Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
The Rhodopes Mountains are a mountain range in south east Europe. They are spread over 5689 square miles of which 4723 square miles are located in south Bulgaria and the remainder in north Greece.
The Rhodopes Mountains are about 149 miles long and about 62 to 75 miles wide with an average altitude of 2575 feet. Golyam Perelik is its highest peak at 7188 feet and is situated 12 miles to the west of Smolyan. In geomorphological terms, the Rhodopes Mountains are part of the Rilo-Rhodope massif which is the oldest landmass on the Balkan peninsula.
The Rhodopes Mountains gives its name to the terrestrial eco-region Rodope montane mixed forests that belong in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. The area is particularly notable for the largest coniferous woods in the Balkans plus its karst areas with their deep river gorges, large caves and specific sculptured forms such as the Trigrad Gorge.
The Rhodopes Mountains can be sub-divided in to 3 sections:
The Western Rhodopes are spread over 66% of the area of the Rhodopes Mountains in Bulgaria and they are higher, the most infrastructurally developed and the most visited part of the mountains. The highest and best known peaks are located in this section with more than 10 over 6562 feet high including the highest peak, Golyam Perelik (7188 feet). Some of the deepest river gorges in the Rhodopes Mountains are located in the west as well as several large lakes.
The Eastern Rhodopes are spread over a territory of about 34% of the area of the Rhodopes Mountains in Bulgaria and are much lower in height. The large artificial dams of Kardzhali and Studen Kladenets are located in this part of the mountains. Almost every species of European bird of prey nests in the Eastern Rhodopes including the rare Black Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.
The Southern Rhodopes are the part of the mountain range that is located in Greece and they are characterized by numerous peaks of relatively low altitude.
The River Borovitsa is a tributary of the River Arda and is located in the eastern Rhodopes Mountains. The river valley is stony and surrounded by rough grassland, scrub and forested hillsides. There are many tiny hamlets along the valley, many of them abandoned or semi-abandoned. This little visited area and its wild environment with only the tiny hamlets and patches of traditional agriculture form a great contrast with the town of Kardzhali.
Nenkovo, 17.5 miles north west of Kardzhali, is one of the hamlets in the river valley with no electricity or car access. The access to the village is via a rope bridge over the River Borovitsa. The lack of cars has preserved the narrow village streets which wind between the houses built about 100 to 150 years ago. According to the census of 2011, the village has 129 inhabitants which is down from its peak of 883 people shortly after the Second World War. The village is almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Bulgarian Turks.
Near the village of Nenkovo there is a medieval bridge over the River Borovitsa. It is a large asymmetric bridge with 5 arches each of a different size. The road over the bridge is about 65 yards long. The bridge has been partly destroyed on a number of occasions by the rough waters of the river. It has been rebuilt in the past but after repeated damage it is no longer used. The area around Nenkovo village and the bridge is an excellent one for a wide range of bird species.
Date: 28th May 2018
Location: River Borovitsa valley near Nenkovo, Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
The Rhodopes Mountains are about 149 miles long and about 62 to 75 miles wide with an average altitude of 2575 feet. Golyam Perelik is its highest peak at 7188 feet and is situated 12 miles to the west of Smolyan. In geomorphological terms, the Rhodopes Mountains are part of the Rilo-Rhodope massif which is the oldest landmass on the Balkan peninsula.
The Rhodopes Mountains gives its name to the terrestrial eco-region Rodope montane mixed forests that belong in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. The area is particularly notable for the largest coniferous woods in the Balkans plus its karst areas with their deep river gorges, large caves and specific sculptured forms such as the Trigrad Gorge.
The Rhodopes Mountains can be sub-divided in to 3 sections:
The Western Rhodopes are spread over 66% of the area of the Rhodopes Mountains in Bulgaria and they are higher, the most infrastructurally developed and the most visited part of the mountains. The highest and best known peaks are located in this section with more than 10 over 6562 feet high including the highest peak, Golyam Perelik (7188 feet). Some of the deepest river gorges in the Rhodopes Mountains are located in the west as well as several large lakes.
The Eastern Rhodopes are spread over a territory of about 34% of the area of the Rhodopes Mountains in Bulgaria and are much lower in height. The large artificial dams of Kardzhali and Studen Kladenets are located in this part of the mountains. Almost every species of European bird of prey nests in the Eastern Rhodopes including the rare Black Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.
The Southern Rhodopes are the part of the mountain range that is located in Greece and they are characterized by numerous peaks of relatively low altitude.
The River Borovitsa is a tributary of the River Arda and is located in the eastern Rhodopes Mountains. The river valley is stony and surrounded by rough grassland, scrub and forested hillsides. There are many tiny hamlets along the valley, many of them abandoned or semi-abandoned. This little visited area and its wild environment with only the tiny hamlets and patches of traditional agriculture form a great contrast with the town of Kardzhali.
Nenkovo, 17.5 miles north west of Kardzhali, is one of the hamlets in the river valley with no electricity or car access. The access to the village is via a rope bridge over the River Borovitsa. The lack of cars has preserved the narrow village streets which wind between the houses built about 100 to 150 years ago. According to the census of 2011, the village has 129 inhabitants which is down from its peak of 883 people shortly after the Second World War. The village is almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Bulgarian Turks.
Near the village of Nenkovo there is a medieval bridge over the River Borovitsa. It is a large asymmetric bridge with 5 arches each of a different size. The road over the bridge is about 65 yards long. The bridge has been partly destroyed on a number of occasions by the rough waters of the river. It has been rebuilt in the past but after repeated damage it is no longer used. The area around Nenkovo village and the bridge is an excellent one for a wide range of bird species.
Date: 28th May 2018
Location: River Borovitsa valley near Nenkovo, Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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