Balkan Mountains

Balkan Mountains
a mountain range extending from W Bulgaria to the Black Sea: highest peak, 7794 ft. (2370 m).

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Bulgarian Stara Planina

Mountain range, eastern Europe.

It extends east to west across central Bulgaria from the Yugoslav border to the Black Sea; the highest point is Botev Peak, at 7,793 ft (2,375 m). The range forms the major divide between the Danube River in the north and the Maritsa River in the south. It is crossed by about 20 passes (notably Shipka Pass), several railway lines, and the Iskur River.

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▪ mountains, Europe
Bulgarian  Stara Planina (“Old Mountains”) , Latin  Haemus 
 chief range of the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria and an extension of the Alpine-Carpathian folds. The range extends from the Timok River valley near the Yugoslav (Serbian) border, spreading out eastward for about 330 miles (530 km) into several spurs, rising to 7,795 feet (2,376 m) at Botev peak, and breaking off abruptly at Cape Emine on the Black Sea. The Balkan Mountains form the major divide between the Danube River (north) and the Maritsa River (south) and are crossed by about 20 passes (notably Shipka Pass), by several railway lines, and by the Iskŭr River. Mineral resources include bituminous and anthracite coal, graphite, and metallic ores, and there are thermal and mineral springs. High alpine meadows descend to coniferous and deciduous forests. Mountain towns such as Veliko Tŭrnovo were focuses for early Bulgarian nationalist movements in the 19th century.

      Although no longer a barrier to movement, except in winter, when snow cover is deep, the range is a climatic barrier between the continental climate of the Danube River valley and the transitional continental climate south of the mountains. Rainfall exceeds 40 inches (1,000 mm) on the range, with long, severe winters. The valleys and basins are suitable for agriculture, and there is a small tourist industry.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Balkan Mountains — mountain range extending across central Bulgaria, from the W border to the Black Sea: highest peak, c. 7,800 ft (2,377 m) …   English World dictionary

  • Balkan Mountains — Geobox|Range name=Balkan mountains (Stara Planina) other name= bg. Стара планина image caption=A view from Kom Peak in western Bulgaria. country= Bulgaria| country1=Serbia| parent=| border= geology= granite, gneiss, limestone|orogeny= |borders=… …   Wikipedia

  • Balkan Mountains — noun the major mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula • Syn: ↑Balkans, ↑Balkan Mountain Range • Instance Hypernyms: ↑range, ↑mountain range, ↑range of mountains, ↑chain, ↑mountain chain, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Balkan Mountains — mtn. range, Balkan penin …   Webster's Gazetteer

  • Balkan Mountains — geographical name mountain range central Bulgaria extending from border with Serbia to Black Sea; highest point Botev Peak 7793 feet (2375 meters) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Balkan Mountains — Bal′kan Moun′tains n. pl. geg a mountain range extending from W Bulgaria to the Black Sea: highest peak, 7794 ft. (2370 m) …   From formal English to slang

  • Balkan Mountains — /bɔlkən ˈmaʊntənz/ (say bawlkuhn mowntuhnz) plural noun a mountain range extending from western Bulgaria to the Black Sea. Highest peak, Mt Botev, 2376 m. Also, the Balkans …  

  • Balkan — [bôl′kən] adj. 1. of the Balkan States or their peoples, languages, or cultures 2. of the Balkan Mountains …   English World dictionary

  • Balkan — Balkanite, n., adj. /bawl keuhn/, adj. 1. pertaining to the Balkan States or their inhabitants. 2. pertaining to the Balkan Peninsula. 3. pertaining to the Balkan Mountains. n. 4. the Balkans. See Balkan States. [1825 35] * * * (as used in… …   Universalium

  • Balkan mixed forests — The Balkan mixed forests constitute a terrestrial ecoregion of Europe according to both the WWF and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency. It belongs to the biome of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests… …   Wikipedia

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