| Vitosha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,292 m (7,520 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,275 m (4,183 ft) |
| Coordinates | 42°34′N23°17′E / 42.567°N 23.283°E /42.567; 23.283 |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Витоша (Bulgarian) |
| Geography | |
  Vitosha Location within Bulgaria | |
| Location | Sofia City Province,Sofia Province,Pernik Province |
| Topo map | Vitosha Map |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Cable car to Aleko (1810 m), chair lift toMalak Rezen (2191 m), easy footpath toCherni Vrah |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
| Area | 270.79 km2 (104.55 sq mi) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Environment and Water |
Vitosha (Bulgarian:Витоша[ˈvitoʃɐ]), the ancientScomius orScombrus,[1] is amountain massif, on the outskirts ofSofia, the capital ofBulgaria. Vitosha is one of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site forhiking,alpinism andskiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous dome.
The territory of the mountain includes Vitoshanature park that encompasses the best known and most frequently visited parts. The foothills of Vitosha shelter resort quarters of Sofia; Knyazhevo quarter hasmineralsprings. Vitosha is the oldest nature park in theBalkans.
The mountain emerged as a result ofvolcanic activity and has been subsequently shaped by the slow folding of the granite rock layers and a series of gradual uplifts of the area. It appears dome shaped at first sight, but the mountain, 19 km long by 17 km wide, actually consists of concentric denudational plateaus rising in tiers one above the other. Vitosha is separated into four main parts whose main ridges gather at a crown known asCherni Vrah ('Black Peak', Bulgarian:черни връх). This is the highest point of the mountain at 2290 m and is one of 12 peaks of Vitosha over 2000 m in height. It is the highestmassif of the Srednogoriemountain chain system, together withSredna gora,Plana (mountain),Lyulin Mountain,Greben (mountain),Viskyar Mountain, etc. They all are a result of the folding of the earth layers through the Mesozoic, causing also magmasheet-like intrusion (or concordantpluton) that has been injected between layers ofsedimentary rock. Thelaccolithic domed form of Vitosha is a typical example.
Bulgaria's longest cave,Duhlata, with a total length of 18,200 m, is situated in Vitosha in thekarstic region near the village of Bosnek.
Since the ancient times of theThracians a large population has always existed at the base of Vitosha. For the last four thousand years theeconomy of this large settlement has always been connected, in one way or another, with the neighboring mountain. The name Vitosha comes from the two-peaked, twin ridge mountain, which rises above the Sofia field and has acquired its present shape in stages over many millennia.
Ameteorological station was built at the top in 1935, and is still operating. The station also serves as a rest shelter for hikers and is the headquarters for the mountain rescue team. Historical documents show that several centuries ago Vitosha mountain was still covered by the remains of the inaccessible "Great Bulgarian Forest" (Magna Silva Bulgarica). Today, the naturalconiferous forests of Vitosha remain only in the reserve Bistrishko Branishte and aroundZlatnite Mostove (The Golden Bridges). The Golden Bridges is astone river consisting of a ribbon of huge boulders running down the mountainside. This scenic spot is located along theVladayska River in an area of mixed deciduous and evergreen forest. However, this is only one of thestone rivers found in Vitosha and they were once the moraines of ancient glaciers. Their further formation occurred due to the spherical erosion of the sienite rocks and their gradual movement to down stream valleys by the forces of gravity and moving water.
At a time when nature conservation ideas were a long way from the present understanding, some enlightened noblemen took the first step in 1934 by declaring 66 km² of Vitosha anature park, hence Vitosha became the first park of this kind in theBalkans. During the following year, some of the early Bulgarian reserves,Bistrishko Branishte (subsequently expanded to 10.61 km²) andTorfeno Branishte (7.84 km² respectively), were designated within its boundaries. The park boundaries fluctuated over many years and today it encompasses the entire mountain; an area of 266.06 km².
Due to a great variability inelevation, a rich diversity of climates,flora andfauna can be found within the park. Research has revealed that on the comparatively small area of the mountain there are 1,500 species of higher plants, 500 species offungi, 500 species ofalgae, 326 species ofmosses, and 200 species oflichens.
The forests are mainly composed ofNorway spruce andBulgarian fir, with someMacedonian pine,Scots pine, and at the tree-line,mountain pine, and mixeddeciduous forest at lower altitudes, mainlybeech,birch,aspen andalder. Regarding herbaceous plants, well-established populations ofVeratrum album are present on the mountain, as well as other species commonly called 'lilies'. There are alsoorchids, such as the East European green-winged orchid (Orchis morio) that grows in the higher parts. Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) is another widespread herbaceous plant on Vitosha; it develops in dank sites under the shade of the forest.
Vitosha Saddle,Rezen Knoll,Komini Peak, andKikish Crag onLivingston Island in theSouth Shetland Islands,Antarctica are named respectively for Mount Vitosha, and for the Vitosha peaks ofMalak Rezen andGolyam Rezen, Kominite Peak, and Kikish site.
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Vitosha is also the name of:
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