Belasica (
Macedonian
Macedonian most often refers to someone or something from or related to Macedonia.
Macedonian(s) may specifically refer to:
People Modern
* Macedonians (ethnic group), a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group primarily associated with North M ...
and
Bulgarian: , also translit. ''Belasitsa'' or ''Belasitza'',
Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Turkish ( ota, لِسانِ عُثمانى, Lisân-ı Osmânî, ; tr, Osmanlı Türkçesi) was the standardized register of the Turkish language used by the citizens of the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extens ...
: بلش
Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
: ''Beleş''), Belles ( el, Μπέλλες, ''Bélles'') or Kerkini (, ''Kerkíni'';), is a
mountain range in the
region of Macedonia in
Southeastern Europe, shared by northeastern
Greece (about 45%), southeastern
North Macedonia (35%) and southwestern
Bulgaria (20%).
Geography
The mountain range is
fault-block mountain about long and wide and is situated just northeast of
Dojran Lake. The highest point is
Radomir (Kalabaka) at 2,031 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 European politics, the term Euroregion usually refers to a transnational co-operation structure between two (or more) contiguous territories located in different European countries. Euroregions represent a specific type of cross-border region. ...
in 2003. Two football teams are named after the mountain range,
PFC Belasitsa from the nearby Bulgarian town of
Petrich and
FC Belasica
FC may refer to:
Businesses, organisations, and schools
* Fergusson College, a science and arts college in Pune, India
* Finncomm Airlines (IATA code)
* FranklinCovey company, NYSE stock symbol FC
* Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force in Pakist ...
from
Strumica
Strumica ( mk, Струмица, ) is the largest city[2002 census results](_blank)
in English and Macedon ...
in North Macedonia.
History
Since ancient times Greeks refer to the range as Ὄρβηλος (Modern Greek: , Ancient Greek: ). According to the ancient authors it was a mountain range in the border area between Thrace and Macedonia. It is generally equated today with the modern Belasica. 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". It was known for its
Dionysos cult.
[T. Spiridonov, Istoričeskata geografija na trakijskite plemena, 1983, 24 f., 118.]
The area is also particularly famous for the
Battle of Kleidion
The Battle of Kleidion ( grc-gre, Κλειδίον; or Clidium, after the medieval name of the village of Klyuch, "(the) key"; also known as the Battle of Belasitsa) took place on July 29, 1014, between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian E ...
of 1014, which proved crucial for the fall of the
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire ( cu, блъгарьско цѣсарьствиѥ, blagarysko tsesarystviye; bg, Първо българско царство) was a medieval Bulgar- Slavic and later Bulgarian state that existed in Southeastern Europ ...
.
Honour
Kongur Glacier on
Smith Island,
South Shetland Islands is named after the peak and
nature reserve of
Kongur on Belasitsa Mountain.
Photo gallery
File:View along the main ridge of the Belasitsa range.jpg, Looking along the main ridge
File:Watchtower close to the Belasitsa ridge.jpg, One of many ruined watchtowers on the Bulgarian side of the ridge
Image:Smolarski vodopad 19.JPG, Smolare Falls on Belasica in North Macedonia
File:View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini.JPG, View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini
File:Χιονισμένο όρος Μπέλες.jpg, View of Belasica from the Greek side during the winter
See also
*
Belasitsa Nature Park
Belasitsa Nature Park () covers the northern slopes of Belasitsa Mountain in the Southwest Region of Bulgaria. The total area of the park is 117 km² (45 sq mi). Belasitsa is part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000 and is managed b ...
*
Smolare Falls
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
External links
Belasitsa.com (regional portal)Image Gallery From Belasica
{{North Macedonia topics
Rhodope mountain range
Mountain ranges of Greece
Mountain ranges of North Macedonia
Mountain ranges of Bulgaria
Landforms of Blagoevgrad Province
Geography of Macedonia (region)
Bulgaria–Greece border
Bulgaria–North Macedonia border
Greece–North Macedonia border
International mountains of Europe
Landforms of Kilkis (regional unit)
Landforms of Serres (regional unit)
Landforms of Central Macedonia