Western Rhodopes Mountains, Smolyan 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 Trigrad Gorge is a canyon of vertical marble rock cliffs in the western Rhodope Mountains. It is the third longest gorge in Bulgaria. The gorge encloses the course of the River Trigrad which plunges into the Devil's Throat Cave and 1740 feet further emerges as a large karst spring. It later flows into the River Buynovska.
The west wall of the Trigrad Gorge reaches 980 feet in height whilst the east wall reaches 980 to 1150 feet in height. Initially, the 2 walls are about 985 feet apart but the gorge narrows to about 330 feet in the northern section. The gorge is situated just north of the village of Trigrad at 4760 feet above sea level. It has a total length of 4.3 miles, of which the gorge proper comprises 1.2 to 1.9 miles. It can be visited on the narrow single track road from Teshel to Trigrad which follows the River Trigrad for about 7.5 miles.
The Trigrad area was a restricted border zone in the past (it is less than 4 miles from the border with Greece) so access was very limited during the Communist era but it is now a popular tourist destination. The area is considered as one of the most beautiful in the Rhodopes Mountains with numerous designated routes for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding routes.
Date: 29th May 2018
Location: Trigrad to Teshel via Trigrad Gorge, Western Rhodopes Mountains, Smolyan 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 Trigrad Gorge is a canyon of vertical marble rock cliffs in the western Rhodope Mountains. It is the third longest gorge in Bulgaria. The gorge encloses the course of the River Trigrad which plunges into the Devil's Throat Cave and 1740 feet further emerges as a large karst spring. It later flows into the River Buynovska.
The west wall of the Trigrad Gorge reaches 980 feet in height whilst the east wall reaches 980 to 1150 feet in height. Initially, the 2 walls are about 985 feet apart but the gorge narrows to about 330 feet in the northern section. The gorge is situated just north of the village of Trigrad at 4760 feet above sea level. It has a total length of 4.3 miles, of which the gorge proper comprises 1.2 to 1.9 miles. It can be visited on the narrow single track road from Teshel to Trigrad which follows the River Trigrad for about 7.5 miles.
The Trigrad area was a restricted border zone in the past (it is less than 4 miles from the border with Greece) so access was very limited during the Communist era but it is now a popular tourist destination. The area is considered as one of the most beautiful in the Rhodopes Mountains with numerous designated routes for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding routes.
Date: 29th May 2018
Location: Trigrad to Teshel via Trigrad Gorge, Western Rhodopes Mountains, Smolyan Province, Bulgaria
|
Also in: Bulgaria
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |