The mountain ranges situated in the south-western part of Bulgaria are extensive. They form the central part of Balkan peninsula and include the highest Bulgarian mountains - Rila and Pirin as well as the mountains of Vitosha, the western Rhodopes, Osogovska, Slavianka and Belasitsa.
The specific feature of the wide mountain area are defined by two main factors: the relatively southern geographical location leading to gradual change of the European-continental with the Mediterranean-continental climatic influence and their great height over 2,300 m high and associated high altitude climate.
Forests diversities zones
The various landscape forms, the presence of both silicate and limestone terrains, the variable exposures, slopes, soil characteristics, differences in the hydrographic regime, specific features in the historical development of the natural processes and human influence are a complex set of factors which define the great diversity of natural habitants to be found here. The only one well developed alpine zone in Bulgaria can be observed in Rila and Pirin mountains.
On the lower slopes near the villages the oak forests were largely destroyed. Offshoot forests and bushes consisting of Turkey oak, Hungarian oak, downy oak, durmast oak and eastern hornbeam have been preserved in a few locations. The beech forests are better preserved but as a whole the beech belt is weaker than the one in the Bakan mountain and Sredna Gora.
The coniferous zone is dominated by Spruce and Scots pine which cover large territories and provide the main outlook of the forest vegetation of eh region. I the western Rhodopes the spruce forests are located in one of the most southern situation in Europe and their compactness together with the rich composition of the grass cover, gives them an unique character.
Influenced by the Mediterranean climate Bosnian pine forest occur and are to be found only on the lime terrains of Pirin and Slavianka. The greatest concentration of southern pieces occur in the peripheral and lower part of the mountain system.
Above the coniferous belt lies a sub-alpine bushes dominated by the pine-scrub and the Siberian juniper. Rila and Pirin are the two mountains where the pine-scrub is to be found extensively. The sub-alpine zone provides the co-habitants of the mat-grass, the tall fescue, the brown fescue, etc.
The alpine co-habitants and groups of the bog whortleberry, the sedge and the rush are to be found in the highest part of the mountains under the most severe climatic conditions.
The wild habitants of the south-western Bulgarian mountains
The mountains in this part of Bulgaria are distinguished by an enormous diversity of enemies which can be found only on their territory. For Rila mountain such endemites are for example, the lady's mantle, the mullein, the divine primrose. The water-grass, the buterwort, the buttercup, etc. are to be found only in western Rhodopes. Endemites of Rila and Pirin are the violet and the speedwell. By far the greatest number of endemic species is in Pirin: the meadow-grass, the fescue, the poppy, the wild cabbage, the mullein, the yellow-rattle and others can all be found here.
Different fauna groups can be regarded separately in different mountain areas. Zone distribution according to altitude also occurs for the animal life. As expected the European and the Euro-Siberian elements dominate, but in Belasitsa and Slavianka the Mediterranean species are well represented. In general above 1,000 m the vertebrate fauna differs only slightly from that one in the Bakan mountain. In the Rilo-rhodopean massif the population of the capercaillie and the hazel hen are numerous whilst the three-toed woodpecker cannot be found in the Balkan at all. Also large animals such as the bear, the wolf, and the chamois have greater inter linkage of the population in the Rila, western Rhodopes and Pirin mountains.
Three of Bulgaria's greatest parks - Vitosha, Rila and Pirin are located in the south-western mountains. In addition fourteen reserves included in the special UN list on the NP and other preserved areas are to be found here.
