Belasica

: "This article is about the mountain range. For the football teams, see PFC Belasitsa Petrich and FK Belasica."Geobox|Range
name=Belasica|native_name=


image_caption=The linear ridge of Belasitsa and lake Doiran on the left
country=Bulgaria|country1=Greece|country2=Republic of Macedonia
state_type=Region
region=
unit=|border=| border1=
geology=| period= | orogeny=
area= | length=| length_orientation=
width= | width_orientation=
highest=Radomir Peak
highest_elevation=2029
highest_lat_d=|highest_lat_m=|highest_lat_s=|highest_lat_NS=N
highest_long_d=|highest_long_m=|highest_long_s=|highest_long_EW=E

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map_caption=Location of Belasica (circled in red)

Belasica (Macedonian and Bulgarian: audio|Mk-Belasica.ogg|Беласица, also transliterated as Belasitsa or Belasitza; _el. Μπέλες, "Béles", or Κερκίνη, "Kerkíni") is a mountain range in the region of Macedonia in Southeastern Europe, shared by northwestern Greece (about 45%), southeastern Republic of Macedonia (35%) and southwestern Bulgaria (20%). The area is particularly famous for the Battle of Kleidion of 1014, which proved crucial for the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire.

The mountain range is about 60 km long and 7 to 9 km wide and is situated just northeast of Dojran Lake. The highest point is Radomir Peak (Kalabak) at 2,029 m, with elevation otherwise ranging between 300 and 1900 m above sea level. The climate in the area shows strong Mediterranean influence.

The area of Belasica became a euroregion in 2003. Two football teams are named after the mountain range, PFC Belasitsa from the nearby Bulgarian town of Petrich and FC Belasica from Strumica in the Republic of Macedonia.

Honour

Kongur Glacier on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after the peak and nature reserve of Kongur on Belasitsa Mountain.

References

* Благоевъ, Т. А. Бѣласица. София, 1925.
* Динчев, Евг., Атанасов, П. Високите планини на Република Македония. Пътеводител, София, 1998, стр. 214-224.
* "Енциклопедия Пирински край". Том 1, Благоевград, 1995, стр. 78.