Belasica

Belasica (Macedonian and Bulgarian: Беласицаⓘ, also translit. Belasitsa or Belasitza, Ottoman Turkish:[1] بلش Turkish: Beleş), Belles (Greek: Μπέλλες, Bélles) or Kerkini (Greek: Κερκίνη, 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%).

For the football teams, see PFC Belasitsa Petrich and FK Belasica.

Belasica
Kalabak (Radomir) – the highest summit in Belasitsa mountain.
Highest point
PeakRadomir
Elevation2,029 m (6,657 ft)
Naming
Native name
Geography
Location of Belasica (circled in red)
CountriesGreece, North Macedonia and Bulgaria
Range coordinates41°20′19″N 22°55′39″E

Geography

The mountain range is fault-block mountain 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 (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 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 North Macedonia.

History

Since ancient times Greeks refer to the range as Ὄρβηλος (Modern Greek: ˈor.vi.los, Ancient Greek: ˈor.bɛː.los).[2][3] According to the ancient authors it was a mountain range in the border area between Thrace and Macedonia.[4] It is generally equated today with the modern Belasica.[5] 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".[6] It was known for its Dionysos cult. [7]

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.

  • Looking along the main ridge
    Looking along the main ridge
  • One of many ruined watchtowers on the Bulgarian side of the ridge
    One of many ruined watchtowers on the Bulgarian side of the ridge
  • Smolare Falls on Belasica in North Macedonia
    Smolare Falls on Belasica in North Macedonia
  • View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini
    View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini
  • View of Belasica from the Greek side during the winter
    View of Belasica from the Greek side during the winter

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. Rumeli-i Şahane Haritası, Harvard Map Collection, Ottoman Empire Series, Index Map, 1:210,000 Scale, c. 1901/1902, http://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:4952983$17i Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17.05.2016
  2. 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.
  3. Archived 2017-04-24 at the Wayback Machine D. C. Samsaris, Historical Geography of Eastern Macedonia during the Antiquity (in Greek), Thessaloniki 1976 (Society for Macedonian Studies), p. 13. ISBN 960-7265-16-5.
  4. (Hdt. 5,16; Str. 7a,1,36; Arr. Anab. 1,1,5)
  5. Brill Online Reference Works – Orbelus von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen).
  6. Beiträge zur Namenforschung, C. Winter., 1995, S. 241–242.
  7. T. Spiridonov, Istoričeskata geografija na trakijskite plemena, 1983, 24 f., 118.
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