Balkan Mountains
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Image:Balkan range.jpg Image:Staraplanina-krassiu.jpg Image:Iskargorge-krassiu.jpg The Balkan mountain range (Bulgarian: Стара планина, Stara Planina, "Old Mountain") is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River.
The range runs 560 km from eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea. Sometimes included in term Balkan, but not Stara Planina, are the Rila and Pirin ranges in South-Western Bulgaria.
The highest peak on the Balkan peninsula is Musala in the Rila mountains near Sofia (Rila range) with 2,925 m, closely followed by Mount Olympus in Greece and Vihren (Pirin range).
The highest peaks of the Stara Planina itself are in central Bulgaria. The highest peak is Botev (2,376 m), located in the Central Balkan National Park (established 1991). Dairy products, such as Kashkaval are produced here, as well as wine and a plum and grape brandy known as Rakia.
Close to it is Kalofer, the birth place of Hristo Botev, a Bulgarian poet and national hero who died in the Western Stara Planina near Vratsa in 1876 in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. Also close to Botev peak is the Shipka ("rosehip") Pass, the scene of the four battles 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 Orthodox church, built to commemorate Bulgarian bravery during pass defence.
Stara Planina is remarkable for its flora and fauna. Edelweiss grows there on peak Koziata stena.
There are many roads crossing Stara Planina (listed from west to east):
- Petrohan: Sofia - Montana
- Iskarsko defile (Iskar gorge): Sofia - Vratsa
- Hemus highway, Vitinya: Sofia - Varna
- Beklemeto: Troyan - Karnare
- Shipka: Gabrovo - Kazanlak
- Prohod na republikata (Pass of the Republic): Veliko Tarnovo - Gurkovo
- Kotelski prohod (Kotel pass): Kotel - Petolachka crossroad
- Varbishki prohod (Varbitsa pass): Shumen - Petolachka crossroad
- Rizhki prohod (Rish pass): Karnobat - Madara
- Dyulinski prohod (Dyulino pass): Varna - Aitos
- Obzorski prohod (Obzor pass): Varna - Burgas
In earlier times the mountains were known as the Haemus Mons. Scholars consider that Haemus (Greek 'Aimos) is derived from an unattested Thracian word *saimon, meaning 'mountain range'.
Peaks
- Botev Peak 2,376 m (named after Hristo Botev)
- Vezhen
- Kom
- Buzludzha
- Levski (named after Vasil Levski)
See also
- Rhodope Mountains, Dinaric Alps, Šar mountain, Pindus — other major mountain chains in the Balkan region
- Balkansar:جبال البلقان
bg:Стара планина da:Balkanbjergene de:Balkangebirge et:Stara planina fr:Stara Planina he:הרי הבלקן nl:Balkan (gebergte) ja:バルカン山脈 no:Balkanfjellene pl:Stara Płanina pt:Bálcãs (cordilheira) ru:Балканские горы sr:Стара планина sv:Balkanbergen uk:Стара Планина