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Rila




The Rila is a Mountain Range in western Bulgaria . The range includes Musala , at 2925 m the highest Mountain in Bulgaria and the whole of the Balkan Peninsula. The range occupies an area of 2629 km&2. The average altitude is 1487 m. There are more than 120 glacial lakes. One of the hottest mineral spring is in Sapareva banya with temperature over 103 °C.

The name Rila is derived from the Thracian word roula, meaning "lots of water". Some of the largest rivers in the Balkan Peninsula originate here. These are Maritsa , Iskur , Mesta.


MOUNTAIN AREAS


Eastern Rila
This is the highest part of the range. Musala is here together with 11 other peaks. There are some groups of glacier lakes: Musala lakes (with lake Ledenoto being the highly located in Bulgaria and on the Balkan peninsula – 2709 m above sea level), Maritsa lakes, Ropalitsa lakes.
A meteorological station was built on Musala in 1932. That part of the mountain is an attractive tourist destination. The mountain resort Borovetz has a world-wide popularity.

Central part
This is the steepest part of the mountain and is rich in lakes – Ribni lakes, Jerman lakes, Monastery lakes with the biggest lake on the Balkan peninsula – Smradlivo (21.2 km&2).

North-western part
It occupies 1/3 of the whole mountain territory. The most famous of all peaks is Malyovitsa (2730 m), a symbol of the Bulgarian mountain climbing. The biggest lakes are The Seven Rila lakes.

South-western part
The oldest natural reserve in Bulgaria – Parangalitsa, is situated here.

The Rila National Park , the largest national park in Bulgaria, is located about 70 km south of Sofia , in the central and highest regions of the Rila Mountains. The park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance.

The famous Rila Monastery is also located in the Rila Mountain. The monument is a characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries) and symbolizes an awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.


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