Belasica

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This article is about the mountain range. For the football teams, see PFC Belasitsa Petrich and FK Belasica.
Belasica
Bulgarian and Macedonian: Беласица - Greek: Μπέλλες or Κερκίνη
File:Belasitsa.jpg
The linear ridge of Belasica, with Lake Dojran on the left
Highest point
Peak Radomir Peak
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Geography
Location of Belasica (circled in red)
Location of Belasica (circled in red)
Countries Bulgaria, Greece and Republic of Macedonia
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Belasica or Kerkini or Belles (Macedonian and Bulgarian: Audio file "Mk-Belasica.ogg" not found, also transliterated as Belasitsa or Belasitza; Greek: Μπέλλες, Bélles, or Κερκίνη, Kerkíni) is a mountain range in the region of Macedonia in Southeastern Europe, shared by northwestern Greece (about 45%), southeastern Republic of Macedonia (35%) and southwestern Bulgaria (20%).

Geography

The mountain range is about 60 km (37.28 mi) long and 7 to 9 km (4.35 to 5.59 mi) wide and is situated just northeast of Dojran Lake. The highest point is Radomir (Kalabak) at 2,029 m, with elevation otherwise ranging between 300 and 1900 m above sea level. The borders of all three countries meet at Tumba Peak. The climate in the area shows strong Mediterranean influence.

The area of Belasica became a euroregion in 2003. Two football teams are named after the mountain range, PFC Belasitsa from the nearby Bulgarian town of Petrich and FC Belasica from Strumica in the Republic of Macedonia.

History

During the Antiquity its name was Órbēlos (Ὄρβηλος).[1][2] According to the ancient authors it was a mountain range in the border area between Thrace and Macedonia.[3] It is generally equated today with the modern Belasica.[4] The name Órbēlos is probably derived from the ancient Thracian/Paionian toponym of the mountain, which means shining mountain, from 'belos' - blazing or shining and 'or' - mountain.[5] It was known for its Dionysos cult. [6]

The area is also particularly famous for the Battle of Kleidion of 1014, which proved crucial for the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire.

Honour

Kongur Glacier on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after the peak and nature reserve of Kongur on Belasitsa Mountain.

Photo Gallery

  • View along the main ridge of the Belasitsa range.jpg

    Looking along the main ridge

  • Watchtower close to the Belasitsa ridge.jpg

    One of many ruined watchtowers on the Bulgarian side of the ridge

  • Smolarski vodopad 19.JPG

    Smolare Falls on Belasica in Republic of Macedonia

  • View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini.JPG

    View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini

See also

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.

References

  1. ↑ The Cambridge Ancient History: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of the Near East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries B.C., Nicholas Geoffrey, Lemprière Hammond, Cambridge University Press, 1995, ISBN 0521227178, p. 594.
  2. ↑ D. C. Samsaris, Historical Geography of Eastern Macedonia during the Antiquity (in Greek), Thessaloniki 1976 (Society for Macedonian Studies), p. 13
  3. ↑ (Hdt. 5,16; Str. 7a,1,36; Arr. Anab. 1,1,5)
  4. ↑ Brill Online Reference Works - Orbelus von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen).
  5. ↑ Beiträge zur Namenforschung, C. Winter., 1995, S. 241-242.
  6. ↑ T. Spiridonov, Istoričeskata geografija na trakijskite plemena, 1983, 24 f., 118.

External links

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