Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountains) contains the most well-known and the longest (some 550 km) Bulgarian Mountains gave the name to the entire Balkan Peninsula.

The highest peak is Botev,at1,376 m. To the north, the mountains wind and smoothly melt into the Pre-Balkan region and the Danube plain; to the south, steep mountain slopes tower above a series of tectonic hollows and fields.

     High passes and saddles divide the mountains into several regions. The relief is quite diverse – from almost alpine in the highest western part, through the middle parts covered with dense forests and pastures, to the lower eastern parts with their valleys, hollows and low saddles. 

The mountains hide many picturesque sites - the Iskar River Canyon, Ritlite, the Belogradchik Rocks, Vratzata, Sinite Kanuni near Sliven, North Dzendem, and Ledenika, Magura, and Temnata Dupka caves. 

     The Central Balkan biosphere reserve, which includes century-old beech forests is situated in the central Stara Planina. Like the Rhodopes, these mountains have been inhabited since ancient times, and have a rich cultural historical heritage.