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Rila
Rila (, ) is the highest mountain range of Bulgaria, the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, and Southeast Europe. It is situated in southwestern Bulgaria and forms part of the Rila–Rhodope Mountains, Rhodope Massif. The highest summit is Musala at an elevation of 2,925 m which makes Rila the sixth highest mountain range in Europe after the Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and Mount Etna, and the highest one between the Alps and the Caucasus. It spans a territory of 2,629 km2 with an average elevation of 1487 m. The mountain is believed to have been named after the Rilska River, river of the same name, which comes from the Old Bulgarian language, Old Bulgarian verb "рыти" meaning "to grub". Rila has abundant water resources. Some of the Balkans' longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including the Maritsa, Iskar (river), Iskar and Nestos (river), Mesta rivers. Bulgaria's main water divide separating the Black Sea and the A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Rila Monastery Nature Park () is one of the largest nature parks in Bulgaria, spanning a territory of in the western part of the Rila mountain range at an altitude between . It is in Rila Municipality, Kyustendil Province and includes forests, mountain meadows, alpine areas, and 28 glacial lakes. With a little more than 1 million visitors, it is the second-most visited nature park in the country, after Vitosha, Vitosha Nature Park. It was established in 1992 as part of the newly founded Rila National Park. In 2000 some territory of the national park was reassigned to the Rila Monastery and was recategorized as a nature park because by law all lands in national parks are exclusively state-owned. Most of the park is owned by the monastery. The park includes one nature reserve, Rila Monastery Forest, with an area of , or 14% of its total territory. The park falls entirely within the Rodope montane mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic realm, Palearctic temperat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint John of Rila, also known as Rila Monastery ("Sveti Ivan Rilski" (), is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River ("Rila River") at an elevation of above sea level, inside of Rila Monastery Nature Park and in close vicinity of the Rila Monastery Forest Nature Reserve. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Saint Ivan of Rila (876–946 AD), and houses approximately 60 monks. The monastery is a popular pilgrimage site for many Orthodox Christians. Founded in the 10th century, Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe for religious tourists. In 2008 alone it attracted 900,000 visitors. The monastery is depicted on the Obverse and reverse, reverse of the 1 Bulgarian le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Of Rila
Saint John of Rila, also known as Ivan of Rila (; – 18 August 946), was the first Bulgarian hermit. He was revered as a saint while he was still alive. The legend surrounding him tells of wild animals that freely came up to him and birds that landed in his hands. His followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery. One of these churches, Saint John of Rila was only discovered in 2008 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. Today, he is honored as the patron saint of the Bulgarians and as one of the most important saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Life Saint John of Rila was born app. 876 a.c. in Skrino, at the foot of the Osogovo mountain. He was a contemporary of the reign of emperor and saint Boris I, his sons Vladimir (Rassate) and tsar Simeon I The Great, and the son of the latter - Saint tsar Peter I. Originally a herder, at the age of 25, Saint John of Rila became a priest in the "St. Dimitrii" monastery located under peak Ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rila Monastery Forest
Rila Monastery Forest (, ''Rilomanastirska gora'') is a nature reserve in Rila Monastery Nature Park, located in the Rila mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria. Spanning a territory of 3671 ha or 36.71 km2, it was declared in April 1986 to protect primary ecosystems of coniferous and mixed coniferous–deciduous forests. It is a strict nature reserve (1st category protected territory according to Bulgarian legislation and IUCN classification). Geography The reserve is situated in western part of Rila and is bisected in two unconnected parts by the valley of the Rilska River. It overlooks the Rila Monastery, one of the most important spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It includes forests and alpine peaks on both sides of the valley between the summits of Malyovitsa (2,729 m) and Brichebor. One of the most visited parts is the meadow of Kirilova Polyana, overlooked by forests and the raising summits of Kupenite (2,731 m), Lovnitsa (2,695 m), Zlia Zab (2,678 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Central Rila Reserve
Central Rila Reserve () is a nature reserve in Rila National Park, located in the Rila mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria. Spanning a territory of 12417 ha or 124.17 km2, it is the largest nature reserve in the nation and the Balkan Peninsula. It was declared in February 1992 to protect undisturbed primary alpine ecosystems. Upon its creation, the Central Rila Reserve included the whole territory of the previously existing since 1956 Marichini Lakes Reserve, and the latter seized to exist as a separate protected area, which had been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977. It is a strict nature reserve (1st category protected territory according to Bulgarian legislation and IUCN classification). Geography The reserve is situated in central part of Rila in the upper valleys of two of the largest rivers of Bulgaria, the Maritsa and the Iskar. The relieve is mostly alpine, with many rocky peaks, screes, meadows. The reserve encompasses the highest zones of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rilska River
The Rilska River (, ''Rilska reka'', "Rila River") is a river in south-western Bulgaria, a left tributary of the Struma (river), Struma. The river is 51 km long and drains the western sections of the Rila mountain range. Geography Under the name Manastirska River, it takes its source from the north-eastern corner of the Ribni Lakes, Upper Ribno Lake in the western part of Central Rila at an altitude of 2,225 m in a cirque surrounded by the peaks Yosifitsa (2,697 m) in the east, Kanarata (2,666 m) in the south and Kyoravitsa (2,612 m) in the west. It flows through the Lower Ribno Lake, turns in north-western direction and after forming a large convex to the north it turns to the south-west. Following the confluence with its largest tributary, the Iliyna River, it flows in western direction under the name Rilska River. It forms deep and densely forested valley until it reaches the town of Rila, Bulgaria, Rila and enters the plain and wide Dupnitsa Valley. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seven Rila Lakes
The Seven Rila Lakes (, ) are a group of glacial lakes, situated in the northwestern Rila Mountain in Bulgaria. Situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level, they are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called ''Salzata'' ("The Tear") due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth. The next one in height carries the name ''Okoto'' ("The Eye") after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m. Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group. Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest one by area. Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Lower Lake"), where the waters that flow out of the other lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River. The Seven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rila National Park
Rila National Park () is the largest national park in Bulgaria spanning an area of in the Rila mountain range in the south-west of the country. History It was established on 24 February 1992 to protect several ecosystems of national importance. Its altitude varies from near Blagoevgrad to at Musala Peak, the highest summit in the Balkan Peninsula. The park has 120 glacial lakes, including the prominent Seven Rila Lakes. Many rivers have their source in the national park, including the river that carries the most water entirely within the Balkans (the Maritsa river) and the longest river entirely within Bulgaria (the Iskar river). The national park occupies territory of 4 of the 28 provinces of the country: Sofia, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad and Pazardzhik. It includes four nature reserves: Parangalitsa, Central Rila Reserve, Ibar and Skakavitsa. Rila National Park is among the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe. The International Union for Conservation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north. It covers a territory of and is the tenth largest within the European Union and the List of European countries by area, sixteenth-largest country in Europe by area. Sofia is the nation's capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city; other major cities include Burgas, Plovdiv, and Varna, Bulgaria, Varna. One of the earliest societies in the lands of modern-day Bulgaria was the Karanovo culture (6,500 BC). In the 6th to 3rd century BC, the region was a battleground for ancient Thracians, Persians, Celts and Ancient Macedonians, Macedonians; stability came when the Roman Empire conquered the region in AD 45. After the Roman state splintered, trib ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skakavitsa Reserve
Skakavitsa () is a nature reserve in Rila National Park, located in the Rila mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria. It was declared in March 1968 to protect undisturbed primary forests of Macedonian pine (''Pinus peuce''). Spanning a territory of 83 ha or 0.83 km2, it is among the nation’s smallest protected areas. Geography Skakavitsa is situated in northwestern Rila in the upper valley of the river Dzherman between 1,850 and 2,050 m altitude. Just south of the reserve's limited territory are located the Skakavitsa Waterfall (70 m), the highest in the mountain range, and the Seven Rila Lakes, both among the most visited tourist attractions in the area. To the north is the small resort of Panichishte. Administratively, it is part of Sapareva Banya Municipality, Kyustendil Province, within the area of the town of Sapareva Banya. Flora and fauna Most of Skakavitsa is covered with forests. Due to the high altitude the predominant tree species are c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Musala
Musala ( ); from Arabic through Ottoman Turkish: from '' Musalla'', "near God" or "place for prayer" is the highest peak in the Rila Mountains, as well as in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula, standing at . With a topographic prominence of , Musala is also the 6th highest peak by topographic prominence in mainland Europe. It is also the 3rd most topographically isolated major peak in Continental Europe. Musala is situated within the Rila National Park, which is noted for its rich flora, including species such as Macedonian Pine and Bulgarian Fir in the forests on its middle slopes, and fauna; it is one of the easiest places in Europe to see the wallcreeper. All major mountain ranges of Bulgaria can be seen from the top; these include Vitosha to the northwest, Sredna Gora towards the northeast, the Balkan Mountains along most of the northern horizon behind Vitosha and Sredna Gora, the Rhodope Mountains to the southeast, Pirin to the south, Osogovo and Ruy Mountai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iskar (river)
The Iskar (, ; ) is a right tributary of the Danube. With a length of 368 km, it is the longest river that runs entirely within Bulgaria.Statistical Yearbook 2017 National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria), p. 17 Originating as three forks in Balkan's highest mountain range Rila, the Iskar flows in a northern direction until its confluence with the Danube. As it flows northwards it fuels the largest artificial lake in the country, the Iskar Reservoir, forms the divide between the Vitosha and Plana Mountains in the west and the Sredna Gora mountain range in the east before entering the Sofia Valley, which contains the nation's capital Sofia. From there the Iskar runs through the Balkan Mountains, forming the spectacular 84 km long Iskar Gorge. As it crosses the mountains, its water course turns ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
