BALKAN (bal-kiin' or ballkan) MOUN TAINS (Turk., high ridge: the ancient mus). A mountain range in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula, forming a continuation of the Carpathian system. As such they may be considered to begin at the western extremity of the Transylvanian Alps. at the gorge known as the Iron Gates of the Danube, where the bound aries of Ilungary, Rumania, and Servia meet. Thence they extend due south through Servia and along the borders of Servia and Bulgaria, then bend abruptly to the east, and continue in that direction as far as Cape Emineh, on the Black Sea (Map: Balkan Peninsula, E 3). The first section of the Balkans—that extending north and south—is formed by rounded hills and ridges, which attain an extreme elevation of about 7000 feet. The main range consists of several sec tions, including the Etropol, Kodja, and Ship ka Balkans, which are arranged successively along an east and west axis, constituting the watershed between the Danube and the Slnritza rivers and the boundary between Bulgaria and Eastern flumelia. In this main division, com
prising the Central Balkans, are the highest sum mits of the range, several of which exceed 7000 feet (Viiniriicktehal, 7789; Kadin]lia, 7410; Ambarica, 7052). The Eastern Balkans, from the vicinity of Sliven to the Black Sea, con sist of numerous ridges, usually less than 3000 feet high, and of more broken character than the mountains in the western and central sections. From the Balkans various ranges extend south ward toward the -Egeau, the principal being the Rhodope ( Despoto-Dagh), whose summits over top those of the Balkans. Among the passes of the Balkans may be mentioned the Troyan, Rosalita, and Shipka passes, which are at eleva tions of 4000 to 5000 feet. The Balkan Range is composed largely of folded Aedimentary strata; but in the west, crystalline schists containing deposits of copper, lead, and iron ore, are prominent.