The
Balkan mountain range (
Bulgarian and
Serbian ????? ???????,
Stara planina, "Old Mountain"). The Balkan range runs 560 km from the
Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between
Bulgaria and eastern
Serbia eastward through central
Bulgaria to
Cape Emine on the
Black Sea. The highest peaks of the Stara planina are in central Bulgaria. The highest peak is
Botev (2,376 m), located in the
Central Balkan National Park (established 1991). The mountain gives the name of the
Balkan Peninsula. Stara Planina played an enormous role in the
History of Bulgaria and the development of the
Bulgarian nation and people.
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'.
Stara Planina is remarkable for its flora and fauna. Edelweiss grows there in the region of Kozyata stena. Some of the most striking landscapes are included in the Central Balkan National Park with steep cliffs, the highest waterfalls in the Balkan peninsula and lush vegetation. There are a number of important nature reserves such as Chuprene, Kozyata stena and others.
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.
