The Balkan mountain range (Bulgarian and Serbian: Стара планина, romanized: Stara planina, “Old Mountain”; Bulgarian pronunciation: [ˈstarɐ pɫɐniˈna], Serbian pronunciation: [stâːraː planǐna])[1] is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 557 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea. The highest peaks of the Balkan Mountains are in central Bulgaria. The highest peak is Botev at 2,376 m, which makes the mountain range the third highest in the country, after Rila and Pirin. The mountains are the source of the name of the Balkan Peninsula.
The mountain range forms the watershed between the Black Sea and Aegean Sea catchment areas, with the exception of an area in west, where it is crossed by the spectacular Iskar Gorge. The karst relief determines the large number of caves, including Magura, featuring the most important and extended European post-Palaeolithic cave painting, Ledenika, Saeva dupka, Bacho Kiro, etc. The most notable rock formation are the Belogradchik Rocks in the west.
There are several important protected areas: Central Balkan National Park, Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, Bulgarka Nature Park and Sinite Kamani Nature Park, as well as a number of nature reserves. The Balkan Mountains are remarkable for their flora and fauna. Edelweiss grows there in the region of Kozyata stena. Some of the most striking landscapes are included in the Central Balkan National Park with steep cliffs, the highest waterfalls in the Balkan Peninsula and lush vegetation. There are a number of important nature reserves such as Chuprene, Kozyata stena and others. Most of Europe’s large mammals inhabit the area including the brown bear, wolf, boar, chamois and deer.
Passes
The mountains are crossed by 20 passes and two gorges. There are paved roads crossing the Balkan Mountains at the following passes (listed from west to east):
Petrohan Pass: Sofia – Montana
Iskar Gorge (Iskarski prolom): Sofia – Vratsa (also railroad)
Vitinya Pass: Hemus motorway (A2), Sofia – Botevgrad
Beklemeto Pass: Troyan – Sopot
Shipka Pass: Gabrovo – Kazanlak (also railroad)
Pass of the Republic (Prohod na republikata): Veliko Tarnovo – Gurkovo
Vratnik Pass: Elena – Sliven
Kotel Pass (Kotlenski prohod): Kotel – Petolachka (Pentagram) crossroads
Varbitsa Pass (Varbishki prohod): Shumen – Petolachka crossroads
Rish Pass (Rishki prohod): Shumen – Karnobat
Luda Kamchiya Gorge (Ludokamchiyski prolom): Provadiya – Karnobat (also railroad)
Aytos Pass (Aytoski prohod) – Provadiya – Aytos
Dyulino Pass (Dyulinski prohod): Varna – Aytos
Obzor Pass (Obzorski prohod): Varna – Burgas, future Cherno More motorway (A5)
Peaks
Botev Peak 2,376 m (7,795 ft) (named after Hristo Botev)
Malkiyat yumruk 2,340 m (7,677 ft)
Golyam Kademliya (Triglav) 2,276 m (7,467 ft)
Mlechen chal 2,255 m (7,398 ft)
Zhaltets 2,227 m (7,306 ft)
Paradzhika 2,209 m (7,247 ft)
Vezhen Peak 2,198 m (7,211 ft)
Midžor 2,169 m (7,116 ft), the highest peak in Serbia proper and north-western Bulgaria, 12th in the Balkan Mountains.
Golyam Kupen 2,169 m (7,116 ft)
Levski 2,166 m (7,106 ft) (named after Vasil Levski)
Yurushka gramada 2,136 m (7,008 ft)
Martinova chuka 2,111 m (6,926 ft)
Malak Kupen 2,101 m (6,893 ft)
Tetevenska Baba 2,071 m (6,795 ft)
Buluvaniya 2,043 m (6,703 ft)
Golyam Krastets 2,034 m (6,673 ft)
Kostenurkata (The Turtle) 2,034 m (6,673 ft)
Oba 2,033 m (6,670 ft)
Kartala 2,031 m (6,663 ft)
Pascal 2,029 m (6,657 ft)
Ravnets 2,020 m (6,627 ft)
Kom Peak 2,016 m (6,614 ft)
Kositsa 2,001 m (6,565 ft)
Replyanska tsarkva 1,969 m (6,460 ft)
Golema chuka 1,967 m (6,453 ft)
Svishti plaz 1,888 m (6,194 ft)
Mara Gidia 1,790 m (5,873 ft)
Todorini Kukli 1,785 m (5,856 ft)
Haydushki kamak 1,721 m (5,646 ft)
Murgash 1,687 m (5,535 ft)
Koznitsa 1,637 m (5,371 ft)
Chukava (Golema mountain) 1,588 m (5,210 ft)
Gorno Yazovo 1,573 m (5,161 ft)
Chumerna 1,536 m (5,039 ft)
Ispolin 1,523 m (4,997 ft)
Ravno buche 1,499 m (4,918 ft)
Buzludzha 1,441 m (4,728 ft)
Manyakov kamak 1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Guvnishte 1,413 m (4,636 ft)
Golemi Del 1,363 m (4,472 ft)
Vetren Peak 1,330 m (4,364 ft)
Shipka (Stoletov, St. Nikola) 1,329 m (4,360 ft)
Goten (Sofiiska mountain) 1,294 m (4,245 ft)
Petrovski krast 1,206 m (3,957 ft)
source: en.wikipedia.org
