Vitosha

Infobox Mountain
Name=Vitosha
Photo= Sofia-vitosha-kempinski.jpg
Caption=Vitosha seen from Sofia
Elevation=2,290 metres (7,513 feet) at Cherni Vrah
Range=
Location=Sofia Province, west central Bulgaria
Prominence =1100 m
Coordinates = coord|42|34|N|23|17|E|type:mountain
Topographic
http://www.park-vitosha.org/main.php?act=map Vitosha Map]
Type=|Age=
First ascent = Unknown| Easiest route= Cable car to Aleko (1810 m), chair lift to Malak Rezen (2191 m), easy footpath to Cherni Vrah

Vitosha ( _bg. Витоша) is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Vitosha is one of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous dome. The territory of the mountain includes Vitosha national park that encompasses the best known and most frequently visited parts. The foothills of Vitosha shelter resort quarters of Sofia; Knyazhevo quarter has mineral springs. Vitosha is the oldest national park in the Balkans.The mountain emerged as a result of volcanic activity and has been subsequently shaped by the slow folding of the granite rock layers and a series of gradual uplifts of the area. It appears dome shaped at first sight, but the mountain, 19 km long by 17 km wide, actually consists of concentric denudational plateaus rising in tiers one above the other. Vitosha is separated into four main parts whose main ridges gather at a crown known as "Cherni Vrah" ("Black Peak"). This is the highest point of the mountain at 2290 m and is one of 10 peaks of Vitosha over 2000 m in height.

Since the ancient times of the Thracians a large population has always existed at the base of Vitosha. For the last four thousand years the economy of this large settlement has always been connected, in one way or another, with the neighboring mountain. The name Vitosha comes from the two-peaked, twin ridge mountain, which rises above the Sofia field and has acquired its present shape in stages over many millennia.

A meteorological station was built at the top in 1935, and is still operating. The station also serves as a rest shelter for hikers and is the headquarters for the mountain rescue team. Historical documents show that several centuries ago Vitosha mountain was still covered by the remains of the inaccessible "Great Bulgarian Forest" ("Magna Silva Bulgarica"). Today, the natural coniferous forests of Vitosha remain only in the reserve Bistrishko Branishte and around Zlatnite Mostove (The Golden Bridges). The Golden Bridges is an amazing phenomenon known as "The Stone River" and consists of a ribbon of huge boulders running down the mountainside. This scenic spot is located along the Vladayska River in an area of mixed deciduous and evergreen forest. However, this is only one of the stone rivers found in Vitosha and they were once the moraines of ancient glaciers. Their further formation occurred due to the spherical erosion of the sienite rocks and their gradual movement to down stream valleys by the forces of gravity and moving water.

At a time when nature conservation ideas were a long way from the present understanding, some enlightened noblemen took the first step in 1934 by declaring 66 km² of Vitosha a national park, hence Vitosha became the first park of this kind in the Balkans. During the following year, some of the early Bulgarian reserves, Bistrishko Branishte (subsequently expanded to 10.61 km²) and Torfeno Branishte (7.84 km² respectively), were defined within its boundaries. The park boundaries fluctuated over many years and today it encompasses the entire mountain; an area of 266.06 km².

Ecology

Due to a great variability in elevation, a rich diversity of climates, flora and fauna can be found within the park. Research has revealed that on the comparatively small area of the mountain there are 1,500 species of higher plants, 500 species of fungi, 500 species of algae, 326 species of mosses, and 200 species of lichens. Among them 31 species are Balkan endemics and 52 species are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The forests are made up mainly of Norway Spruce and Bulgarian Fir, with some Macedonian Pine, Scots Pine, and at the tree-line, Mountain Pine, and mixed deciduous forest at lower altitudes, mainly beech, birch, aspen and alder.

Honours

Vitosha Saddle, Rezen Knoll, Komini Peak, and Kikish Crag on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica are named respectively for Mount Vitosha, and for the Vitosha peaks of Malak Rezen and Golyam Rezen, Kominite Peak, and Kikish site.

Vitosha is also the name of:
* Radio Vitosha
* Vitosha Boulevard - a popular main street in Sofia; with shops, boutiques and restaurants.

ee also

* Stone rivers
* Bistrishko Branishte
* Torfeno Branishte
* Aleko

External links

* [http://imagesfrombulgaria.com/v/Vitosha/ Images from Vitosha]
* [http://www.panoramio.com/user/1018024/tags/National%20Park%20Vitosha Mountain Vitosha Gallery]
* [http://www.park-vitosha.org/ National Park Vitosha Web Site]
* [http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SW/Sofia-city/Stolichna/Vitosha Mountain & Ski resort Vitosha - info, hotels, properties]
* [http://www.seebg.net/Vitosha/indexA.html The Vitosha mountain - virtual tour]
* [http://www.balkantravellers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122 History of the park, travelling information, photographs]