The average altitude of the mountain is 785 m – it is a medium-altitude mountain. More than one-third of the mountain’s area is made up of low-lying and hilly terrain with altitudes ranging from 200 to 600 m, another nearly one-third is made up of medium-altitude areas (between 1,000 and 1,600 metres), whilst the remaining one-third of the mountain consists of the lowest elevations (from 0 to 200 metres) and those above 1,600 metres.
The Rhodopes are composed of metamorphic rocks, including serpentinites, granites and other intrusive rocks. In the Eastern Rhodopes, weakly metamorphosed Mesozoic rocks have also been identified.
The region is exceptionally rich in natural resources – rivers, waterfalls, lakes and over 1,000 caves, formed as a result of complex karst processes. The mountain range is rich in thermal springs. Velingrad, known as the ‘SPA capital of the Balkans’, boasts over 80 springs with a diverse mineral composition.
In ancient tradition, only one etymological legend has been preserved, which explains the name and origin of the mountain. According to this legend, Rhodope was the daughter of the river god and Thracian king Strymon, son of Oceanus and Tethys. She married Haemus, who in ancient Greek mythology was king of Thrace. Haemus and Rhodope called each other Zeus and Hera. This angered the gods, who transformed them into the mountains Haemus (Stara Planina) and the Rhodopes.
According to other hypotheses, Rhodope is interpreted as the original name of a river meaning ‘rusty/reddish water’, where ‘rod-’ comes from the same Indo-European root as the Bulgarian ‘ruda’ (‘ore’), ‘rzhda’ (‘rust’), ‘rizh’ (‘red-haired’), Latin 'rufus'(‘red-haired’) and German 'rot' (‘red’).
Based on their geological, tectonic and morphological features, the Rhodopes are divided into two parts – the Western (high) and the Eastern (low) Rhodopes.
The Western Rhodopes are higher and more mountainous, with an average altitude of around 1,300 metres. There, the terrain is rugged, with deep river valleys, steep peaks and extensive coniferous forests. They cover an area of 8,732.1 km² (or 59.25 per cent), with more than half of this area comprising land at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,600 metres. They have a mid-mountain character with a highly dissected, dense and deeply incised river network. The valley of the Vucha River divides them into two parts – the western, Dabrashko-Batashko region, and the eastern, Pereliksko-Prespansko region. The largest rivers of the Rhodopes have their source in the Western Rhodopes: the Vacha, Chepinska, Chepelarska, Arda, Dospat, Stara Reka and others, which flow through deep gorge-like valleys.
The Eastern Rhodopes are characterised by lower altitude, rounded hills and a gradual transition to the lowland areas of south-eastern Bulgaria. They cover an area of 6,005.4 km² (or 40.75 per cent) and comprise the lower part of the Rhodopes. Their average altitude is just 329 m, i.e. more than three times lower than that of the Western Rhodopes. Nearly three-quarters of their area consists of land with an altitude between 200 and 600 m. Unlike the Western Rhodopes, the Eastern Rhodopes are lower, with a low-mountainous and hilly character. Although they retain their massive mountainous character, they are dissected by wide valleys interspersed with narrow gorges. The River Arda flows through the Eastern Rhodopes from west to east, and its main tributaries are the Perperik, Varbitsa, Krumovitsa and Byala Reka.
The great diversity of climate and soil conditions gives rise to a rich variety of plant life in the Rhodopes. Over 2,000 species of higher plants have been recorded in the mountain range, 90 of which are Balkan endemics and critically endangered species. Of particular interest is the Silivryak, also known as ‘Orpheus’ flower’, which is found only in the Balkans, mainly in the Rhodopes. It is known for its ability to revive even after a long drought – a symbol of eternal life. In the lower reaches of the Eastern Rhodopes, the forests give way to sub-Mediterranean low-growing species.
The mountain is home to over 100 species of mammals and over 220 species of birds, including the majestic griffon vulture, the black stork, the golden eagle and the extremely rare imperial eagle.
