Rila (Bulgarian: Рила, pronounced [ˈriɫɐ]) is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. The massif is also the sixth highest mountain in Europe (when each mountain is represented by its highest peak only), coming after the Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and Mount Etna, and the highest between the Alps and the Caucasus. More than one-third of the mountain is occupied by the Rila National Park, the rest lies within the Rila Monastery Nature Park.
The mountain is believed to have been named after the river of the same name, which comes from the Old Bulgarian verb "рыти" meaning "to grub".Rila is abundant in glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in fault areas at the base of the mountain. Some of the Balkans ' longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including Maritsa, Iskar and Mesta.
Culturally, Rila is famous for the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria 's largest and most important monastery, founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila. Alongside the cultural landmarks the mountain is also famous for the Seven Rila Lakes.
Geology
Rila is a dome -shaped horst mountain, part of the Balkans ' oldest land, the Macedono-Thracian Massif. It was formed by granite and gneiss rocks and crystal schists during the Cenozoic (10,000,000 years ago). Rila's alpine relief was formed during the Pleistocene by a series of glacial periods.
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