Golyam Bogdan

Golyam Bogdan
Bogdan
File:Bogdan Peak.jpg Golyam Bogdan Peak
Highest point
Elevation	1604
Coordinates
Naming
Etymology	Named after a Bulgarian Hajduk - Bogdan Voyvoda
Native name	Голям Богдан (Bulgarian)
Geography
File:Map of Sashtinska Sredna Gora.png Golyam Bogdan on the Map of Bulgaria
Location	Sofia Province, Bulgaria

Golyam Bodan, also known as Bogdan, is the highest peak (1604 m) in the Sredna Gora geographical area in Bulgaria.

Location

Golyam Bogdan is surrounded by forests on all sides. Looking from its elevation toward the South, and the North, there is a beautiful landscape and a view toward Barikadi and Vylk, two summits in the Balkan Mountains. On the steep South side of the summit, there is a beech forest. Along the beech forest, there are large rocks, covered in moss - the so called "Detelinova Peshtera", an attraction often visited by hiking tourists.

Two rivers stream from Golyam Bogdan - Pyasachnik, Kriva reka, and Luda Yana.

Etymology

The name of the peak comes from the legendary Bulgarian freedom fighter - haydutin Bogdan Voyvoda.

Wildlife Sanctuary

In 1972, the area around the peak was protected as a wildlife sanctuary and a natural heritage area. The main reason for that is the centuries old beech forest. Other possible sight seeings nearby include the "Detelinova Gramada", and the "Donkina Gora" or Donkina forest, that was also made a wildlife sanctuary in 1979.

In the area, the rare and endangered Aquila Heliacal, the Eastern Imperial Eagle, can be seen.