Bulgarian Mountains :: Stara Planina
Stara planina is also known as “the Balkan”. It is the longest, the biggest and also the “most Bulgarian” of all mountains. It extends throughout the entire length of the country - from the Bulgarian border with Serbia to the Black Sea coast.
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Being 550 kilometres long, like the back-bone of a fish it is such an inseparable part of the country and its history that it has long become emblematic of Bulgaria, fortress of the national spirit. The highest peak – Mt. Botev - is at 2376 metres above sea level and ranks third in Bulgaria. Stara Planina divides Bulgaria in two - Northern and Southern Bulgaria.The name Stara Planina is derived from the age of our lands (translated as “the old mountain”). Some of the older names, which have come to us are: Haimon, Haimos, Hemus (of Thracian origin) meaning “ridge”, “division line”, “border”. In later time different parts of the mountain acquire individual names - Srebarna Planina (Silver Mountain), Matornie Gori, Zigos, Imm.
The name Stara Planina appears for the first time in 1533 in the notes of the Dalmacian traveller Antun Vranchich. The name Balkan, however, is older and there are several theories about its actual origin. In spite of the fact that this is not an official name, it has become the most popular since the last centuries. It is from the name Balkan that the name of the whole Balkan Peninsula is derived - often referred to with the collective “the Balkans”.
In spite of the meaning of its name (old), as a geological formation this mountain is comparatively young. It is based on granite but there also are lime, gneiss and schist. In contrast to Rila and Pirin, only the highest parts of the mountain were covered with glaciers. The lack of completed cirques and the existence of a single lake of glacier origin is the most obvious proof of this theory. Part of the relief of Stara Planina, however, is decisively Alpine.
Climate. Stara Planina is situated on the climatic border between the mild-continental climate of Northern Bulgaria and the softer climate, resulting from the Mediterranean influences in the south. It is a natural barrier against the influx of northern winds to the south, which, especially during the winter, are particularly unpleasant. Quite often, they are the cause of the so-called “falling winds” (bora, wild wind), which coming from the north find their way through the ridges of the mountain and literally “fall” on the Sub-Balkan Valley with great speed - sometimes up to 30 m/sec. Such winds are characteristic of the area round the town of Sliven. Stara Planina is the most windy and foggy of all Bulgarian Mountains. Average temperature values at Mt. Botev are January average temperature - 8.9°C below zero; July average temperature - 7.6°C and annual average temperature of 0.7°C below zero. Rainfalls are at their maximum in May and June and minimum (excluding the Mount Botev area) - in February. The snow cover is rather irregular not only in duration but also in territory. More snow and for a longer period of time falls and stays on the northern slopes of the mountain, while on the southern it will - in most areas - melt away quickly. Because of the powerful winds at the top of the mountain, and in particular the ridges, the formation of visors and avalanches is often not excluded.
The western border of the mountain is the Vrashka Chuka Pass while on the north the natural border is the Danube Plain. In some cases, Stara Planina is accepted by geographers to include the so-called “Pre-Balkan” while in other cases only the mountain itself bears this name. However, such a division is difficult to make. To the south, the mountain is steep and its borders are clearly defined. From west to east Stara Planina touches upon the Sofia Valley, Sredna Gora with all its parts and the Gornotrakiiska (Upper Thracian) Lowland. Its connections with Sredna Gora are Galabets, Koznitsa and Strazhata - natural orographic connections. To the east, the Balkan ends with cape Emine, falling steeply down into the sea.
Within these borders, Stara Planina covers an area of more than 25 000 square kilometres and the central chain alone amounts to 11 600 sq. km. The mountain has 29 peaks at an elevation of over 2000 metres, some of which are definitely Alpine and thus attractive for tourists and climbers.
