Stara Planina Mountain

Names in the national language

Stara Planina (Bulgaria, Serbia)

Location and short description

The Stara Planina Mountain is located along the Bulgarian-Serbian border. The westernmost section of the mountain range crosses Bulgaria up to the Black Sea coast. At the southern slopes of the mountain range in Bulgaria, close to the border to Serbia and near Sofia, the Dragoman marsh is an example of a restored wetland.

Special features

Midzhur (2,168 m) is the highest peak in western Stara Planina, situated on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. It can be reached from Bulgaria via Chuprene/Gorni Lom, Martinovo and Replyana villages, whereas from Serbia the access can be via Babin zub resort or Topli dol, Aldina, Tzurni vruh and Ravno Buche villages. After the demolition of the border facilities in the early 1990s, Midzhur peak became accessible to the public, although a border police authorization is still required today for those interested in climbing the summit. Remarkable rocky formations of rotbuntsandstein and limestone make up lower parts of the mountain near the town of Belogradchik. At the Dragoman marsh, 256 bird species, including 150 breeding species, have been reported.

Main biotop types

Beech and spruce forest, alpine pastures, ancient oak forests

Species

• Mammals: Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Grey wolf (Canis lupus), Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus)
• Birds: Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), White-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Corn crake (Crex crex), Great egret (Ardea alba)
• Plants: Lilium (Lilium jankae), Narcissus anemone (Anemone narcissiflora), Alpine clematis (Clematis alpine), Rosa root (Rhodiola rosea)

Status of protection

Nature Park Vrachanski Balkan, Natura 2000 sites, Ramsar site Dragoman Marsh, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Chuprene (Bulgaria)

Nature Park Stara Planina (Serbia)