Friday 1 January 2010

Bulgarian Mountains

With nearly 73% of Bulgaria lying at an altitude of less than 600 metres, and the average altitude of the country being just 470 metres, it would appear from the statistics that Bulgaria is not a particularly mountainous country. However, because of their form and distribution, the mountains of Bulgaria still manage to impose their presence on large areas of the country. Furthermore, their complex geological history gives the Bulgarian mountains great variety, and in places they boast dramatic alpine-type terrain with narrow crests, jagged peaks and beautifully sculpted glacial cirques. Bulgaria has some 37 separate mountains ranges, but this blog will be focusing on three of the major ones, the Rila Mountains, Pirin Mountains, and Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), and in particular the three national parks which they encompass.