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

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Another feature of the climate in the Stara Planina is the wind. The summit of Murgash (1687m) in the Western Stara Planina has the highest average annual wind speed in the country, with Botev (2376m) in the Central Balkan national park coming in a close second. In general, the average annual wind speed on the main ridge typically tops 10m/s, but it is not unusual for even stronger winds to be experienced in the region. One such wind is the föhn, a warm dry spring wind that whips up from the south and then gusts over the ridge, at times reaching speeds of between 18m/s and 20m/s. There is also a biting northerly wind, know as the bora, which blasts across the ridge and sweeps down over the southern slopes. Typical winds, however, tend to be northwesterly and of moderate strength.

Up-to-date weather information and forecasts for the Central Balkan region can be found at http://vremeto.v.bg, and then follow the link for Peak Botev.

Plant Life

The flora of the Central Balkan national park is extremely rich and varied, with approximately 1900 species and sub-species of higher plants found growing in the region. These include 67 Balkan endemics, 10 Bulgarian endemics, and 10 local endemics that are unique to this part of the Stara Planina. The latter include three species of lady’s mantle Alchemilla achtarowii, Alchemilla jumrukczalica and Alchemilla asteroantha, as well as Ognyanov’s knapweed (Centaurea ognianoffi), Urumov’s hawkweed (Hieraceum urumoffii), Bulgarian seseli (Seseli bulgaricum), two catchflies Silene balcanica and Silene trojanensis, the mullein Verbascum boevae and the beautiful little primrose Primula frondosa.