Balkan mountains. The highest point of the Balkan Mountains Balkan Mountains on the map of Europe
Balkans or Balkan Peninsula is a peninsula located in southeastern Europe in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Balkan Peninsula is surrounded by the Adriatic, Black and Mediterranean seas.
Most of the peninsula is occupied by hills and mountains, but there are fertile plains. Winters in the north can sometimes be very cold, while summers in the south can be very hot and dry.
The Balkan Peninsula narrows to the south and is divided into rugged capes and chains of islands. Here lies Greece, a land of dark rocks, blue seas, whitewashed houses, ancient ruins and medieval churches. Cities such as Athens are full of reminders of the ancient Greek civilization, which significantly influenced the development of the entire world. Every year tourists come here from all over the world. Farmers in the Balkans grow corn, sunflowers, melons, wine grapes, fruits, olives and tobacco. Greece has been a member of the European Union since 1981.
The following nationalities live on the Balkan Peninsula: Slavs (Slovaks, Slovenes, Croats, Serbs), Gypsies, Magyars (Hungarians), Romanians, Bulgarians, Turks, Albanians and Greeks.
Balkan countries
The following states are located partially or completely on the Balkan Peninsula:
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Greece
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Macedonia
- Romania
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Türkiye
- Croatia
- Montenegro
Conflict in Yugoslavia
In 1990-1991, the former Republic of Yugoslavia broke up into five countries - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia and Macedonia. Disputes over new borders led to a bloody war in the 1990s, and Albania and Romania also suffered from political unrest.
IN ancient time-X him s)- mountainous country on the Balkan Peninsula. Extends from the river. Timok to Black Sea almost in a strictly eastern direction for 600 km. Near the Black Sea, the Balkan Mountains end in a cliff 70 m high, forming Cape Emine. The width of the Balkan Mountains ranges from 20 to 80 km, and they are widest in the eastern, lowest part, and narrowest in the middle, highest part. There are up to 30 passes through the mountains that are suitable for communication.
Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina).
The Balkan Mountains are mainly fold mountains, but in the east there is a system of fault structures. The tops of the ridges are predominantly round in shape and covered with lush pastures. Towards the Danube Plain the mountains descend more gently in a series of parallel ridges covered with forest. To the south, the Balkan Mountains drop off steeply, especially in the middle part, where the southern slope is devoid of vegetation and is cut through by numerous valleys of mountain streams. The Balkan mountains are divided into three parts: western - from the mouth of the Timok River to the valley of the Iskyr River, central - from the Ns-kyr River to the Vratnik Pass (Iron Gate) and eastern - from Vratnik to the Black Sea.
The Western Balkans (Bulgarian: Western Stara Planina), 182 km long, stretch from northwest to southeast, gradually rising in the same direction. To the northeast, the mountain slopes are steep and covered with forest, while the southwestern slopes are gentle and bare. Highest point Western Balkans - peak Mijur - 2169 m. Among the mountains, Vratchanska Planina stands out - a wide waterless karst ridge, steeply breaking off to the Iskar gap. Passes through the last one railway, connecting the city of Sofia with the Danube Plain.
The Central Balkans (Bulgarian: Sredna Stara Planina), 260 km long, have a latitudinal direction, and are distinguished by the highest height of their peaks [Mt. Botev (Yumrukchal) -2376 m]. The ridges of the Central Balkans are significantly dissected and the passes are relatively low, covered with snow in winter, but still passable. Main passes: Troyansky, Shipka (see) (1270 m).
The Eastern, or Small, Balkans (Bulgarian - Iztochna Stara Planina), 155 km long, are distinguished by their considerable width (up to 80 km) and low altitude (in the west - 1000 m, in the east - up to 500 m). The mountain valleys here are wide and open towards the Black Sea. Both slopes of the mountain are covered with forests.
To the north of the Balkan Mountains lies the Danube Plain. To the south of the Central Balkans and parallel to them stretches Sredna Gora, separated from them by the Trans-Balkan Basin, irrigated by the river. Tundzhsy.
Despite their relatively low altitude, the Bapkan Mountains are an important landscape and climatic boundary and form a watershed between the tributaries of the Danube and the rivers flowing into the Aegean and Marmara Seas.
The railway crosses the Balkan Mountains in three bridges. Exploration and development of mineral resources in the Balkan Mountains began in earnest only after Bulgaria became a people's democracy. Coal mining is underway in the Central Balkans, flammable gases have been discovered in the Eastern Balkans, manganese ore has been discovered near Burgas, marble and other types of mineral raw materials have been mined. The mountain rivers in Belarus have a large supply of hydroelectric power, which is used for the network of hydroelectric stations being created in the country. Timber processing enterprises are located in different parts of the country within the city. B. g. rich mineral springs(areas of the cities of Chirpan, Slivon, Stara Zagora, etc.), used by the people's government of Bulgaria to create health resorts and holiday homes for workers.
Lit.: Dobrynin B.F.,
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 mountain peak Botev.
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. Eastern regions 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 became the basis for a number of famous mountain resorts- Ribaritsa, Varshets, Teteven, etc. No less popular national park Stenetos and 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 in these places mountain tourists strive to admire the amazing karst caves: Rabishskaya (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.
- Rhodope Mountains, southern part bordering 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.
- 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 one 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 at Cape Emine, located very close to Sveti Vlas.
Highway A1 connecting Sofia And Burgas, passes from the south side Stara Planina and usually stands here good weather. 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 to extreme point 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 " Natural park Stara Planina", which is located near the city Vidin, almost on the border with Serbia. In the town Makresh, are 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, based 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!
Serbia Serbia
This article is about the mountain system in Bulgaria. In everyday life Balkans usually called Balkan Peninsula.
Geology
Stara Planina is composed mainly of Paleozoic and Precambrian crystalline schists and granites, as well as Mesozoic limestones, sandstones, karst, conglomerates, and flysch. Consists of parallel ridges with smoothed apical surfaces.
Main passes
- Iskar River Gorge
Relief
The relatively gentle northern slopes of the Stara Planina pass into the foothills (Pre-Balkans), descending to the Lower Danube Lowland; southern slopes are usually steep.
Hydrography
Stara Planina is crossed by the valleys of the breakthrough rivers Iskar (in the west) and Luda-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:
- Magura with rock paintings
- Ledenika and others.
Minerals
Deposits of copper, lead-zinc and iron ores, hard and brown coal.
Climate
Stara Planina is an important climatic divide between Northern and Southern Bulgaria; in the ridge part 800–1100 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. It starts at the border with Serbia and ends at the Zlatish Pass, near high peak Midjur (2,168 m.).
- The middle Stara Planina, the highest and clearly separated. It starts at the Zlatish Pass and ends east of the Vratnik Pass (Zhelezni Vrata). This is the highest, most beautiful and most visited section of Stara Planina. Here are the highest Balkan peaks - Botev (2376 m), Vezhen (2198 m), Levski (Ambaritsa, 2166 m), Aleko (Kupena, 2169 m), Triglav (2276 m).
- Eastern Stara Planina, lowered (“less alpine”) 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. Cape Emine - the eastern end of the ridge can be called the tip of the Horn of Stara Planina.
These features are completely absent (with a few exceptions - in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Sliven). Even the tops of the mountains are covered with deciduous forests.
Story
The name Stara Planina was first recorded in 1533. Northern slopes Stara Planina is rich in monuments from the era of the Bulgarian national liberation (Monument of Freedom, etc.). The Steneto National Park is located here.
Recreational management and tourism
In the Balkan Mountains there are numerous resorts 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.).
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An excerpt characterizing Stara Planina
“My father, to whom I told my plans, made it an indispensable condition of consent that the wedding should take place no earlier than a year. And this is what I wanted to tell you,” said Prince Andrei.– It’s true that Natasha is still young, but for so long.
“It couldn’t be otherwise,” said Prince Andrei with a sigh.
“I will send it to you,” said the countess and left the room.
“Lord, have mercy on us,” she repeated, looking for her daughter. Sonya said that Natasha is in the bedroom. Natasha sat on her bed, pale, with dry eyes, looking at the icons and, quickly crossing herself, whispering something. Seeing her mother, she jumped up and rushed to her.
- What? Mom?... What?
- Go, go to him. “He asks for your hand,” the countess said coldly, as it seemed to Natasha... “Come... come,” the mother said with sadness and reproach after her running daughter, and sighed heavily.
Natasha did not remember how she entered the living room. Entering the door and seeing him, she stopped. “Has this stranger really become everything to me now?” she asked herself and instantly answered: “Yes, that’s it: he alone is now dearer to me than everything in the world.” Prince Andrei approached her, lowering his eyes.
“I loved you from the moment I saw you.” Can I hope?
He looked at her, and the serious passion in her expression struck him. Her face said: “Why ask? Why doubt something you can't help but know? Why talk when you can’t express in words what you feel.”
She approached him and stopped. He took her hand and kissed it.
- Do you love me?
“Yes, yes,” Natasha said as if with annoyance, sighed loudly, and another time, more and more often, and began to sob.
- About what? What's wrong with you?
“Oh, I’m so happy,” she answered, smiled through her tears, leaned closer to him, thought for a second, as if asking herself if this was possible, and kissed him.
Prince Andrei held her hands, looked into her eyes, and did not find in his soul the same love for her. Something suddenly turned in his soul: there was no former poetic and mysterious charm of desire, but there was pity for her feminine and childish weakness, there was fear of her devotion and gullibility, a heavy and at the same time joyful consciousness of the duty that forever connected him with her. The real feeling, although it was not as light and poetic as the previous one, was more serious and stronger.
– Did maman tell you that this cannot be earlier than a year? - said Prince Andrei, continuing to look into her eyes. “Is it really me, that girl child (everyone said that about me) Natasha thought, is it really from this moment that I am the wife, equal to this stranger, sweet, intelligent man, respected even by my father. Is this really true? Is it really true that now it’s no longer possible to joke with life, now I’m big, now I’m responsible for my every deed and word? Yes, what did he ask me?
“No,” she answered, but she did not understand what he was asking.
“Forgive me,” said Prince Andrei, “but you are so young, and I have already experienced so much of life.” I'm scared for you. You don't know yourself.
Natasha listened with concentrated attention, trying to understand the meaning of his words and did not understand.
“No matter how difficult this year will be for me, delaying my happiness,” continued Prince Andrei, “in this period you will believe in yourself.” I ask you to make my happiness in a year; but you are free: our engagement will remain a secret, and if you were convinced that you do not love me, or would love me ... - said Prince Andrei with an unnatural smile.
- Why are you saying this? – Natasha interrupted him. “You know that from the very day you first arrived in Otradnoye, I fell in love with you,” she said, firmly convinced that she was telling the truth.
– In a year you will recognize yourself...
- The whole year! – Natasha suddenly said, now only realizing that the wedding had been postponed for a year. - Why a year? Why a year?...” Prince Andrei began to explain to her the reasons for this delay. Natasha didn't listen to him.
- And it’s impossible otherwise? – she asked. Prince Andrei did not answer, but his face expressed the impossibility of changing this decision.
- It's horrible! No, this is terrible, terrible! – Natasha suddenly spoke and began to sob again. - I will die waiting a year: this is impossible, this is terrible. “She looked into the face of her fiancé and saw on him an expression of compassion and bewilderment.
“No, no, I’ll do everything,” she said, suddenly stopping her tears, “I’m so happy!” – Father and mother entered the room and blessed the bride and groom.
From that day on, Prince Andrei began to go to the Rostovs as a groom.
There was no engagement and Bolkonsky’s engagement to Natasha was not announced to anyone; Prince Andrei insisted on this. He said that since he was the cause of the delay, he must bear the entire burden of it. He said that he was forever bound by his word, but that he did not want to bind Natasha and gave her complete freedom. If after six months she feels that she does not love him, she will be within her right if she refuses him. It goes without saying that neither the parents nor Natasha wanted to hear about it; but Prince Andrei insisted on his own. Prince Andrei visited the Rostovs every day, but did not treat Natasha like a groom: he told her you and kissed only her hand. After the day of the proposal, a completely different, close, simple relationship was established between Prince Andrei and Natasha. It was as if they didn't know each other until now. Both he and she loved to remember how they looked at each other when they were still nothing; now both of them felt like completely different creatures: then feigned, now simple and sincere. At first, the family felt awkward in dealing with Prince Andrei; he seemed like a man from an alien world, and Natasha spent a long time accustoming her family to Prince Andrei and proudly assured everyone that he only seemed so special, and that he was the same as everyone else, and that she was not afraid of him and that no one should be afraid his. After several days, the family got used to him and without hesitation led with him the same way of life in which he took part. He knew how to talk about the household with the Count, and about outfits with the Countess and Natasha, and about albums and canvas with Sonya. Sometimes the Rostov family, among themselves and under Prince Andrei, were surprised at how all this happened and how obvious the omens of this were: the arrival of Prince Andrei in Otradnoye, and their arrival in St. Petersburg, and the similarity between Natasha and Prince Andrei, which the nanny noticed on their first visit Prince Andrei, and the clash in 1805 between Andrei and Nikolai, and many other omens of what happened were noticed by those at home.
