Belasica

For the football teams, seePFC Belasitsa PetrichandFK Belasica.

Belasica
Kalabak (Radomir) – the highest summit in Belasitsa mountain.
Highest point
Peak	Radomir
Elevation	2,029 m (6,657 ft)
Naming
Native name	Κερκίνη(Greek) Μπέλλες(Greek) Беласица(Macedonian) Беласица(Bulgarian)
Geography
Location of Belasica (circled in red)
Countries	Greece, North Macedonia and Bulgaria
Range coordinates	41°20′19″N22°55′39″E

Belasica(MacedonianandBulgarian:,also translit.BelasitsaorBelasitza,Ottoman Turkish:بلشTurkish:Beleş),Belles(Greek:Μπέλλες,Bélles) orKerkini(Greek:Κερκίνη,Kerkíni;), is amountain rangein theregion of MacedoniainSoutheastern Europe,shared by northeasternGreece(about 45%), southeasternNorth Macedonia(35%) and southwesternBulgaria(20%).

Geography

The mountain range isfault-block mountainabout 60 km (37.28 mi) long and 7 to 9 km (4.35 to 5.59mi) wide and is situated just northeast ofDojran Lake.The highest point isRadomir(Kalabaka) at 2,031 m, with elevation otherwise ranging between 300 and 1900 m above sea level. The borders of all three countries meet atTumba Peak.The climate in the area shows strongMediterraneaninfluence.

The area of Belasica became aeuroregionin 2003. Two football teams are named after the mountain range,PFC Belasitsafrom the nearby Bulgarian town ofPetrichandFC BelasicafromStrumicain North Macedonia.

History

Since ancient times Greeks refer to the range as Ὄρβηλος (Modern Greek:ˈor.vi.los,Ancient Greek:ˈor.bɛː.los).According to the ancient authors it was a mountain range in the border area between Thrace and Macedonia.It is generally equated today with the modern Belasica.The nameÓrbēlosis probably derived from the ancient Thracian/Paionian toponym of the mountain, which means "shining mountain", frombelos– "blazing" or "shining", andor– "mountain".It was known for itsDionysoscult.

The area is also particularly famous for theBattle of Kleidionof 1014, which proved crucial for the fall of theFirst Bulgarian Empire.

Honour

Kongur GlacieronSmith Island,South Shetland Islandsis named after the peak andnature reserveofKonguron Belasitsa Mountain.

Photo gallery

• 
  Looking along the main ridge
• 
  One of many ruined watchtowers on the Bulgarian side of the ridge
• 
  Smolare Fallson Belasica inNorth Macedonia
• 
  View of Belasica mountain range fromLake Kerkini
• 
  View of Belasica from the Greek side during the winter

See also

• Belasitsa Nature Park
• Smolare Falls

References

• Belasitsa. Tourist map, Sofia, 2006.
• Благоевъ, Т. А. Бѣласица. София, 1925.
• Динчев, Евг., Атанасов, П. Високите планини на Република Македония. Пътеводител, София, 1998, стр. 214–224.
• "Енциклопедия Пирински край". Том 1, Благоевград, 1995, стр. 78.

External links

• Belasitsa.com (regional portal)
• Image Gallery From BelasicaArchived5 January 2015 at theWayback Machine