Balkan countries. Balkan Peninsula. Description

If you are going to get acquainted with new countries, take a close look at the map of the Balkan Peninsula. These lands can offer travelers unexpected but pleasant surprises, where history, art, and the fusion of a wide variety of cultures create amazing itineraries for family vacations, active pastimes, and even exotic travels.

Unique and noisy city centers, historical sites from different eras, museums full of various artifacts, original architecture, busy promenades and pedestrian streets full of restaurants and cafes...

And the Balkan Peninsula and its map are famous for their unique natural landscapes, which create ample opportunities for outdoor activities, including on mountain lakes, in winter - skiing from the mountains, in summer - historical tourism, introducing the ruins of ancient civilizations. Add the fact that the Balkan countries themselves are quite compact, but at the same time they have a very developed transport infrastructure, and the prices for holidays here are quite low, which makes them undoubtedly very interesting for a budget traveler. In addition, a significant part of the population in the Balkans are Slavic peoples, close to us in spirit, religion, and character ...

Map of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula

The countries on the map of the Balkan Peninsula, whose territory is partially or completely within the Balkans, include: Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey.

The European Union includes Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, so you need a Schengen visa to visit these countries. Other countries listed above offer visa-free entry into their territory.

Balkan Peninsula visa map

For the most part, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula practice visa-free entry. For example, the Republic of Macedonia once again unilaterally extended the possibility of free entry for our compatriots. The visa-free regime, which has been virtually uninterrupted in this country since March 15, 2012, has now been extended once again for citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine - until March 15, 2020.

You can also visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina without visas. Until recently, Croatia also had a visa-free regime, but having joined the European Union, it introduced Schengen visas (see the post "Visa to Croatia"). Montenegro today is also a visa-free country (see "Montenegro summer").

You can stay continuously on the territory of the visa-free Balkan countries for 30-90 days within a six-month period.

Holiday season in the Balkans

The best time for a holiday in the Balkans is May-September, and for those who love skiing - January-February.

Macedonia and Serbia do not have access to the sea, but rest on the mountain lakes of these countries, at their balneological resorts can be a great addition to sightseeing tours in the Balkans.

In the north and northwest, the Balkan Peninsula, which is part of Southern Europe, borders on such states as Austria, Hungary and Italy.

Climate and weather

The north of the Balkan Peninsula and its central regions (Serbia, Slovenia, partly Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) have a temperate continental climate characterized by cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. In July here the average temperature is about 22 -25C; in January the air temperature fluctuates between -1C in the plains and -5C in the Balkan mountains.

Balkans video

The climate in the south and west (Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia) is typical subtropical Mediterranean, which is characterized by hot summers and cool winters. In July, the average air temperature is 26C, and in January + 10C.

The climate in the northeast (part of Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria) is characterized by warm summers and cool winters. In July, the average air temperature here is 22C, and in January + 5C.

Macedonia is famous for its hot and dry weather in summer, as well as wet and cold winters, which is typical for a continental climate. In the south of this country, the climate is reminiscent of the Mediterranean - mild and warm. In July, the warmest month of summer, the average air temperature is +22C. In January, slight frosts await you with a temperature of -3C.

Peninsula in Southern Europe. The area is about 505 thousand km2. The greatest length from west to east is about 1260 km, from north to south 950 km. It is washed with the Z. Adriatic and Ionian seas, with the V. Black, Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, the Aegean ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Balkan Peninsula- Balkan Peninsula. Rhodes island. View of the ancient acropolis. BALKAN PENINSULA, in the south of Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, most of Greece, part of Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Croatia). Area 505 thousand ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

In Yuzh. Europe. The name is from the oronym used in the past Balkan mountains or the Balkans (from the Turks, balkan a chain of steep mountains); Now the mountains are called Stara Planina, but the name of the peninsula has been preserved. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

In the south of Europe. 505 thousand km². It juts out into the sea for 950 km. It is washed by the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian, Marmara, Aegean and Black Seas. The northern border runs from the Trieste Hall. to the river Sava and further along the Danube to the mouth. The coast is strong ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

In the south of Europe. 505 thousand km2. Protrudes into the sea for 950 km. It is washed by the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian, Marmara, Aegean and Black Seas. The northern border runs from the Gulf of Trieste to the river. Sava and further along the Danube to the mouth. The coast is strong ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

The southeastern tip of Europe, on which the European possessions of Turkey, the principality of Bulgaria, the kingdoms of Serbia and Greece, and the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina occupied by Austria under the Berlin Treaty are located. See these articles. MAP OF THE BALKANS ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Balkan Peninsula- Balkan semi-island ... Russian spelling dictionary

Balkan Peninsula- in Yuzh. Europe. The name is from the oronym used in the past Balkan mountains or the Balkans (from the Turks, balkan a chain of steep mountains); Now the mountains are called Stara Planina, but the name of the peninsula has been preserved ... Toponymic Dictionary

Balkan theater of operations World War I ... Wikipedia

Books

  • Slavic sword
  • Slavic sword, F. Finzhgar. The novel by the Slovenian writer Franz Saleshka Finzhgar refers to that critical moment in the history of the Slavic tribes, when they crossed the Danube and poured into the Balkan Peninsula to ...

The Balkan Peninsula is located in the southern part of Europe. It is washed by the waters of the Aegean, Adriatic, Ionian, Black and On the western shores there are many bays and bays, rocky and steep for the most part. In the east, they are usually straight and low. The Balkan Peninsula includes medium and low mountains. Among them are Pindus, the Dinaric Highlands, the Rhodopes, Staraya Planina, the Serbian Highlands and others. The name of the peninsula in Europe is one.

On the outskirts is the Lower Danube and Middle Danube Plain. The most important rivers are Morava, Maritsa, Sava, Danube. Among the reservoirs, the main lakes are: Prespa, Ohrid, Skadar. The Balkan Peninsula in the north and east is different. The territories in the south and west are characterized by the Mediterranean

The peninsulas differ significantly in socio-political, climatic and other conditions. The southern territories are mostly occupied by Greece. It borders Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Albania. B is characterized as subtropical Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and wet, mild winters. In the mountainous and northern regions, the weather conditions are more severe; in winter, the temperature here is below zero.

The Balkan Peninsula in the south is occupied by Macedonia. It borders with Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia. Macedonia has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters and dry and hot summers.

The northeastern territories of the peninsula are occupied by Bulgaria. Its northern part borders on Romania, the western part - on Macedonia and Serbia, the southern part - on Turkey and Greece. The territory of Bulgaria includes the longest mountain range on the peninsula - Staraya Planina. North of it and south of the Danube is the Danube Plain. This rather extensive plateau rises one hundred and fifty meters above sea level, it is dissected by many rivers that originate in Staraya Planina and flow into the Danube. The Rhodopes limit the southeastern plain from the southwest. Most of the plain is located in the basin of the Maritsa River. These territories have always been famous for their fertility.

Climatically Bulgaria is divided into three Mediterranean and continental. This conditions this territory. For example, in Bulgaria there are more than three thousand species of plants, various species of which have disappeared from other European territories.

The western part of the Balkan Peninsula is occupied by Albania. The northern and northwestern territories border on Montenegro and Serbia, the eastern territories border Macedonia, and the southern and southeastern territories border Greece. The main part of Albania is distinguished by an elevated and mountainous relief with deep and very fertile valleys. There are also several large lakes on the territory, which stretch along the border areas with Greece, Macedonia, Yugoslavia.

The climate in Albania is Mediterranean subtropical. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are wet and cool.

The Balkan region is often called the "powder keg" of Europe. And not by chance. In the 20th century, wars and conflicts of various sizes broke out here every now and then. Yes, and the First World War began here, after the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was killed in Sarajevo. In the early 1990s, the Balkan countries experienced another serious shock - the collapse of Yugoslavia. This event significantly redrawn the political map of the European region.

Balkan region and its geography

On a relatively small area of ​​505 thousand square kilometers, all the Balkan countries are located. The geography of the peninsula is very diverse. Its coastline is strongly dissected and is washed by the waters of six seas. The territory of the Balkans is predominantly mountainous and heavily indented by deep canyons. However, the highest point of the peninsula - Mount Musala - falls short even up to 3000 meters in height.

Two more natural features are characteristic of this region: the presence of a huge number of small islands off the coastline (mainly in Croatia), as well as the widespread karst processes (it is in Slovenia that the famous Karst plateau is located, which served as a name donor for a separate group of landforms).

The name of the peninsula comes from the Turkish word balkan, which means "large and wooded mountain range". The northern border of the Balkans is usually drawn along the line and the Sava.

Balkan countries: list

Today, there are ten state entities in the Balkans (of which 9 are sovereign states and one is partially recognized). Below is a list of them, including the capitals of the Balkan countries:

  1. Slovenia (capital - Ljubljana).
  2. Greece (Athens).
  3. Romania (Bucharest).
  4. Macedonia (Skopje).
  5. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo).
  6. Serbia (Belgrade).
  7. Montenegro (Podgorica).
  8. Croatia (Zagreb).
  9. Republic of Kosovo (partially recognized state with its capital in Pristina).

It should be noted that in some regional classifications, Moldova is also included in the Balkan countries.

In the second half of the 19th century, all the Balkan peoples were under the yoke of Turkey, as well as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which could not contribute to their national and cultural development. In the 60-70s of the century before last, national liberation aspirations intensified in the Balkans. The Balkan countries, one after another, are trying to embark on the path of independent development.

The first of these was Bulgaria. In 1876, an uprising began here, which, however, was brutally suppressed by the Turks. Outraged by such bloody actions, as a result of which about 30 thousand Orthodox Bulgarians died, Russia declared war on the Turks. Ultimately, Turkey was forced to recognize the independence of Bulgaria.

In 1912, following the example of the Bulgarians, Albania also achieved independence. At the same time, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece create the so-called "Balkan Union" in order to finally free themselves from Turkish oppression. Soon the Turks were ousted from the peninsula. Only a small piece of land with the city of Constantinople remained under their rule.

However, after defeating their common enemy, the Balkan countries begin to fight among themselves. So, Bulgaria, with the support of Austria-Hungary, attacks Serbia and Greece. The latter, in turn, provided military support from Romania.

The Balkans finally turned into a big "powder keg" on June 28, 1914, when Prince Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was killed in Sarajevo by Princip. Thus began the First World War, which involved almost all of Europe, as well as some countries in Asia, Africa and even Central America.

Breakup of Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia was created back in 1918, immediately after the liquidation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The process of its collapse, which began in 1991, significantly redrawn the political map of Europe that existed at that time.

Slovenia was the first to leave Yugoslavia as a result of the so-called 10-day war. It was followed by Croatia, but the military conflict between Croats and Serbs lasted 4.5 years and claimed at least 20 thousand lives. At the same time, it continued and resulted in the recognition of the new state entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One of the last stages of the collapse of Yugoslavia was the referendum on the independence of Montenegro, which was held in 2006. According to its results, 55.5% of Montenegrins voted for secession from Serbia.

Shaky independence of Kosovo

February 17, 2008 unilaterally declared its independence. The reaction of the international community to this event was extremely mixed. To date, Kosovo, as an independent state, is recognized by only 108 countries (out of 193 UN members). Among them are the USA and Canada, Japan, Australia, most and also some states of Africa and Latin America.

However, the independence of the republic has not yet been recognized by Russia and China (which are part of which does not allow Kosovo to become a full member of the main international organization of the planet.

Finally...

Modern Balkan countries began their path to independence at the end of the 19th century. However, the process of forming borders in the Balkans has not yet been completed.

To date, ten countries stand out within the Balkan region. These are Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and also the partially recognized state of Kosovo.

He knows a lot about train travel, because traveling around Italy by train is our everything))) This, by the way, is far from our best and most interesting video! Go to YouTube channel Aviamaniya and, so to speak, get acquainted with the assortment. And don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell!

Montenegro on the world map: what about the products?

In Montenegro, in many shops and supermarkets, you will hardly find goods from local manufacturers. Most of the range - imported names. There are many Serbian, Croatian and Italian products here. By the way, thanks to low prices compared to most European countries, here you can buy quality items inexpensively.

Aviamania plans to check the assortment and prices on store shelves and tell you what for what and where)

Montenegro on the world map: the smallest and largest country

The inhabitants of the country selflessly love her. This is not surprising, even V. Vysotsky in his poem regretted that he lives once. Many people dream of being born in Montenegro and enjoying its beauty. The Montenegrins themselves joke about the area of ​​the country in a very funny way.

They say that there are so many mountains in Montenegro and they are so high that if they are “smoothed out”, then the area of ​​the country will exceed the area of ​​Russia.

A beautiful story, but you understand ....

Montenegro on the world map:

The name Montenegro or Black Mountain is fully justified. It is nature that is the hallmark of Montenegro and attracts tourists from all over the world. Those who come here leave a piece of their heart in a small hospitable country.

Aviamania wants to convey to the maximum through its videos everything that the amazing country of Montenegro will open for us!

See you on the pages of the site and the YouTube channel!