The Rhodope Mountain

The Rhodope mountain range is located in the south-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula; its highest summit is Mount Perelik (2192 m). Over 83% of the mountain stands on bulgarian territory and the rest is in Greece. The Rhodopes are among the earliest formed mountain ranges on the Balkans.
The border between the Rhodopes, Rila and the Pirin mountains is carved out by the Yadenitsa River valley, the Yundola Saddle, Avramov’s Saddle, the Dreshenets River and the Mesta River valley. The northern slopes of the Rhodopes are significantly steeper than the southern where the mountain gently settles itself down onto the plains of Aegean Thrace. Due to certain geographical peculiarities, the Rhodopes have been divided into two parts – Western (high), and Eastern (low). The division between these two parts is drawn by the rivers Kayaliyka and Borovitsa. The average annual temperature in the Eastern Rhodopes is 12-13˚С, the maximum of rainfall is in December, and the minimum is in August. The Western Rhodopes cover a territory of 8732 sq. km., and the average annual temperatures reach between 5˚С and 9˚С.
The nice climate coupled with other factors is favourable for the development of tourism. The microclimate thus established enables a thick snow cover to be preserved for a long period of time – a veritable paradise for skiers.
15 of the areas have been declared nature reserves, some of which are under UNESCO’s protection.
Numerous mineral springs take their source from the mountain.
The Western Rhodopes are the larger ridge; they are higher, more developed and more visited by tourists than the Eastern Rhodopes. The highest and most well-known peaks are also here: Shirokolashki Snezhnik – 2188 m, Golyama Syutkya – 2186 m, Malak Perelik – 2147 m, Golyam Persenk – 2091 m, Batashki Snezhnik – 2082 m, Malka Syutkya – 2078 m, Malak Persenk – 2074 m, and Prespa – 2000 m.
Picturesque gorges, rock phenomena, lakes and unique landscapes attract thousands of tourists to visit the mountain during all the seasons. Many of the villages have been declared architectural monuments. They  preserve traditions and customs, carrying us back through the centuries.