Vitosha , the ancient
Scomius or
Scombrus, is a
mountain massif, on the outskirts of
Sofia, the capital of
Bulgaria. Vitosha is one of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking,
alpinism and
skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous dome. The territory of the mountain includes Vitosha
nature park that encompasses the best known and most frequently visited parts. The foothills of Vitosha shelter resort quarters of Sofia; Knyazhevo quarter has
mineral springs. Vitosha is the oldest nature park in the
Balkans. The mountain emerged as a result of
volcanic activity and has been subsequently shaped by the slow folding of the granite rock layers and a series of gradual uplifts of the area. It appears dome shaped at first sight, but the mountain, 19 km long by 17 km wide, actually consists of concentric denudational plateaus rising in tiers one above the other. Vitosha is separated into four main parts whose main ridges gather at a crown known as
Cherni Vrah (
"Black Peak"). This is the highest point of the mountain at 2290 m and is one of 10 peaks of Vitosha over 2000 m in height.
