteries also found shelter in the mountains - Kremikovsky, Sokolsky, etc.
The mineral springs of the mountains on the Balkan Peninsula have become the base for a number of famous mountain resorts - Ribaritsa, Varshets, Teteven, etc. No less popular are the Steneto National Park and the picturesque passes: Shipkinsky, Petrokhansky, Virbishsky, Chureksky, the Republic Pass and the Iskar River Gorge.
The western region of Stara Planina is rich in karst, which is why mountain tourists in these places strive to admire the amazing karst caves: Rabiskaya (here you can also find primitive rock paintings), Ledenika, Syeva-Dupka, etc.
Mount Botev
The highest point of the Balkan Mountains was originally called Yumrukchal (translated as Fist Mountain). For four years (1942-1946) it was called Ferdinand's Peak in honor of the king who climbed to its peak. After that, again for four years it was Kulak Mountain, until in 1950 it acquired its modern name - after the name of Hristo Botev, a revolutionary and poet of Bulgaria.
At the top of Botev there is a television and radio station, whose signals cover 65% of the entire territory of the Bulgarian state, as well as a weather station, which was captured by the Nazis during the Second World War and worked for their purposes. Today, in the latter, tourists can relax, hide from bad weather, and have a snack. Travelers attach memorial plaques about their ascents to its walls.
Regions of the Balkan Mountains
Traditionally, there are three regions of Stara Planina:
- Oriental. It is the most flat part, diverging into separate spurs, one of which is the unique Horn of Stara Planina. Its tip is Cape Emine, the easternmost point of the Balkan Mountains.
- Average. The highest, picturesque and popular region of the Balkans, isolated from the other two. It is limited by the Iron Gate (Vratnik) and the Zlatishsky Pass. It is here that the peaks Botev, Triglav, Vezhen, Kupena (Aleko), Ambaritsa (Levski) are located.
- West. It originates at the Serbian border and extends all the way to the Zlatish Pass. Here you can admire the peak of Midjur.
Mountains of the Balkan Peninsula
In addition to the Old Mountains, the following mountain systems are located on the peninsula:
- Dinaric Highlands - western regions (Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina).
- The Pindus mountain ranges are slightly south of the previous ones (Macedonia, Albania, Greece).
- Rila mountain ranges - north (Bulgaria), the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula - the 2925-meter peak Musala - belongs to them.
- The Rhodope Mountains, bordering the southern part of the Aegean Sea.
- Pirina are alpine-type mountain systems.
Thus, Stara Planina is far from the only mountain system of the Balkan Peninsula. But it was she who gave the name to the latter, it is she who has a great influence on the climate of all of Bulgaria.
Balkan MountainsStara Planina?, Balkan, Serbian. Stara Planina, ancient Greek. ?, lat. Haemus) is a large mountain system in Bulgaria (the western spurs are also in the territory of modern Serbia).
This ridge crosses Bulgaria from west to east, dividing it into Northern and Southern Bulgaria. According to Bulgarian historical terminology: Stara Planina separates Mysia (Northern Bulgaria) from Thrace and Macedonia. The length of the ridge is about 555 km, the highest peak is Mount Botev (2376 m). The Balkans are a natural continuation of the Southern Carpathians, crossed by the Danube River at the Iron Gate. These mountains became the basis for the geographical names “Balkan Peninsula” and “Balkans”.
Geology
Stara Planina is composed mainly of crystalline schists and granites of the Paleozoic and Precambrian, as well as Mesozoic limestones, sandstones, karst, conglomerates, and flysch. Consists of parallel ridges with smoothed apical surfaces.
Main passes
- Petrokhan Pass Gorge of the Iskar River Churek Pass Shipka Pass Republic Pass Vyrbish Pass
Relief
Balkan Mountains (yellow)
The relatively gentle northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains turn into foothills (Pre-Balkans), descending to the Lower Danube Plain; southern slopes are usually steep.
Hydrography
Stara Planina is crossed by the valleys of the breakthrough rivers Iskar (in the west) and Kamchia (in the east).
The Timok, Lom, Ogosta, Vit, Osam rivers originate here and flow north to the Danube.
Karst caves
Karst is developed in the Balkan Mountains, especially in the western part. Below are the largest and most famous caves:
- Rabish cave with rock paintings Syeva-Dupka Ledenika and others
Minerals
Deposits of copper, lead-zinc and iron ores, hard and brown coal.
Climate
The Balkan Mountains are an important climatic divide between Northern and Southern Bulgaria; in the ridge part 800-1,100 mm of precipitation falls per year, and the mountains are covered with snow for several months.
Flora and fauna
The northern, wetter slopes up to an altitude of 1700-1800 m are covered with forests of oak, beech, hornbeam, as well as coniferous species - pine. The peaks are occupied by meadows (poloniny). In the eastern part of the mountains there are dense deciduous forests with evergreen undergrowth and vines.
Zoning
Cape Emine - eastern tip of the Balkan Mountains
Stara Planina is divided into Western Stara Planina, which has a predominantly southeastern strike; Middle Stara Planina, the highest and clearly isolated; and the Eastern Stara Planina, lowered and branching into separate spurs. One of the latter (together with the surrounding valleys) represents the unique natural-geographical region of the Horn of Stara Planina.
Story
The northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains are rich in monuments from the era of the Bulgarian national liberation (Monument of Freedom, etc.). Steneto National Park is located here.
Recreational management and tourism
In the Balkan Mountains there are numerous mineral springs, on the basis of which resorts operate (Virshets, Ribaritsa, Teteven, etc.). There are a number of monasteries on the slopes (Sokolsky Monastery, Kremikovsky Monastery, etc.).
- this is the name of the mountain system that dissects the entire Balkan Peninsula into two parts, and with it Bulgaria, passing with West to East, it divides the country into Southern and Northern Bulgaria.
Stara Planina Mountains
Actually, this mountain range is a continuation Carpathian Mountains, dissected by the river bed Danube. Thanks to this mountain system Southern Bulgaria protected from cold air masses from the northern Europe. The mountain system passes through the territory of Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria and ends with Cape Emine, located very close to Sveti Vlas.
Highway A1 connecting Sofia And Burgas, passes from the south side Stara Planina and the weather is usually good here. However, if you climb the pass, it may happen that it is raining and cold from the opposite, northern part of the mountains, while the residents of the southern part of the peninsula are enjoying the sun and warmth. This factor must be taken into account when planning trips to the side, Shipki, Shumen, and then on North And West.
The Stara Planina mountain system is quite old and the mountains here do not reach great heights, and the mountain slopes are usually densely covered with forests. The highest point of the ridge stretching for 500 kilometers, reaches 2376 meters above sea level in its middle part, and approaching the east the mountains decrease and end Horn of Stara Planina and cape Emine (Emine)- the easternmost part of the mountain system, which, cutting into the coast, divides it into the Northern and Southern coasts. Cape Emine is located very close to Saint Vlas– from Elenite the extreme point of the cape is only about 8 km.
Caves of Stara Planina
middle part Stara Planina famous for its karst caves and gorgeous nature reserves. In this part there is " Nature Park Stara Planina", which is located near the city Vidin, almost on the border with Serbia. In the town Makresh, there is a karst cave Magura with rock paintings of ancient people. A place that deserves a must visit!
City Vidin located of course at the other end Bulgaria, but given the overall size of the country - 650 km of road will scare few. Moreover, along the way you can visit another cave - Ledenika located near the city Vratsa, also located on the slopes of Stara Planina, and stay overnight in Sofia.
Kremikovsky Monastery
Since these territories have been inhabited since ancient times, each era has left its mark on the mountain slopes Stara Planina. One of the monuments of the era Second Bulgarian Kingdom is Kremikovsky Monastery, founded in 1492 year and located on the slopes of the mountains near Sofia. It is one of the most valuable medieval cultural monuments in Balkan Peninsula.
It is perhaps pointless to try to describe in one short note all the variety of attractions densely scattered throughout the territory Bulgaria, and many are hidden in the folds of the Stara Planina mountains and do not often appear in travel agency catalogs. Therefore, we will tell you about them gradually, therefore:
To be continued!
Balkan mountains(Bulgarian. Stara Planina, Also Balkan; Türkçe. Koca-Balkan, Koca Balkan) - a large mountain system in (the western spurs are also in the territory of modern Macedonia). They cross Bulgaria from west to east, dividing it into Northern and Southern Bulgaria. The length of the mountains is about 555 km, height up to 2.376 m (mountain). They are a natural continuation of the Southern Carpathians, crossed by the river at the Iron Gate. They became the basis for the names Balkan Peninsula and Balkans.
Geology
Stara Planina is composed mainly of crystalline schists and granites of the Paleozoic and Precambrian, as well as Mesozoic limestones, sandstones, conglomerates, and flysch. They consist of parallel ridges with smoothed apical surfaces.
Main passes
- Petrokhansky Pass
- Churek Pass
- Shipka Pass
- Republic Pass
Relief
The relatively gentle northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains turn into foothills (Pre-Balkans), descending to the Lower Danube Plain; southern slopes are usually steep.
Hydrography
Stara Planina is crossed by the valleys of the breakthrough rivers Iskar (in the west) and Kamchia (in the east).
Karst caves
Karst is developed in the Balkan Mountains, the largest and most famous caves are presented below:
- Rabish cave with rock paintings
- Syeva-Dupka
- Ledenica and others
Minerals
Deposits of copper, lead-zinc and iron ores, hard and brown coal.
Climate
The Balkan Mountains are an important climatic divide between northern and southern Bulgaria; in the ridge part 800-1,100 mm of precipitation falls per year, and the mountains are covered with snow for several months.
Flora and fauna
The northern, wetter slopes up to an altitude of 1700-1800 m are covered with forests of oak, beech, hornbeam, as well as coniferous species - pine. The peaks are occupied by meadows (poloniny). In the eastern part of the mountains there are dense deciduous forests with evergreen undergrowth and vines.
Zoning
Stara Planina is divided into Western Stara Planina, which has a predominantly southeastern strike; Middle Stara Planina, the highest and clearly isolated; Eastern Stara Planina, lowered and branching into separate spurs.
Story
In the northern part of the Balkan Mountains there are monuments of the era of Bulgarian national liberation (Monument of Freedom, etc.). Steneto National Park is located.
Recreational management and tourism
In the Balkan Mountains there are numerous mineral springs, on the basis of which resorts operate (Virshets, Ribaritsa, Teteven, etc.). There are a number of monasteries on the slopes (Sokolsky Monastery,
