Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, Bulgaria. Guided And Self-guided Walking Tours. Rhodope Mountains > Rhodope Mountains - guided and self-guided hiking and walking holidays in Bulgaria RHODOPE MOUNTAINS Rhodope (also Rodopi or Rhodopi) is the largest mountain in Bulgaria, spanning one seventh of the territory of the country. The mountain is situated in the Southern part of Bulgaria and the southernmost part of it is situated on the territory of Greece. The highest peak is Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.). The name of the mountain has a Thracian origin. The Thracian tribes inhabited the Rhodopi centuries on end. Around the mountain there are lots of remains of their culture, such as megaliths and sanctuaries. In geomorphological aspect the Rhodopi is the oldest mountain range in Bulgaria. The mountain can be divided in Eastern and Western Rhodopi. The two parts are very different from each another. The Western part is much higher and the climate is mostly mountainous. The Eastern part has low mountainous and hill relief, where the average altitude is only 230 m.

The climate is very mild during the winter and very hot in the summer. A significant part of Bulgaria's hydropower resources is concentrated in the Western part of the mountain range. There are lots of hydro-cascades, built on dams used for electricity production, irrigation and as tourist destinations. Fifteen reserves have been established in the region, some of which are under UNESCO protection. There are more than 50 huts in Rhodope Mountains. Unfortunately, some of them are closed down altogether; others are open only in the warm period of the year. Most of the hikers and visitors of the mountain prefer to stay in some of the numerous guesthouses and small hotels situated in the villages and the small Rhodopean towns, such as the towns of Smolyan, Chepelare, Kardzhali, Velingrad, Devin, Zlatograd and the villages of Shiroka Laka, Yagodina, Gela, Trigrad, Orehovo, Kovachevitsa and many others. Lots of hiking and walking trails are crossing the Eastern and Western part of Rhodope Mountains. Unfortunately, only the most popular are very well marked.

During most of the hikes it is not very difficult to get lost. The Rhodope Mountains are suitable for differently experienced hikers. You can either make short walks around some of the villages or the interesting sites (i.e. using as a centre for example Trigrad village ), or hike many days in line for more than 6-7 hours per day (some self-guided walking tours offer the option to walk with just a daypack, having your luggage transferred between the accommodations in the meantime). In any case the walking trails here are easier compared to Rila and Pirin, providing good opportunities for easy to moderate difficulty hikes. The Rhodope Mountains are some of the best places in Bulgaria to combine sightseeing and hiking . Hiking for a couple of days here is included in all itineraries, coverning the best of the Bulgarian mountains . The parts of the mountains, close to the border with Greece had a very limited access during the communists’ times and now they slightly reveal their secrets and traditions. And they are unique. For sure this is the place to experience Bulgarian hospitality in the true sense of the word. The most visited is the region between the villages of Orehovo, Trigrad and Smolyan.

The most often visited hiking trails and the most popular tourist sites are situated there. Natural and cultural sights: They are so many, but let’s mention some of them: • Environmental centre “Eastern Rhodope” – located in the town of Madzharovo. There you can learn about the vultures and see them in their natural habitat. • Chudnite mostove (Wonderful Bridges) – a marvelous rocky phenomenon. The two bridges are situated in the foothills of Golyam Persenk Peak and were formed by the erosive activity of the once high-water river. • Some of the famous caves you can visit: “Yagodina”, “Bacho Kiro”, “Uhlovitsa”, “Snezhanka”, “The Devil’s Throat” etc. • Kardzhali – in and near this town you can find many interesting places: the Historical museum; Kardzhali dam; the unique Womb cave; strange rocky formations – the Rocky mushrooms and the Rocky wedding; the ruins of three fortresses - Moniak, Hisara, Ustra. • Perperikon and Tatul – two very famous Thracian sanctuaries.

• The Devil’s Bridge - a spectacular bridge over Arda River, near the town of Ardino. It was build 500 years ago and stands still this way. There are interesting legends about the architect and the erection of the bridge. Some people say that if you are observing the construction and the water below it in a particular moment of the day you can see the face of the Devil. • You can take a walk along some of the nice Eco-trails, most of them are with duration 2-4 hours. The most visited and beautiful is the “Canyon of the waterfalls” near the town of Smolyan. • Shiroka Laka village – an architectural and folklore reserve with preserved old houses. • Rhodopian dams – you can relax and enjoy the picturesque scenery on the shores of the dams of Kardzhali, Beglika, Vacha, Shiroka polyana, Dospat, Toshkov chark. • Zlatograd – in the center of the town is situated an open-air Ethnographical complex. • Mezek – a Thracian tomb near the border with Greece. • Belintash – a Thracian sanctuary, near the village of Mostovo.

• Bachkovo Monastery – the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. • Kovachevitsa – another small village with preserved old houses. • Two wonderful gorges – Buynovo and Trigrad Zhdrelo. The great climate and soil diversity determine the large biodiversity in the Rhodope Mountains. There are more than 2000 plants, 90 of them are Balkan Peninsula’s endemic species. The most famous plant in the region is the Rhodopean Haberlea. The legend tells that the plant grew from the blood of the Thracian singer Orpheus. Typical representatives of the deciduous trees are oak, hornbeam, durmast, wild pear, beech, ashtree. From the coniferous trees the most widespread species are spruce, white and black pine. You can see them only in the Western part of the mountain. Representatives of the mammal species are wolves, wild boars, brown bears, wild goats (Balkan Chamois), rabbits. The connoisseurs can enjoy a variety of 200 ladybirds. The East Rhodope is a paradise for the ornithologists. There are more than 270 bird species.

Among them are three species of vultures and almost all European eagles and falcons. The region hosts the largest populations of Griffon vulture and Egyptian vulture on the Balkan Peninsula. Trigrad Gorge is world-famous place for watching Wallcreeper. The number of festivals and events taking place in the mountains is huge and some of them have century-old history. There are just a few of them: • National Bagpipe festival – takes place every first weekend of August in the village of Gela. You can enjoy the unique sound of Bulgarian bagpipe. ( VIDEO CLIP – the official world record – ensemble of 333 bagpipes) • Festival of the bread – takes place every year in August near the village of Rabovo. You can see the path of the bread, from the mowing of the spelt (the oldest cereal plant in Bulgaria) to the baked bread. • Beglika fest – takes place very year in August around Beglika dam. A festival of the activity and creativity in open air. It combines sports, art, education, music, environmentalism. A festival with sustainable environmental thinking. • July Jazz – an open-air festival for ethno-jazz music.

It takes place near Perelik peak, every year in July. You can enjoy the cosmic voice of Bulgaria: The song “Izlel e Delyo haidutin” performed by Valya Balkanska was one of the chosen and included in the Golden disc of the space ship Voyager in order to be a musical message from the Earth to the distant space. In 2004 Voyager exceeded the boundaries of the Solar system. The great east European road trip part three: hiking in Bulgaria | Travel | The Guardian Bulgaria holidays The great east European road trip part three: hiking in Bulgaria The deep gorges of Bulgaria’s Rhodope mountains are said to hold the secret to health and long life – which comes in handy after a Shakira-induced injury Week 1: Croatia . Week 2: Albania . Next: Romania Maddy drinking at one of the many springs in Bulgaria’s Rhodope mountains.

All photographs by Kevin Rushby for the Guardian Saturday 22 August 2015 02.00 EDT Last modified on Tuesday 20 September 2016 07.05 EDT Share on Messenger Close We were high in the Rhodope mountains of southern Bulgaria, one of Europe’s largest wildernesses, a place where wolves and bears can still be found, that is home to a scattering of hardy villages, mostly Turkish-influenced from the long presence of the Ottoman empire. The narrow valleys have tumbling rivers that carve deep gorges, inspiration for many stories, notably that of Orpheus, the divinely inspired musician. We had trekked up from the village of Yagodina, spotted a snake among the flowers, and now we were tired. We needed distractions. It was then that disaster struck, the sort of thing that can occur in myth-soaked mountains. Bulgaria Rhodope mountains It was my daughter Maddy (12) who roused the slumbering gods. She took out her phone and started playing music: Shakira to be precise, the one about hips.

I leaped up on a rock and, egged on by the adoring jeers of my family, performed an inadvisable parody of the Colombian diva. The gods passed their judgement. Something in my lower back snapped. By the time we had descended to our destination, the village of Trigrad, I knew I was going to suffer. Fortunately the Rhodope region is renowned for the longevity and good health of its inhabitants and, at the Triibria hotel , the owner, Nevse, brought out all the secrets of Rhodopean vitality: ironwort tea; mursalski, renowned for anti-inflammatory properties; then patatik, a potato-based Rhodopean favourite, filled with cheese and herbs collected on the mountain. Later came other balms, notably mavrud wine (Bulgaria’s best red, grown on the lower slopes of the Rhodopes). Still I sat there, twisted and contrite, clutching my coccyx. Finally yoghurt was brought. The Rhodopes’ reputation for health is not new: back in 1905 a Russian researcher noted the unusually high incidence of centenarians and decided the secret was in the yoghurt.

A bacteria, lactobacillus bulgaricus was isolated. Scientists went on to find that Bulgarian yoghurt helped increase bone density and reduce chloresterol. It was a wonder cure. The Rhodopeans, of course, knew their yoghurt was good, but the secret of long life? They kept quiet. Pinterest An old man chopping firewood for in Trigrad I ate my yoghurt; I drank more ironwort tea. I staggered over to the bar and was shown dozens of proprietary spirits, none of which had any claim to healing. Finally, an unlabelled bottle of tawny liquid was produced and a tot poured. Ice was added. Two hours later I knew I had found Bulgaria’s secret weapon in the war on decrepitude: rakia. Next day, I was much better, and we strolled through the village towards Trigrad’s famous gorge . Despite it only being early August the villagers were clearly preparing for winter: everyone appeared to be chopping or stacking firewood. The streets were lined with long walls of logs and the houses fortified by ramparts of kindling. Beyond the houses was the gorge , deep enough to swallow London’s Shard.

At its narrowest point there is a dark, savage hole into which the river plunges, the Devil’s Throat. It was here that Orpheus supposedly descended to Hades in pursuit of his deceased beloved, Eurydice. We decided to follow. Fortunately someone has built a footpath into the cave which enters lower down so you pass into the bowels of Hades first, admiring some of the 35,000 bats who live there, then climbing through vast vaulted chambers towards daylight. At this point Orpheus made the fatal mistake of looking back, despite having been warned against it, thus losing Eurydice forever. The moral is clear: once the right answer to a problem is found, do not look back. Pinterest The natural arches of Chudni Mostove in the Rhodope mountains We spent the rest of the day climbing up on the crags, admiring some of Rhodope’s 80 unique plant species. Clouds of butterflies went with us, hitching lifts on our shoulders. There were glorious panoramas of endless forests and mountains: one of the pleasures of the Rhodopes is the sense of vast wild spaces.

At sunset part two of my cure commenced: ironwort, bean soup, yoghurt, and several medicinal shots of rakija. Next day we walked a gorge near Devin village, soaked my back in renowned spa waters and ended the day higher up the valley in the village of Lyaskovo at the homestay of Rumen and Zacharina Rosenovi. After a superb dinner, our hosts’ son, Boris, played the bagpipes and Zacharina got Sophie and Maddy dancing. Personally, I still felt some Shakira-inspired caution, something Rumen clearly understood, leaving me in the company of a rakia bottle that, bizarrely, contained three woodcarved musicians – a gift from another villager. Could it have been Orpheus? I lifted the bottle and I did not look back. Pinterest Rumen Rosenovi with his special bottle of rakia Next day, we set off through Lyaskovo, calling greetings to all the people out chopping logs and admiring some venerable communist-era vehicles – Bulgaria could snatch the mantle of “ex-communist country with great vintage vehicles” from Cuba.

Then we trekked upwards into the forests and collected handfuls of wild strawberries and raspberries, crossing the highest ridge at 1,900 metres, before dropping down to Chudni Mostove, a stirring sight where water has carved several massive arches in stone, the largest over 45 metres high and wide. I scrambled down steep gulches and leaped from rocks like a mountain goat. Our last night we spent in Kosovo, a restored village, then next day stopped by Bachkovo, an 11th century monastery busy with little ceremonies and rituals, before returning to Plovdiv, an ancient city and a great base for any exploration of Bulgaria’s southern mountains. The Rhodope had cured me, but I don’t believe it was the yoghurt. • Bulgarian roads are the most pot-holed we have yet encountered, but fuel is the cheapest. We are using the Bradt Guide to Bulgaria. I’m reading The Traveller’s Literary Companion to Eastern and Central Europe, edited by James Naughton, which covers a lot of the countries we are visiting, including the next: Romania.

Traventuria , provided Kevin and family’s self-guided walking tour ( In the Footsteps of Orpheus starts from £307 per person in a double room, including ground transfers, en suite halfboard accommodation, detailed route notes and maps). HomeAway provided self-catering accommodation in Plovdiv , from £75 per night. Kevin also stayed at Hotel Hebros , double rooms with breakfast from £56, +359 32 260180 Follow Kevin’s journey on instagram.com/kevinrushby ; contribute your tips on things for him to see and do on the way on twitter.com/kevin_rushby Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria | Tourist Maker Blog Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria The Rhodope Mountains extend into the southern part of Bulgaria . They are located between the Gornotrakiiska valley to the north and the Aegean Lowlands to the south and between the Rila and Pirin Mountains to the west and the Maritsa River to the east. The Rhodopes are the widest mountain range in Bulgaria.

They cover an area of about 14,737 square kilometers, of which approximately 12,233 are in Bulgaria. The rest much smaller section, or approximately 2,504 square kilometers, falls into the northern periphery of Greece . The highest peak is called Big Perelik, and it rises to about 2191 meters above sea level in the central part of the massif. The Rhodopes are known as the most beautiful Bulgarian mountain. In comparison with other local mountains such as Rila, Pirin and Stara Planina, the Rhodopes are relatively low and attract tourists with their mild, rounded shapes and flat top mountain peaks. The Rhodopes lure visitors with their clean nature, fragrant coniferous and deciduous forests, deep river valleys and cool emerald green alpine meadows. Extremely rich in water, the mountain is known for its rivers, dams and hot mineral springs. Here you will find a large number of beautiful caves such as Uhlovitsa, Devil’s Throat Cave, Lepenitsa, Yagodinska and Snezhanka (Snow White Cave).

The Rhodopes can be divided into two main sections that differ significantly from one another. The western section of the mountain is much higher, with thick forests, cool and humid climate and abundant rainfall. It is considered much more beautiful and attractive to tourists. To the east the landscape is quite different, mostly dry and with some typical Mediterranean features. The forests are not so dense, and quite often you can see large areas of deforestation. Some of the rivers here dry up completely during the summer months. Besides known for their rare seen beauty, the Rhodopes are considered to be the heart of the Bulgarian spirit and culture. This is the birthplace of ancient traditions, which have been preserved over the centuries, and the cradle of one of the oldest countries in Europe . The history of the Rhodopes is very exciting, and the colorful folklore attracts people from all over the world. Traditional local dances and songs spread the glory of this old country from Japan to the United States , far beyond the borders of Bulgaria. Which places to visit while in the Rhodopes? The Rhodopes are one of the most attractive places to visit in Bulgaria (the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is the other).

Some towns and villages in the area have acquired considerable popularity with their vast wealth of mineral springs. Do not miss to visit settlements such as Narechenski bani, Devin, Beden, Velingrad and Banite. Another interesting place is Smolyan. With a population of 30,642 people, it is the largest town in the Rhodope Mountains and is the major economic, cultural and educational center in the region. Varbovo, Peshtera, Zlatograd and especially Shiroka Laka are places that should not be missed because of their authentic old Bulgarian architecture. Bachkovo and Laki are known by Bachkovo Monastery and Krastova Gora (Cross Forest). Among the top destinations in the Rhodopes are the famous ski resorts of Pamporovo, Chepelare and Tsigov Chark. Interesting place for fishing is Dospat, picturesquely situated on the coast of the eponymous lake. Climat. The Rhodopes fall in the southern parts of Bulgaria. Most low lying areas, especially in the eastern half of the mountain, have a subtropical climate with hot and dry summers and wet, mild winters.

The mountain range experiences the warming influence of the Mediterranean Sea. At high altitudes, however, the mountain is cold and snowy in winter and cool, fresh in summer, especially when it comes to the Western Rhodopes. The mountain is one of the most pleasant places to escape the unbearable summer heat in July and August in Bulgaria. The average daytime temperature is lovely, and it usually varies around 22 – 23°C. Winters bring a thick and durable snow cover and low temperatures of between (-15) and 2°C. The economy of the Rhodopes is largely predetermined by the vast water resources in the region. The sources of many large and deep Bulgarian rivers, which flow into the Aegean Sea, can be traced back to the Rhodopes. During the 20th century a number of large dams have been built on their streams. Their waters have been and are still used for the production of clean hydro power. The production of tobacco and high-quality aromatic wines is a very important part of the economy. The tourism industry is a major source of foreign currency in the region too, and winter is considered to be an active tourist season.

This is the period when the excellent ski slopes attract numerous visitors, and the small and quiet mountain villages in the Rhodopes turn into lively international resorts. Geography Geography Shiroka Laka & Gela Geography LOCATION Situated in south-eastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the north-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. With a territory of only 110,994 sq. km. Bulgaria is the fifteenth largest country in Europe but one of the continent’s most varied, geographically and in terms of climate. It is situated on the west coast of the Black Sea, with Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south, and Serbia and Macedonia to the west. The average altitude of the country is 470 m above sea level. THE LAND Bulgaria has a remarkably diverse landscape. In what is a relatively small territory there are extensive lowlands, plains, hills, low and high mountains, many valleys and deep gorges. Lowlands occupy 31% of the territory. Plains and hilly regions account for 41%. The mountains account for 29% of the territory. Nearly 35% of Bulgaria consists of forests.

The main characteristic of Bulgaria's topography is alternating bands of high and low terrain that extend east to west across the country. The landscape ranges from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically continental Danubian Plain in the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands of the southernmost parts of Thrace. The mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges - Rila and Pirin - and further east stand the lower but more extensive Rhodope Mountains. The Balkan mountain chain runs west to east through the middle of the country, just north of the Rose Valley. Hilly countryside and plains lie to the southeast, along the Black Sea coast, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube, to the north. Bulgaria has a dense network of about 540 rivers, most of them - with the notable exception of the Danube - short and shallow. Most rivers flow through mountainous areas. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the Iskar, is 368 km long.

Bulgaria has some 500 reservoirs of mineral water with over 1,600 water springs. It occupies one of the highest places among the European countries for the amount and diversity of mineral water. Tyulenovo - Black Sea CLIMATE The predominant climate in Bulgaria is mild and transitional continental with cold winters and hot summers. A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and damp, mild winters, prevails in the valley of the south-western Rhodope Mountains. The northern limit of the climatic zone is the Balkan Range. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains has some influence on climate throughout the country - northern Bulgaria experiences lower temperatures and receives more rain than the southern lowlands. Bulgarian mountains and valleys act as barriers or channels for air masses, causing sharp contrasts in weather over relatively short distances. The continental zone is predominant, because continental air masses flow easily into the unobstructed Danubian Plain. The continental influence, stronger during the winter, produces abundant snowfalls; the Mediterranean influence increases during the second half of summer and produces hot and dry weather. The barrier Precipitation averages about 630 mm per year.

Bulgaria receives 2,000 to 2,400 hours of sunlight per year. Melnik Pyramids - Photo By Bistra Shanina Rhodope Mountain FLORA AND FAUNA Because of its geographical location, varied climate and geology, Bulgaria has a very rich flora, with over 3800 species of high altitude plants including Central European, Mediterranean, Pontic, Pannonian, Steppe and Oriental features. Compared to other European countries, Bulgaria's flora boasts a relatively large percentage of native plants, with 170 native species and 100 native subspecies. The highest concentration of these is found in the Balkan and Rhodope Mountains. With regard to Bulgaria's rich wildlife, it results from a combination of climatic and geographical factors. In terms of its diversity, Bulgaria's fauna ranks amongst the richest in Europe, and the country is thought to be home to almost one quarter of the species found on the continent so far.

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Schelde River river, 270 miles (435 km) long, that rises in northern France and flows across Belgium to its North Sea outlet in Dutch territory. Along with the Lower Rhine and the Meuse rivers, it drains one of the world’s most densely populated areas. As a waterway,... Schwarze Elster River right- (east-) bank tributary of the Elbe River, rising in the Lusatian Mountains, about 4 miles (7 km) northwest of Bischofswerda, Ger. Flowing north, it leaves the mountains near Kamenz, where it turns northeast to enter the Upper Lusatia region. Between... Scilly, Isles of group of about 50 small islands and many more islets lying southwest of Cornwall, England, 25 to 36 miles (40 to 58 km) off Land’s End. Administratively, the islands are a distinct unit within England, though they form a part of the historic county of... Scutari, Lake largest lake in the Balkans, on the frontier between Montenegro and Albania.

Its area is 150 square miles (390 square km), but it reaches 205 square miles (530 square km) at its seasonal high water. The lake was formerly an arm of the Adriatic Sea. On... Segovia city, capital of Segovia provincia (province), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Castile-León, Spain, northwest of Madrid. The site of the expansive medieval Alcázar palace and the famous Segovia aqueduct, the city was added to UNESCO’s... Segovia aqueduct water-conveyance structure built under the Roman emperor Trajan (reigned 98–117 ce) and still in use; it carries water 10 miles (16 km) from the Frío River to the city of Segovia, Spain. One of the best-preserved Roman engineering works, it was built... Segura River river in southeastern Spain. It rises in the Segura Mountains in Jaén province and flows east through the driest region of the Iberian Peninsula to enter the Mediterranean Sea south of Alicante, a course of 202 miles (325 km). Much water is drawn off...

Seine River river of France, after the Loire its longest. It rises 18 miles (30 kilometres) northwest of Dijon and flows in a northwesterly direction through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre. The river is 485 miles (780 kilometres) long... Seleucid kingdom (312–64 bc), an ancient empire that at its greatest extent stretched from Thrace in Europe to the border of India. It was carved out of the remains of Alexander the Great’s Macedonian empire by its founder, Seleucus I Nicator. (See also Hellenistic Age.)... Semmering most easterly and lowest (3,232 feet [985 metres]) of the great Alpine passes, at the boundary between Bundesländer (federal provinces) Steiermark (Styria) and Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), in east-central Austria. Situated in the watershed dividing... Serbia country in the west-central Balkans. For most of the 20th century, it was a part of Yugoslavia.

The capital of Serbia is Belgrade (Beograd), a cosmopolitan city at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers; Stari Grad, Belgrade’s old town, is dominated... Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, Kingdom of Balkan state formed on December 1, 1918. Ruled by the Serbian Karadjordjević dynasty, the new kingdom included the previously independent kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro and the South Slav territories in areas formerly subject to the Austro-Hungarian... Sevan, Lake lake in Armenia, with an area of 525 sq mi (1,360 sq km). Lying at 6,250 ft (1,905 m) above sea level in a mountain-enclosed basin, it drains by the Hrazdan River into the Aras River and to the Caspian Sea, but most of its water is lost by evaporation... Severn, River Britain’s longest river from source to tidal waters—about 180 miles (290 km) long, with the Severn estuary adding some 40 miles (64 km) to its total length.

The Severn rises near the River Wye on the northeastern slopes of Plynlimon (Welsh: Pumlumon),... Shannon, River the longest river in Ireland, rising in northwestern County Cavan and flowing for about 161 miles (259 km) in a southerly direction to enter the Atlantic Ocean via a 70-mile (113-kilometre) estuary below Limerick city. It drains an area of 6,060 square... Sheppey, Isle of island at the mouth of the River Thames in Swale borough, administrative and historic county of Kent, England. It covers 35 square miles (91 square km), and its extremely fertile low-lying land supports grain and vegetable crops and sheep. Although it... Sherwood Forest woodland and former royal hunting ground, county of Nottinghamshire, England, that is well known for its association with Robin Hood, the outlaw hero of medieval legend. Sherwood Forest formerly occupied almost all of western Nottinghamshire and extended... Shiel, Loch narrow lake, in the northwest Highlands of Scotland.

About 17 miles (28 km) long, it extends ribbonlike from Glenfinnan southwestward and drains into the 3-mile- (5-km-) long River Shiel, which empties into Loch Moidart, a sea loch. The upper reaches... Shipka Pass pass in the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. Situated on the main road from Ruse on the Danube River through Stara Zagora to Edirne (Adrianople) in Turkey, it was a strategically important pass and was the scene of fierce fighting during the Russo-Turkish... Sicily island of Italy, the largest and one of the most densely populated in the Mediterranean Sea. Together with the Egadi, Lipari, Pelagie, and Panteleria islands, Sicily forms an autonomous region of Italy. It lies about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Tunisia... Siebengebirge cluster of hills southeast of Bonn, Germany. Volcanic in origin and actually about 40 in number, they rise on the right bank of the Rhine between Königswinter and the Cologne–Frankfurt am Main Autobahn. A popular tourist resort area and nature reserve,...

Sierra Nevada mountain range in southeastern Spain, near the Mediterranean coast, the highest division of the Baetic Cordillera. The range itself is a domed mountain elongated for about 26 miles (42 km) from east to west. It is clearly defined by the faulted troughs... Siljan, Lake lake in the administrative län (county) of Dalarna, central Sweden. Covering an area of 112 square miles (290 square km; including Orsa and In lakes, 137 square miles [354 square km]), it is Dalarna’s largest lake. After receiving the Österdal River... Simplon Pass mountain pass in southern Switzerland between the Pennine and Lepontine Alps at 6,581 ft (2,006 m) on the watershed between a north-flowing tributary of the Rhône and a south-flowing tributary of the Toce. It was not until the mid-13th century that the...

Siphnus Greek island of the Cyclades (Modern Greek: Kykládes) group, consisting of a limestone ridge whose principal peaks, Profíts Ilías (2,277 feet [694 m]) and Áyios Simeón (1,624 feet [495 m]), are crowned by Byzantine churches; the island is 28 square miles... Skye the largest and most northerly of the Inner Hebrides islands of Scotland. It is the nearest of these islands to the mainland, which lies only a few hundred yards away at Kyleakin, where the Skye Bridge provides access to the mainland by road. Administratively,... Skyros island, the largest and easternmost of the northern Sporades in the Aegean Sea, Greece. The island has an area of 81 square miles (210 square km). On the island’s western coast is found the main harbour, Linariá, while in the north is Skíros, the capital,... Slaney, River river, rising on Lugnaquillia Mountain (3,038 feet [926 m]), County Wicklow, Ireland.

It turns westward in a steep torrential course to the Glen of Imail, a granite basin 500–700 feet (150–215 m) above sea level and runs south through the farmed lowlands... Slovakia landlocked country of central Europe. It is roughly coextensive with the historic region of Slovakia, the easternmost of the two territories that from 1918 to 1992 constituted Czechoslovakia. The short history of independent Slovakia is one of a desire... Slovenia country in central Europe that was part of Yugoslavia for most of the 20th century. Slovenia is a small but topographically diverse country made up of portions of four major European geographic landscapes—the European Alps, the karstic Dinaric Alps,... Smolensk oblast (region), western Russia. The oblast lies mostly in the upper Dnieper River basin. The terminal moraines of the Smolensk-Moscow Upland lie east-west across the oblast, rising to 1,050 feet (320 m) and dividing the Dnieper, Volga, and Western Dvina...

Snowdon mountain in northern Wales that is the highest point in England and Wales and the principal massif in the Snowdonia mountains. It is located in the county of Gwynedd and the historic county of Caernarvonshire. Snowdon consists of about five main peaks... Solovets Islands group of islands, Arkhangelsk oblast (province), northwestern Russia. The group lies in the White Sea at its junction with the Onega Bay. The archipelago consists of three large islands, Solovets, Bolshoy (Great) Muksalma, and Anzersky, as well as several... Someş River river, one of the most important in Transylvania, northwestern Romania. It has two headstreams: the Great Someş, which rises in the Rodnei Mountains and flows southwest, and the Little Someş, which rises in the Apuseni Mountains as the Someşu Cald and... Somme River river, northern France.

It rises in the hills at Fonsommes, near Saint-Quentin in the Aisne département, and flows generally westward for 152 miles (245 km) to the English Channel, crossing Somme département and the ancient province of Picardy. From... South Uist island of the Outer Hebrides, Western Isles council area, historic county of Inverness-shire, Scotland. It lies west of the island of Skye, from which it is separated by about 25 miles (40 km) of water. The island is 20 miles (30 km) north to south and... Southern Buh river, southwestern and south-central Ukraine. The Southern Buh is 492 miles (792 km) long and drains a basin of 24,610 square miles (63,740 square km). It rises in the Volyn-Podilsk Upland and flows east and southeast, first through a narrow valley...

Soviet Union former northern Eurasian empire (1917/22–1991) stretching from the Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean and, in its final years, consisting of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (S.S.R.’s)–Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (now Belarus), Estonia, Georgia,... Spain country located in extreme southwestern Europe. It occupies about 85 percent of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with its smaller neighbour Portugal. Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated... Speyer city, Rhineland-Palatinate Land (state), southwestern Germany. Speyer is a port on the left bank of the Rhine River at the mouth of the Speyer River, south of Ludwigshafen. An ancient Celtic settlement, about 100 bce it became a Roman military and trading... Split seaport, resort, and chief city of Dalmatia, southern Croatia. It is situated on a peninsula in the Adriatic Sea with a deep, sheltered harbour on the south side. A major commercial and transportation centre, the city is best known for the ruins of the...

Spree River river in northeastern Germany, rising in the Lusatian Mountains just above Neugersdorf and flowing north past Bautzen and Spremberg, where it splits temporarily into two arms. After it passes Cottbus, the river divides into a network of channels, forming... Sredna Mountains range in central Bulgaria, a discontinuous range south of the Balkan Mountains and having a similar east-west orientation. Structurally, the Sredna range is a part of the Rhodope Mountains, from which it is separated by the Thracian Plain. Between the... St. Gotthard Pass mountain pass in the Lepontine Alps of southern Switzerland, an important motor and railway route between central Europe and Italy. The pass lies at an elevation of 6,916 feet (2,108 metres) and is 16 miles (26 km) long. Although the pass was known to... St. Petersburg city and port, extreme northwestern Russia. A major historical and cultural centre and an important port, St. Petersburg lies about 400 miles (640 km) northwest of Moscow and only about 7° south of the Arctic Circle.

It is the second largest city of... Stabiae ancient town of Campania, Italy, on the coast at the eastern end of the Bay of Naples. It was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ad 79. The modern city on the site is Castellammare di Stabia. Stabiae is part of the collective Torre Annunziata... Stavropol kray (territory), southwestern Russia, on the northern flank of the Greater Caucasus. The territory stretches from the crestline, which reaches 13,274 feet (4,046 m) in Mount Dombay-Ulgen, across the lower parallel ranges, which are broken by deep river... Stecknitz Canal Europe’s first summit-level canal (canal that connects two water-drainage regions), linking the Stecknitz River (a tributary of the Trave River) with the Delvenau River (a tributary of the Elbe River). The 11.5-km (7-mile) canal was built between 1390...

Struma River river in western Bulgaria and northeastern Greece, rising in the Vitosha Massif of the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, southwest of Sofia. It follows a course of 258 miles (415 km) south-southeast via Pernik to the Aegean Sea, which it enters 30 miles... Sudeten system of east-west mountain ranges of northeastern Bohemia and northern Moravia, Czech Republic, bordering on Poland. The system has three subgroups: the West Sudeten range is composed of the Lusatian Mountains, the Jizera Mountains, and the Giant (Krkonoše)... Suir, River river in Ireland, rising in the Devil’s Bit Mountains and flowing south across the lowland of County Tipperary through Thurles to the foot of the Knockmealdown Mountains. There it receives the Tar and bends through an elbow-shaped loop to flow north... Surtsey Icelandic “Surts Island” volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland, southwest of the Vestmanna Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). It emerged from the Atlantic Ocean in a fiery eruption in November 1963. During the next three and one-half years its volcanic...

Suzdal medieval principality that occupied the area between the Oka River and the Upper Volga in northeastern Russia. During the 12th to 14th centuries, Suzdal was under the rule of a branch of the Rurik dynasty. As one of the successor regions to Kiev, the... Svalbard archipelago, part of Norway, located in the Arctic Ocean well north of the Arctic Circle. The islands lie between longitude 10° and 35° E and latitude 74° and 81° N, about 580 miles (930 km) north of Tromsø, Norway. The archipelago is composed of nine... Swabian Alp continuation of the Jura Mountains in Baden-Württemberg Land (state), southwestern Germany. The upland plateau extends approximately 100 miles (160 km) from the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) to the Wörnitz River at an average elevation of about 2,300 feet...

Swale, River river that rises on the slopes of High Seat and Nine Standards Rigg near Keld, North Yorkshire, Eng., and then flows southeast across North Yorkshire for 60 miles (100 km) to become a major tributary of the River Ouse to the north of the city of York.... Sweden country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. The name Sweden was derived from the Svear, or Suiones, a people mentioned as early as 98 ce by the Roman author Tacitus. The country’s ancient name was Svithiod. Stockholm has been the... Switzerland federated country of central Europe. Switzerland’s administrative capital is Bern, while Lausanne serves as its judicial centre. Switzerland’s small size—its total area is about half that of Scotland —and its modest population give little indication... Sylt largest and northernmost of the North Frisian Islands, in the North Sea, Schleswig-Holstein Land (state), Germany. Sylt, which occupies an area of 38 square miles (99 square km), is connected by rail with the mainland via the 7-mile- (11-km-) long Hindenburgdamm...

Syros island near the centre of the Cyclades (Modern Greek: Kykládes) group, in the Aegean Sea, Greece. Its chief town and port, Hermoúpolis, on a bay of the east coast, is the capital of the nomós (department) of Cyclades. The island, with an area of 32 square... Tagus River longest waterway of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises in the Sierra de Albarracín of eastern Spain, at a point about 90 miles (150 km) from the Mediterranean coast, and flows westward across Spain and Portugal for 626 miles (1,007 km) to empty into the... Taïyetos Mountains mountain range, southern Peloponnese (Modern Greek: Pelopónnisos), Greece. The maximum elevation is approximately 7,874 feet (2,400 m) in the range, which imposes a barrier between the regions of Laconia (Lakonía) and Messenia (Messinía). Called the... Tallinn city, capital of Estonia, on Tallinn Bay of the Gulf of Finland.

A fortified settlement existed there from the late 1st millennium bc until the 10th–11th century ad, and there was a town on the site in the 12th century. In 1219 it was captured by the... Tamar, River river in southwestern England, rising within 4 miles (6 km) of the Bristol Channel and flowing south to the English Channel by Plymouth Sound. For most of its length of 61 miles (98 km), it forms the historic boundary between the counties of Devon and... Tambov oblast (region), western Russia. It is located on the low, level plain of the Oka and Don rivers. The natural vegetation is forest-steppe on rich soils, but much of it has been cleared for agriculture; large areas of pine forest survive only on sandy... Tara (Irish: “Place of Assembly”), low hill (about 507 feet [154 m]) in County Meath, Ireland, occupying an important place in Irish legend and history. The earliest local remains consist of a small passage grave (c. 2100 bc) known as Dumha na nGiall (“Mound... Tarn River river, southwestern France.

It has its source south of Mont Lozère at an elevation of 5,167 feet (1,575 metres) in the Massif Central. After a course of 233 miles (375 km) it joins the Garonne River below Moissac (Tarn-et-Garonne département). Its magnificent... Tatarstan republic in the east-central part of European Russia. The republic lies in the middle Volga River basin around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers. Kazan is the capital. The Volga flows north-south across the western end of the republic, while... Tatra Mountains highest range of the Central Carpathians. The mountains rise steeply from a high plateau and extend for approximately 40 miles (64 km) along the Slovakian-Polish frontier, varying in width from 9 to 15 miles (14 to 24 km). About 300 peaks are identified... Taunus wooded highland of Germany, extending across parts of the Länder (states) of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The range is 50 miles (80 km) long and is bounded by the Rhine (west), Main (south), and Lahn (north) rivers. The range slopes steeply along... Tees, River river in northeastern England, rising on Cross Fell in the northern Pennines and flowing 70 miles (110 km) east to the North Sea. It forms the boundary between the historic counties of Yorkshire and Durham. In its upper course the Tees flows in a typical... eastern-rhodopes Click for preview Eastern Rhodopes This guide has all you need to know about birdwatching, nature trails, hiking and geology. The book is your source for finding birds, including Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit, Levant Sparrowhawk and Black Vulture, but also describes where to find orchids, rare dragonflies, butterflies and reptiles. It contains both routes and interesting background information and is written for a wide audience of ecotourists. In the border area of southeast Bulgaria and northeast Greece lie the remote mountains of the Eastern Rhodopes. This surprisingly wild and unspoiled region is home to an extraordinary array of rare species and exciting habitats.

Together with the adjacent National Park of Dadia, the Evros Delta and the Nestos Delta in Greece, this guide covers a whole range habitats, from salt and freshwater marshes to steep rock cliffs and from Mediterranean scrubland to cool beech forests. Hidden trails This is the heartland of ancient Thrace - a landscape of both rolling hills and steep and rocky drops. The mountains are sparsely populated and partially deserted, but recently, it is discovered by nature travellers, both from Bulgaria and from abroad. They are (re)discovering the many hidden trails, the breathtaking landscapes and new populations of flora and fauna, which include south-after species like Wolf, Golden Jackal, Masked Shrike, Western Rock Nuthatch, its many tortoises and snakes, the Bulgarian Emerald dragonfly and plenty of rare wildflowers. This region also ranks among the best in Europe to see birds of prey and reptiles. Of the first, the many Egyptian, Griffon and Black Vultures against the blue sky, are an iconic image of the Eastern Rhodopes. Looking on the ground, the frequent encounters with Greek and Hermann’s Tortoises trotting over the flower-speckled forest floor, form an unforgettable Rhodopean experience.

One of the most striking features of the region is the swift succession from mountains to coastal lowlands. The latter, with its pelicans, flamingos, ibises and Pygmy Cormorants are a treat of its own. The coast is mostly a birdwatching destination, with the Evros Delta, among the most important coastal wetlands of Europe, the piece de resistance. Blend of biogeographical regions When exploring the area, expect the unexpected. The flora and fauna consists of a fascinating blend of both Mediterranean, temperate European and Pontic (eastern steppe) species, since the region lies right on the border of these three biological realms. As a result, typical Mediterranean habitat like evergreen scrub, seamlessly merge with both steppe grasslands typical of the east, and deciduous forest from the north. And in this peculiar, blended landscape many species occur side by side that you would otherwise not expect.The habitats, varying from rocky, dry scrubland to lush, nearly subtropical riverine forests and steppes and from extensive arable land to dense forests, support a rich flora and fauna. This area boasts the highest raptor and reptile diversity in Europe.

The Crossbill Guide Eastern Rhodopes, including Nestos, Dadia and Evros (2013) is the first nature travel guidebook to cover this fascinating region. It will prove to be a compact and comprehensive aid in finding the most interesting, birds, plants, butterflies and dragonflies the region has to offer. Write a review Reviews Reviews 2010 Barbara Heldt Prize Winner "Ghodsee’s ethnographic study offers a subtle and fascinating analysis of the rise of “orthodox” Islam in the Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria, home to one of Europe’s oldest, yet least known Muslim minorities, the Pomaks. The book examines the growing tension between local Muslim traditions and imported forms of Islam, largely from Saudi Arabia, which claim to represent the “true” faith. In this particular region, what the world calls Islamic fundamentalism has become attractive to many, although by no means all, Muslims. Ghodsee argues that the roots of this religious revival lie in the postsocialist collapse of the principal economic base of the region, lead and zinc mining. The closure of the mines undermined local confidence in the morality of government structures and opened space for the financial influence of Islamic charities.

It also created a crisis in socialist-era definitions of masculine and feminine gender identities that provided fertile ground for competing Islamic ideas about family, women, and faith. Informed by extensive research in Bulgarian and European history and sociological and anthropological theory, the book is still thoroughly grounded in Ghodsee’s knowledge of her Pomak informants, each of whom negotiates her or his relationship to Islam in a highly individual fashion. With its timely topic, insightful analysis and beautifully written, compelling stories, this book deserves to command a wide audience from both inside and outside academia." Choice "Islamic studies scholars who increasingly focus on a wide range of Muslim societies in both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority countries will find this volume informative. The author presents her work in an accessible fashion, and the volume will appeal to people with diverse interests." Tone Bringa, author of Being Muslim the Bosnian Way "Finally, a thoughtful case study of the influence of Islamic aid organizations among the Muslim minority populations in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Kristen Ghodsee describes the changes that have taken place in the practice of Islam among the Pomaks, the indigenous Slav Muslims of Bulgaria.

Her book reads like a detective story of why the Muslims of one particular town turned toward the new orthodox and 'foreign' Islam of mainly Saudi-inspired imams and proselytizing aid workers. A much-needed contribution." Sonya Michel, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars "Ghodsee's patient ethnography allows her to explore in rich detail the encounter between postcommunist Bulgaria and 'orthodox' Islam. In her hands, the abstract concept of agency takes on compelling specificity, as she shows the women and men of the Rhodope region adapting Muslim beliefs and practices to their own needs, with striking implications for gender relations. This study will prove illuminating not just to area specialists but to all those seeking to understand the nature and appeal of religion in postmodern spaces." Mary Neuberger, University of Texas, Austin "Some of the best insights into the Balkan past have emerged from works of anthrpology. While historians seem to perennially distance themselves from their subjects, anthropologists put us on the ground and in the field. Far from the dusty archives of Sofia, history is alive in Kristen Ghodsee's Muslim Lives in Eastern Europe.

For Ghodsee takes the reader deep into the Rhodope Mountains to the town of Madan and into the lives of its Bulgarian-speaking Muslim inhabitants. Ghodsee's study, unencumbered by anthroopological jargon, is a delightful read, colored by vivid descriptions of the town of Madan and its varied inhabitants." Ina Merdjanova, Sofia University, Bulgaria "Kristen Ghodsee presents a fascinating account of the painful economic and social changes which profoundly affected the lives of individual people in a particular setting and prompted the spread of new, locally defined commitments to what the author has call "orthodox" Islam." "Muslim Lives in Eastern Europe offers an insightful analysis of the social and economic factors that propelled the spread of new forms of religious allegiances and gender roles among Pomaks in Bulgaria. It is an excellent contribution to the study of Islam in postcommunist society." American Ethnologist "With the questions it raises about gender, ethnicity, and Islam in postsocialist Eastern Europe, Muslim Lives in Eastern Europe opens up a number of important areas of inquiry in contemporary studies of European Islam. It will be of interest to scholars of religion, gender studies, and postsocialist transition.

To villagers whose Christian discourse Tomlinson encountered, the obvious and core force of this biblical passage is that it casts into relief the great decline people have undergone, from that earlier state of perfection to their contemporary fallible and weak conditions. " Bulgaria - My Volunteer Experience My Volunteer Experience Projects ‎ > ‎ Where to go? ‎ > ‎ Europe ‎ > ‎ Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe. Bulgaria borders five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly along the River Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The Black Sea defines the extent of the country to the east. Capital City: Sofia Population: 7,563,710 Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity, with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically contenential Dunabian plane (ancient Moesia) in the north to the strong Medetaranina climatic influence in the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of Thrace.

Bulgaria comprises portions of the separate regions known in classical times as Moesia, Thrace, and Macedonia. About 30% of the land are made up by plains, while plateaus and hills account for 41%. The mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges — Rila and Pirin — and further east stand the lower but more extensive Rhodope mountains. The Rila range includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, Musala, at 2,925 metres (9,596 ft); the Balkan mountain chain runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the Rose valley. Hilly country and plains lie to the southeast, along the Black Sea coast, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube, to the north. Strandzha forms the tallest mountain in the southeast. Few mountains and hills exist in the northeast region of Dobrud. Bulgaria overall has a temperate , with cold winters and hot summers. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains has some influence on climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria experiences lower temperatures and receives more rain than the southern lowlands.

Precipitation in Bulgaria averages about 630 millimetres (24.8 in) per year. In the lowlands rainfall varies between 500 and 800 mm (19.7 and 31.5 in), and in the mountain areas between 1,000 and 2,500 mm (39.4 and 98.4 in) of rain falls per year. Drier areas include Dobrudja and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the Rila, Prin, Rhodope Mountains, Stara Planina, Osogovska Mountain and Vitosha receive the highest levels of precipitation. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Science oversees education in Bulgaria. All children aged between 7 and 16 must attend full-time education. Six-year olds can enroll at school at their parents' discretion. The State provides education in its schools free of charge, except for higher education establishments, colleges and universities. The curriculum focuses on eight main subject-areas - Bulgarian langauge and literature, foreign languages, mathematics, information technologies, social sciences and civics, natural sciences and ecology, music and art, physical education and sports.

Government estimates from 2003 put the literacy rate at 98.6 percent, approximately the same for both sexes. Traditionally, Bulgaria has had high educational standards, and its students rate second in the world in terms of average SAT Reasoning Test scores and I.Q test scores according to MENSA International Bulgaria has a universal, mostly state-funded healthcare system. An overall reform in the sector began in 1999: this has introduced mandatory health-insurance for employees through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which since 2000 has paid a gradually increasing portion of the costs of Primary health care . Employees and employers pay an increasing, mandatory percentage of salaries, with the goal of gradually reducing state support of health care. Between 2002 and 2003, the number of hospital beds decreased by 56 percent, to 24,300. However, the pace of reduction slowed in the early 2000s; in 2004 some 258 hospitals remained in operation, compared with the government-estimated optimal number of 140.

Between 2002 and 2004, health-care expenditures in the national budget increased from 3.8 percent to 4.3 percent, with the NHIF accounting for more than 60 percent of annual expenditures. Bulgaria has several major hospitals and medical complexes, such as Pirogov hospital and the Military Medical Academy of Sofia. Bulgarian is the only official language; it belongs to the group of South Slavic langauges. According to the 2001 census, Bulgarian is spoken by 84.46% of the population - some 6,700,000 people. The remaining 15.54% consist of minority languages such as Turkish, Roma, Russian and Armenian. Most Bulgarians (82.6%) belong, at least nominally, to the Bulgarian Othodox church.

Founded in 870 AD under the Patchriarchate of Constantinople, it had Autocephalous status since 927 AD, making it the earliest Slavic othodox Church.Other religious denominations include Islam (12.2%), various Protestant denominations (0.8%) and Roman Catholicism(0.5%); with other Christian denominations (0.2%), and "other" totalling approximately 4%, according to the 2001 census. Bulgaria regards itself officially as a secular state. The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, but appoints Orthodoxy as "a traditional" religion.

Question: The Rhodope Mountains lie mostly in which East European country?
Answer: BULGARIA