The Natural Potential of Mountains in Bulgaria and Its Sustainable Use - Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe - page 59

Table 5.3 Altitude (m) of the landscape belts' boundaries (from The natural and economic
potential of the mountains in Bulgaria, 1989 )

Type of altitude
landscape
spectrum

High-
mountain Low-mountain Mid-mountain Alpine

Rila-Pirin
(generally)
(macroslopes
NE-SW)

900-1,400 1,400-1,900 1,900-2,300 >2,300

700/900-300/1,500

West Rodopean 300-900 900-1,700 > 1,700

Stara Planina (N)
(S)

500-700
500-900

700-1,800
900-1,900

> 1,800
>1,900

Osogovo-
Belasitca

700-1,300/1,400 1,300/1,400-1,900 >1,900

Kraishte-Sredna
Gora

600/700-1,200/1,400 1,200/1,400-1,700/1,800 > 1,700/1,800

East Bulgarian
mountains

> 300

low-, middle- and high-mountain zones. The smallest number of landscape belts -
only one - is established for the so-called East Bulgarian type of landscape spec-
trum, typical for the lowest small mountains on the territory of Bulgaria - Sakar and
Strandzha, and for a part of the bigger mountain systems such as East Stara Planina
and East Rhodopes. They can be distinguished as a general independent type by
the strongly expressed Mediterranean effect on almost all natural components and
especially - on the soil-vegetation cover.
The landscape features of the height belts determine on the one hand the natural-
resource potential which is suitable for various target utilization, for example
industrial, power generation, forest, water resource and potential for construction,
recreational-tourist potential, etc. On the other hand the landscape features deter-
mine the dynamic processes of self-purification, recovery (regeneration), degree of
changeability during anthropogenic impact. It is much more important to consider
possible manifestations of anthropogenically provoked or activated degradation pro-
cesses. This especially concerns the output of resources and construction under
conditions of higher dismemberment and slopes, typical for belts in the single
mountains with varying heights. It is necessary to precede the design and realiza-
tion of any type of activity by comprehensive scientific analytical and synthetic
investigations and classifications.

5.3 Assessment of the Possibilities for Sustainable Utilization
of the Natural Potential of the Mountains

The assessment of the natural potential of the mountains in Bulgaria as available
resources and conditions is only the first but very important step towards ensuring
the necessary prerequisites for sustainable development. The following steps are