03 Wanderkarte Osogovo Gebirge Mazedonien - 1:60.000

Osogovo Mauntains are a high and massif mountain rage the dominates the eastern part in Macedonia.  The Osogovo Mauntains range stretches in two countries, covering an area of 1.535 km2,1.102 km2, belong to Macedonia, while 443 km2 belong to Bulgaria. Taking in account the area, it is a second mauntain in Macedonia, after the mauntain range Jakupica. The highest peak is Ruen ( 2.252m), beside which there are 5 peaks above 2.000m.  Osogovo Mauntains tectonically belong to the Serbian-Macedonian range, which represents an old land mass on the Balkan Peninsula. The tectonical movements made  this terrain to be raside, crushed and riddled with faults and as a result formed into horst. 

The relief of Osogovo Mauntains is represented bu high, flattened and long crests, that were broken down with deep river vaiieys, volcanic cones and craters.Beside the crests important part of the relief are the river valleys with gorges.The most famous are the river vallues of Toranica, Kamenicka, Orizarska, Zletovo etc.  Only 20 km north of Kocani, in the heart of the Osogovo Mauntains lies the summer and winter resort Ponikva (1.580km), covered with thick beech forest and green pastures. Due to its climate this resort is visited by tourists through the year.Various tourist and sport and recreation. There is a day-care centre with 220 beads, ski-tracks, two ski-lifts, motels, restaurants and manu summer houses.

More info: HERE.

Summit: Ruen- 2252 m.

----------

Osogovo (Bulgarian and Macedonian Cyrillic: Осогово ) or Osogovska Planina (Осоговска планина or Осоговски Планини) is a mountain and ski resort between southwestern Bulgaria (Kyustendil Province) and northeastern Republic of Macedonia, (Kočani and Kriva Palanka municipalities). It is about 110 km (68.35 mi) long and 50 km (31.07 mi) wide, the highest peak being Ruen (Руен) at 2251 m, which constitutes the main orthographic knot on the very border between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. The steepest slope of the mountain is in the west, stretching down from Carev Vrv (Царев Врв; "Tsar's Peak").

Osogovo is the northernmost and highest part of the Osogovo-Belasica group and is situated between the Kyustendil and Kamenitsa Valleys, Dobro pole and Bregalnica and Kriva Reka river valleys. The west slopes are steep and the southeast ones are slant, the mountain is rich in polymetal ores.

There are many legends about the origin of name Osogovo, but the most famous one is that it was given by the Saxon miners who were mining gold and silver in the region in the past. According to this legend, the name originates from the Old Germanic words "osso" (god) and "gov" (place) which means "a divine place".

Galicica National Park represents a "hotspot" of biological diversity in Europe and beyond. Its rich biological diversity is of national, European and global value.The number of species of global, European and national importance is indeed considerable. In the Park there are 4 species of invertebrates and 13 of vertebrate animals, which are considered to be globally threatened. The international significance of the biological diversity in this park has been confirmed by numerous nominations, such as : " Emerald site", "Important Plant Area", "Primary Butterfly Area", "UNESCO World Heritage site", etc. 

Other natural values of this Park are Stara Galicica, with its two remarkable cirques, and the Golem Grad Island and its charecteridtic geomorphology.

The Park also includes a vast cultural heritage, including several cultural monuments such as the Saint Naum Monastery and the churches Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Sain Stephen-Pancir, The Church of the Holy Mother of God at Zaum, that is the cave church Saint Virgin Mary at Pestani, as well as the cultural heritage on the Island of Golem Grad.  

The Saint Naum Spring and its immediate surroundings stands out with its unique blend of natural and cultural values, due to which it id considered one of the most appealing tourist destination in Macedonia and the region.

- See more at: http://www.3maks.com/en/Product/591197/Galicica-National-Park-Macedonia#sthash.8a8CQ6hI.dpuf