Balkan Mountains

mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula

The Balkan mountain range (Bulgarian and Serbian: Стара планина, Stara planina, "Old Mountain") is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River. The People who lived in the Balkan Mountains are called Balkandjii.

View from Ray Resthouse towards the Central Balkan Mountains. The Raysko Praskalo waterfall is in the middle.
The Iskar River passing through the mountains in a gorge
The Kozya Stena Reserve

The Balkan range runs 560 km from eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea.

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), in the Central Balkan National Park (established 1991).


Passes

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There are paved roads crossing Stara Planina at the following passes (listed from west to east):

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References

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Other websites

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43°15′N 25°00′E / 43.250°N 25.000°E / 43.250; 25.000