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Balkan Mountains

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	Topics Balkan Mountains Topic Home The Balkan mountain rangeMountain range A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers.... . The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe.... and eastern SerbiaSerbia Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia is a landlocked country in Central and Southeastern Europe, covering the ce... eastward through central BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe.... to Cape EmineCape Emine Cape Emine is a headland at the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.... on the Black SeaBlack Sea The Black Sea is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Anatolia that is actually a distant arm of the Atlantic Ocean... . The highest peaks of the Stara planina are in central Bulgaria. The highest peak is BotevBotev Peak Botev Peak is, at 2,376 m above sea level, the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains It is located at 4243'N 2456'E, close to... (2,376 m), located in the Central Balkan National ParkCentral Balkan National Park The Central Balkan National Park lies in the heart of Bulgaria, nestled in the central and higher portions of the Balkan Ran... (established 1991). The mountain gives the name of the Balkan Peninsula. Stara Planina played an enormous role in the History of BulgariaHistory of Bulgaria The history of Bulgaria as a separate country began in the 7th century with the arrival of the Bulgars and the foundation of... and the development of the BulgarianBulgarians The Bulgarians are a South Slavic people generally associated with Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language.... nation and people. In earlier times the mountains were known as the Haemus MonsHaemus Mons In earlier times the Balkan mountains were known as the Haemus Mons.... . Scholars consider that Haemus (Greek 'Aimos) is derived from an unattested ThracianThracian language The Thracian language was the Indo-European language spoken in ancient times by the Thracians in South-Eastern Europe.... word saimon, meaning 'mountain range'. Stara Planina is remarkable for its flora and fauna. EdelweissEdelweiss Edelweiss* is one of the best known European mountain flowers.... grows there in the region of Koziata stena. Geography In geological term Stara Planina is a young mountain. It is part of the AlpAlps The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the eas... -HimalayanHimalayas The Himalayas are a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.... chain which stretches across most of EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... and AsiaAsia Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition.... . It can be divided into two parts: the main Balkan Chain and the Pre-Balkan which follows the main chain to the north. Passes The mountain is crossed by 20 passes and 2 gorges. There are paved roads crossing Stara Planina at the following passes (listed from west to east): Petrohan PassPetrohan Pass Petrohan Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... : SofiaSofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,203,680, and some 1,326,377 in... - MontanaMontana, Bulgaria Montana is a city in northwestern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Montana Province.... Iskar GorgeIskar Gorge Overview Iskar Gorge is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Iskarski prolom ): Sofia - VratsaVratsa Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains.... (also railroad) Vitinya PassVitinya Pass Vitinya Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... : Hemus motorwayHemus motorway The Hemus motorway or Haemus motorway, designated A2, is a motorway currently under construction in Bulgaria.... (A2), Sofia - BotevgradBotevgrad Botevgrad is a town in western Bulgaria.... Beklemeto PassBeklemeto Pass Beklemeto Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... : TroyanTroyan Troyan is a town in central Bulgaria with population of about 30,000 and territory of 888,850 m².... - SopotSopot, Bulgaria Sopot is a Bulgarian town is situated in the fertile sub-Balkan mountain valley of Karlovo, immediately under the steep sout... Shipka PassShipka Pass Shipka Pass is a scenic mountain pass through Stara Planina in Bulgaria.... : GabrovoGabrovo Gabrovo is a town in central northern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Gabrovo Province.... - KazanlakKazanlak Kazanlak is a town located in Stara Zagora Province, Bulgaria.... (also railroad) Pass of the RepublicPass of the Republic Overview Pass of the Republic is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Prohod na republikata): Veliko TarnovoVeliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo is a city in central northern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province.... - GurkovoGurkovo Gurkovo is a small town in the Stara Zagora Province, central Bulgaria.... Vratnik PassVratnik Pass Vratnik Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... : ElenaElena Elena may refer to:... - SlivenSliven Sliven is a town in southeast Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Sliven Province.... Kotel PassKotel Pass Kotel Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Kotlenski prohod): KotelKotel, Bulgaria Kotel is a town in central Bulgaria, part of Sliven Province.... - Petolachka (Pentagram) crossroads Varbitsa PassVarbitsa Pass Varbitsa Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Varbishki prohod): ShumenShumen Shumen is a city in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, capital of Shumen Province.... - Petolachka crossroads Rish PassRish Pass Rish Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria. It connects Shumen and Karnobat.... (Rishki prohod): Shumen - KarnobatKarnobat Karnobat is a town in the Burgas Province, Bulgaria. ... Luda Kamchiya GorgeLuda Kamchiya Gorge Luda Kamchiya Gorge is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Ludokamchiyski prolom): ProvadiyaProvadiya Provadiya is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Varna Province, located on the Provadiya River not far from the Bulgar... - Karnobat (also railroad) Dyulino PassDyulino Pass Dyulino Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in eastern Bulgaria.... (Dyulinski prohod): VarnaVarna Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 345,371.... - Aitos Obzor PassObzor Pass Obzor Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.... (Obzorski prohod): Varna - BurgasBurgas Burgas is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.... , future Cherno More motorwayCherno More motorway The Cherno More motorway or the Black Sea motorway is a Bulgarian motorway planned to link the major coastal cities of... (A3) Peaks Botev PeakBotev Peak Botev Peak is, at 2,376 m above sea level, the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains It is located at 4243'N 2456'E, close to... 2,376 m (named after Hristo BotevHristo Botev Hristo Botev, born Hristo Botyov Petkov, was a Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. ... ) Midzhur 2,169 m is the highest peak in Central SerbiaCentral Serbia Central Serbia, also referred to as Serbia proper, is the region of Serbia that lies outside the northern and southern... Vezhen Kom BuzludzhaBuzludzha Buzludzha is a historical peak in the Central Stara Planina, Bulgaria and is 1441 metres high.... Levski (named after Vasil LevskiVasil Levski Summary Vasil Levski, born Vasil Ivanov Kunchev was a Bulgarian revolutionary, ideologist, strategist and theoretician of the ... ) History Stara Planina has a significant and special place in the history of Bulgaria from its foundation in 681. It was a natural fortress of the Bulgarian EmpireBulgarian Empire *Bulgarian Empire* is a term used to describe two periods in the medieval history of Bulgaria, during which it acted as a ... for centuries and formed an effective barrier to MoesiaMoesia Moesia is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria.... where most of the Medieval capitals were located. The Balkan mountains were the site of numerous battles between the Bulgarian and the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the... s including the Battle of the Rishki PassBattle of the Rishki Pass The Battle of the Rishki Pass took place in the pass of the same name, Stara Planina, Bulgaria in 759.... (759), Battle of the Varbitsa PassBattle of Pliska The Battle of Pliska took place on July 26, 811, between the Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria, resulting in one of the worst de... (811), Battle of TryavnaBattle of Tryavna The battle of Tryavna occurred in 1190 in the mountains around the contemporary town of Tryavna, central Bulgaria.... (1190) and many others. In the battle of the Varbitsa Pass Khan KrumKrum of Bulgaria Krum was ruler of Bulgaria, from after 796/ before 803 to 814.... decisively defeated an enormous Byzantine army killing Emperor Nikephoros INikephoros I Nikephoros I or Nicephorus I, Logothetes or Genikos, was Byzantine emperor from 802 to 811.... . For many centuries the Byzantines feared that mountain and on several occasions Byzantine armies had pulled back only on the news of approaching Stara Planina. During the Ottoman rule many haiduks found refuge in Stara Planina. Close to the highest summit, the Botev Peak, is KaloferKalofer Kalofer is a town in southern Bulgaria, between the Balkan Mountains to the north and the Sredna Gora to the south, part of ... , the birth place of Hristo BotevHristo Botev Hristo Botev, born Hristo Botyov Petkov, was a Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. ... , a Bulgarian poet and national hero who died in the Western Stara Planina near VratsaVratsa Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains.... in 1876 in the struggle against the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire The Ottoman Empire , is also sometimes known in the West as the Turkish Empire.... . Also close to Botev peak is the Shipka PassShipka Pass Summary Shipka Pass is a scenic mountain pass through Stara Planina in Bulgaria.... , the scene of the four battlesBattle of Shipka Pass Four battles were fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire for control over the crucial Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish W... in Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 which ended Turkish rule in the Balkans. Close to the pass in the village of Shipka there is a Russian OrthodoxRussian Orthodox Church The Russian Orthodox Church , also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church of Russia, is that body of Christians who are ... church, built to commemorate Russian and Bulgarian bravery during pass defense. See also Rhodope MountainsRhodope Mountains The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder i... , RilaRila Rila is a mountain in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak bein... , PirinFacts About Pirin The Pirin Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren the highest peak, situated at .... , Dinaric AlpsDinaric Alps The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia an... , Šar mountainŠar Mountain The ar mountain is a mountain located on the southern border of Serbia and the northwest part of Republic of Macedonia.... , PindusPindus Overview The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece.... — other major mountain chains in the Balkan region BalkansBalkans The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe.... 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