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Tuesday, November 3 2009

History of Stara planina

By Stara Planina on Tuesday, November 3 2009, 10:13 - Info about Stara Planina

History of Stara palnina

Stara Planina has a significant and special place in the history of Bulgaria since its foundation in 681. It was a natural fortress of the Bulgarian Empire for centuries and formed an effective barrier to Moesia where most of the Medieval capitals were located. The Balkan mountains were the site of numerous battles between the Bulgarian and the Byzantine Empires including the Battle of the Rishki Pass (759), Battle of the Varbitsa Pass (811), Battle of Tryavna (1190) and many others. In the battle of the Varbitsa Pass Khan Krum decisively defeated an enormous Byzantine army killing Emperor Nikephoros I.

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 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 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 Russian and Bulgarian bravery during pass defense.

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Peaks on Stara Planina

By Stara Planina on Tuesday, November 3 2009, 09:57 - Info about Stara Planina

Peaks on Stara Planina are:

Botev Peak 2,376 m (7,795 ft), named after Hristo Botev. Vezhen Peak 2,198 m (7,211 ft) Midzhur 2,169 m (7,116 ft), the highest peak in Serbia and north-western Bulgaria, 12th in the Balkan Mountains. Kom Peak 2,016 m (6,614 ft) Todorini Kukli 1,785 m (5,856 ft) Murgash 1,687 m (5,535 ft) Shipka Peak 1,523 m (4,997 ft) Buzludzha 1,441 m (4,728 ft) Balgarka Peak 1,181 m (3,875 ft) Levski Peak (named after Vasil Levski)

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Stara planina range

By Stara Planina on Tuesday, November 3 2009, 09:51 - Info about Stara Planina

The range consists of around 30 portions called mountains. Stara Planina can be divided into three sections: Western Stara Planina from Vrashka Chuka at the border with Serbia to the Pass of Arabakonak with a total length of 190 km and highest peak Midzhur (2,169 m). Central Stara Planina from Arabakonak to the Vratnik Pass with a length of 207 km. Botev Peak (2,376 m) which is the highest in the range is located in that section. Eastern Stara Planina from the Vratnik Pass to Cape Emine with a length of 160 km and highest peak Balgarka (1181 m). Eastern Stara Planina forms the lowest part of the range.

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Geological term - Stara Planina

By Stara Planina on Tuesday, November 3 2009, 09:45 - Info about Stara Planina

In geological term Stara Planina is a young mountain. It is part of the Alp-Himalayan chain which stretches across most of Europe and Asia. It can be divided into two parts: the main Balkan Chain and the Pre-Balkan which follows the main chain to the north. To the north the Pre-Balkan slightly goes into the Danubian Plain, while to the south the mountain borders with the Sub-Balkan valleys - a row of 11 valleys running from the border with Serbia to the west to the Black Sea to the east which separate the Balkan mountains from a chain of other mountains known as Srednogorie which include Vitosha and Sredna Gora.

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