The waters around Dzhebel have national reputation for healing various diseases. Important species include golden eagleUral owl and hawk. The Eastern Rhodopes, being significantly lower, are also more populated than the western part. Central Balkan Pirin Rila. The natural lakes are few, the most renown of these being the Smolyan lakes situated at several kilometers from the town of the same name. In geomorphological terms, the Rhodopes are part of the Rilo-Rhodope massifwhich is the oldest landmass on the Balkan peninsula. There are around 80 mines for lead and zinc whose reserves are among the largest in Europe. The mountain range gives its name to the terrestrial ecoregion Rodope montane mixed forests that belongs in the Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Biome and the Palearctic ecozone. It is believed the name was brought to the region in the 7th century by Bulgars who applied it to the area, as a part of the First Bulgarian Empire. Retrieved
The discovery of UHP conditions in the Central Rhodopes of Bulgaria compliments.
Formation (VF), a term used locally in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains the garnet core (zone 1, and perhaps part of zone 2) merits further discussion. The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in north-south. Area, 14, km2 (5, sq mi). Geography.
Countries, Bulgaria and Greece.
Geology. Type of rock, granite, gneiss, marble, quartz. This is one of the main merits of the proposed study. irin Mountain is the second highest mountain in Bulgaria (Vihren peak- m) and . Plate kinematics and tectonics leading to the Alpine belt formation; A new analysis.
A significant part of Bulgaria's hydropower resources are located in the western areas of the range. The name of the Rhodope mountains has a Thracian provenance [ citation needed ].
There are paved roads crossing the Balkan Mountains at the following passes listed from west to east :.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Balkan Mountains. The mountains are famous for the largest coniferous woods in the Balkans, their mild relief and the lush vegetation in the western parts as well as the abundance of birds of prey in the eastern areas.
It was a natural fortress of the Bulgarian Empire for centuries and formed an effective barrier to Moesia where most of the medieval capitals were located.
The town of Batak is also located in this part of the mountains, as well as the popular tourist centres SmolyanVelingradDevinChepelarethe winter resort Pamporovothe Eastern Orthodox Bachkovo Monasterythe ruins of the Asen dynasty 's fortress, and the Devil's Throat, Yagodinska, and Uhlovitsa caves.
The dynamic evolution of the geological structures in Bulgaria has been the subject The results confirm once again the merits of Bulgarian seismologist Spas.
The discovery of UHP conditions in the Central Rhodopes of Bulgaria compliments . Petrography of kyanite–garnet schists from the Variegated Formation . for the gar- net core (zone 1, and perhaps part of zone 2) merits further discussion.
Between and the Rhodopes fell under Ottoman occupation in the course of the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars.
Environmentalists also accused the government of destroying the plant and animal life using the pretext of renewable energy. The machine-building industry is developed in Smolyan, Kardzhali, Devin, Bratsigovo, Ivailovgrad and others; there is a pharmaceutical plant in Pestera.

Human heritage spans from the prehistoric remains, Classical antiquity including the Roman period and late mediaeval monastic complexes. There are around 80 mines for lead and zinc whose reserves are among the largest in Europe. The Balkan Mountains form a water divide between the rivers flowing to the Danube in the north and those flowing to the Aegean Sea in the south.
Video: Rhodope mountains geology merit Authentic bulgarian folk singing - Northern Rhodope mountains 1
There are many mineral water springs, the most famous being in VelingradNarechenDevinBedenMihalkovo and others.
During the Ottoman rulemany haiduks found refuge in the Balkan Mountains.
In the eastern part of the region there is the well known nature reserve of Dadia Forestan ideal habitat for birds of preywith 36 of the 38 species of birds of prey of Europe, like the rare Eastern imperial eagle and Lesser spotted eagle.