Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria. It is the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. /9,596 ft/. The larger part of the mountain is occupied by the Rila National Park.
The name Rila is of Thracian origin and is thought to mean "well-watered mountain", owing to Rila's abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in fault areas at the base of the mountain. Some of the Balkans' longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including Maritsa, Iskar and Mesta.
Culturally, Rila is famous for the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most important monastery founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila.
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Geology
Rila is a dome-shaped horst mountain, part of the Balkans' oldest land, the Macedono-Thracian Massif. It was formed by granite and gneiss rocks and crystal schists during the Paleozoic (250,000,000 years ago). Rila's alpine relief was formed during the Pleistocene by a series of glacial periods. During the most recent, 10-12,000 years ago the permanent snow line was at 2,100 m above sea level. Above this line glaciers radically changed the existing relief, carving out deep cirques, sharp pyramid-shaped peaks, rock pinnacles, various valleys, moraines and other typical glacial formations.
Borders and climate
Rila has an area of 2,400 km²/1491 sq. miles/. The dome of the mountain rises over the surrounding mountain valleys, with the Borovets Saddle (1,305 m, 4,281 ft) connecting the main Musala Ridge with the Shipchan and Shumnitsa ridges that connect to the Ihtiman Sredna Gora mountains through the Gate of Trajan pass. The Yundola Saddle (1,375 m, 4511 ft) and the Abraham Saddle (1,295 m, 4249 ft) link Rila with the Rhodopes to the east, while the connection with Pirin is the Predel Saddle (1,140 m, 3740 ft), the one with Verila being the Klisura Saddle (1,025 m, 3363 ft).
The climate is typically alpine, with 2,000 mm of precipitation on Musala yearly, about half of which is snow. The lowest average temperature ever measured in February on Musala is –11.6°C /52.9 F/ and the absolute minimum is -31.2°C /-24.1 F/. An average temperature for August is 5.4°C /41.7 F/, the maximum being 18.7°C /65.7 F/.
Flora & Fauna
The flora of Rila contains three local endemics which are seen only in this mountain. These plants are Primula deorum (with the largest population), Rheum rhaponticum and Alchemilla pawlowskii. In the mountain thrives also 36 plants as Campanula lanata, Centaurea mannagettae which are endemic for the Balkans. Some of the plant species has been survived the last glacial period by turning into relict organisms. There is also many similar animals. Some of the members of this kingdom which lives in Rila are in danger. Such animals are Barbus cyclolepis (which is rare because of the habitat loss and the river pollution), Triturus alpestris, Spermophilus citellus (European Ground Squirrel) and others.
Subdivision
Rila is subdivided into several parts depending on their geographic position.
• East Rila or the Musala Ridge is the highest and vastest part. The highest peak, as well as 12 of the 18 peaks over 2,700 m /8858 ft/ are located there — Musala, Yastrebets, Irechek, Deno Mancho, etc. The Musala Lakes lie in this part of Rila, as well as Ledeno ezero ("Icy Lake"), 2,709 m /8887.8 ft/, the second highest lake on the Balkans. Other lakes in East Rila include the Maritsa Lakes and the Ropalitsa Lakes. The renowned mountain resort of Borovets is also located in this part of the mountain.
• Central Rila or the Skakavets Ridge is the smallest part (1/10 of the total area), most famous for the glacial lakes — the Fish Lakes, Dzhendem Lakes, Monastery Lakes. The largest glacial lake of the Balkans, Smradlivo ezero ("Stinky Lake") with an area of 21.2 km² /13.7 sq miles/ is located in Central Rila, as well as the peaks Kanarata, Cherna polyana, Malak Skakavets and Golyam Skakavets, Rilets. The ridge of the Skakavtsi (the peaks of Golyam Skakavets and Malak Skakavets, Pchelina and Sveti Duh) rises isolated between the Levi and Beli Iskar rivers. Another well-known ridge in the area is the one of Marinkovitsa and Vodniya chal, extending to the forest reserve of Kobilino branishte.
• Northwest Rila takes up 25% of Rila's total area. The highest peak is Golyam Kupen at 2,731 m /8960 ft/. The Seven Rila Lakes are an important landmark in this part, as well as the many remote peaks and small lakes.
• Southwest Rila or the Kapatnik Ridge occupies 30% of Rila and has the oldest reserve of Bulgaria. Apart from its small northern part, Southwest Rila does not have the alpine appearance of the other parts.
Peaks in Rila
• Musala — 2,925 m /9596 ft/
• Malka Musala — 2,902 m /9521 ft/
• Ovcharets (Yurushki chal) — 2,768 m /9081 ft/
• Golyam Kupen — 2,731 m /8960 ft/
• Malyovitsa — 2,729 m /8953 ft/
• Popova kapa — 2,704 m /8871 ft/
• Malka Malyovitsa — 2,698 m /8851 ft/
• Lopushki vrah — 2,698 m /8851 ft/
• Lovnitsa — 2,695 m /8841 ft/
• Kanarata — 2,691 m /8828 ft/
• Orlovets — 2,685 m /8809 ft/
• Pastri slap (Aladzha slap) – 2,684 m /8805 ft/
• Zliya zab — 2,678 m /8786 ft/
• Eleni vrah — 2,654 m /8707 ft/
• Kovach (Nalbant) vrah - 2,640 m /8661 ft/
• Suha Vapa vrah - 2,638 m /8654 ft/
• Ravni vrah (Ravni chal) — 2,637 m /8651 ft/
• Belmeken — 2,627 m /8618 ft/
• Kamilata — 2,621 m /8599/
• Golyam Mechi vrah — 2,618 m /8589 ft/
• Dvuglav — 2,605 m /8546 ft/
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