Читать книгу Walking in Bulgaria's National Parks. Pirin, Rila and Central Balkans National Parks онлайн

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The Stara Planina comprises many individual massifs, which geographers group into three distinct sections. The Western Stara Planina extends for 190km between the Belogradchik pass and Zlatitsa pass and includes four peaks over 2000m, of which Midzhar (2168m) is the highest. Beyond the Zlatitsa pass begins the Central Stara Planina. This stretches for a distance of 185km, as far as the Vratnik pass, and boasts 25 peaks over 2000m, including Botev (2376m), the highest summit of the entire range. The final section is the Eastern Stara Planina, which runs for 155km between the Vratnik pass and Cape Emine. This is the lowest section of the range, scarcely topping 1000m. Its highest top is Balgarka (1181m).

On the main ridge of the Stara Planina at the edge of the Tsarichina Reserve (Walk 1, Day 2)

Founded in 1991, the Central Balkan national park, as its name suggests, is located in heart of the Central Stara Planina, covering an 85km stretch of the main ridge. It is the second largest protected territory in Bulgaria, with a total area of 71,670ha, and encompasses the three highest and wildest massifs of the range, the Zlatishko-Tetevenska Planina, Troyanska Planina and Kaloferska Planina, including 20 of the Stara Planina’s 2000m peaks. About 60 per cent of the national park is covered in forest, while the rest comprises a patchwork of high-mountain meadows, pastures and rock outcrops.