Borovest. Lagos Alekovo y Musalenski. Pico Musala. Montes de Rila. Bulgaria
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 17.02 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5,866 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 5,728 ft
- Max elevation
- 9,618 ft
- TrailRank
- 54
- Min elevation
- 4,207 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 5 hours 36 minutes
- Time
- 8 hours 34 minutes
- Coordinates
- 4341
- Uploaded
- July 12, 2023
- Recorded
- July 2023
near Borovets, Софийска област (България)
Viewed 250 times, downloaded 7 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Borovest. Alekovo and Musalensky lakes. Musala Peak. Rila Mountains. Bulgaria
The Rila National Park is the largest in Bulgaria, with an area of 810.46 km² in the Rila mountain range, in the southwest of the country. It was established on February 24, 1992 to protect several ecosystems of national importance. Its altitude varies from 800 m. near Blagoevgrad at 2925 m. on Musala Peak, the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. There are 120 glacial lakes, including the well-known seven Rila lakes. Many rivers originate in the national park, including the longest river that flows entirely through the Balkans, the Maritsa, and the longest river that flows entirely through Bulgaria, the Iskar.
It is made up of a series of deep valleys and glacial lakes located just 70 km south of Sofia. The park is divided into two sectors. The eastern, where you can find Mount Musala (2,925m), the highest peak in the Balkans; or the Borovets ski slopes. And the western one, with the Rila Monastery and the famous circuit of the Seven Lakes.
The national park covers territories of 4 of the 28 provinces of the country: Sofia, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad and Pazardzhik. It includes four nature reserves: Parangalitsa, Central Rila Reserve, Ibar and Skakavitsa.
Two of the four nature reserves are included in the UN List of Represented Protected Areas, and four of the nature reserves are included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program .
The park lies within the Rhodope Mountains mixed forest terrestrial ecoregion. Forests occupy 66% of the total area. There are approximately 1,400 species of vascular plants, 282 species of mosses, and 130 species of freshwater algae. The fauna is represented by 48 species of mammals, 99 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 5 species of fish, as well as 2,934 species of invertebrates, of which 282 are endemic.
Musala (2925 m) is the highest peak in Southeast Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. It is situated in the eastern part of the Rila Mountains which has a landscape reminiscent of the Alps. The name derives from "Mus Allah" ("the mountain of God"), being so called during the period when Bulgaria was part of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. The ancient name of the mountain is Tangra.
The view from the Musala summit is very impressive, you can see all the highest peaks of the great Rila massif and the highest peaks of the Pirin massif and Mount Rodopi.
Also, you can see some beautiful Rila lakes.
The area also has an alpine meteorological observatory and an ecological observatory, which is located at the top.
The walk starts from Borovets among centuries-old pine forests. Borovets is the oldest and largest mountain resort in Bulgaria. Many ski world championships were organized here. It is located at 1350 m above sea level on the northern slope of Rila Mountain among centuries-old pine forests.
The walk begins in the town of Borovets where we took the 4.5 km cable car and a drop of approximately 1100 m to Yastrebets Hut to head to Musala Hut along the highest path that is used mainly in summer.
There are no technical difficulties. There are some exposed parts, mainly on the way to Musala, but from Ledeno Ezero Hut to the top there is a cable installed that offers protection and minimizes dangers.
We initially go down the same path passing through Ledeno Ezero hut. Further on we make a detour to visit Kargakashevo Lake, pass through the Musala hut, reach the cable car at Yastrebets hut and reach Borovets.
Other routes performed in Bulgaria are:
Malyovitsa peak and cabin. Elensko Lake. Allen Mark. PN of Rila. Bulgaria
Borovest. Lakes Alekovo and Musalenski. Peak Work. Mountains of Rila. Bulgaria
Lake Bezburg. Polezhan and Bezbog peaks. Pirin National Park. Bulgaria
Lake and peak Muratovo. Mountains of Pirin. Bulgaria
Vihren and Kutelos Peaks. Crest concheto. PN of Pirin. Bulgaria
Lakes Okoto and Ribno. Pirin National Park. Bulgaria
Stroll through the city of Sofia. Bulgaria
Rila Monastery. Bulgaria
Waypoints
Waypoint
4,208 ft
Lake
Summit
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