Orelyak (), also known as ''Orelek'' or ''Orlovi skali'', is a peak in the

Pirin The Pirin Mountains ( ) are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with the highest peak, Vihren, at an altitude of . The range extends about from the north-west to the south-east and is about wide, spanning a territory of . To the north ...

mountain range, south-western

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 t ...

. Reaching height of 2,099 m, it is the highest summit of Central Pirin, the second-highest subdivision of the mountain range. Orelayk is situated on Pirin's main ridge to the north of the Baba Peak and to the north-west of the Chala Peak. It has the shape of a triangular dome. The western slopes descend steeply, at places vertically, to the valley of the

Pirinska Bistritsa The Pirinska Bistritsa or Mpístritsas (, ) is a river in south-western Bulgaria and northern Greece, a left tributary of the Struma. The river is 53 km long; the last 7 km before its confluence with the Struma forms the border between ...

river. Orelayk is built up of karstified

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...

s. Near its highest point is located a 96 m-high radio and television

repeater In telecommunications, a repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it. Repeaters are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer distances or be received on the other side of an obstruction. Some ...

. The lower part of the northern slopes falls within the territory of the Orelyak Reserve, created to protect the old growth beech forests of Central Pirin. The main starting point for climbing Orelyak is the Popovi Livadi refuge. There is a marked trail, through which the peak may be reached for about 2 hours. A 10 km gravel road beginning from the same refuge leads to the very top of Orelyak.

Gallery

File:Orelek IMG 3880.jpg File:Oreliak Sveshtnik Ushite Mutorok IMG 6135.jpg File:Garmen-2020-PirinZGarmenu02 (1).jpg File:Orelyak.jpg

Citations

References

* * {{cite book , ref={{harvid, Dushkov, 1972 , title = Пирин. Туристически речник , trans-title = Pirin. Tourist Dictionary , last1 = Душков (Dushkov) , first1 = Добри (Dobri) , year = 1972 , language = Bulgarian , publisher = Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura) , location = София (

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

) , isbn = Mountains of Pirin Landforms of Blagoevgrad Province Two-thousanders of Bulgaria