Kom Peak
Encyclopedia
Kom Peak or Golyam Kom (Голям Ком, "Big Kom") is a peak in the western Balkan Mountains
, located in western Bulgaria
, not far from the Serbia
n border. The peak is 2,016 metres high and lies south of the town of Berkovitsa
, of which it is a traditional symbol. Kom, along with the lower peaks Sreden Kom ("Middle Kom") and Malak Kom ("Little Kom") to the east, form a west-east elevation with a round grassy ridge, a steep rocky northern slope and a slant grassy southern slope. Looking north, one can see Berkovitsa and the surrounding fields, as well as Montana
and the Ogosta Reservoir some 30 kilometres away.
The peak inspired national writer Ivan Vazov
to create the poem On Kom. In his honour, a bas-relief plaque bearing his image and excerpts from the poem has been installed on the peak. Kom also marks the start of the Bulgarian section of the European walking route E3
, also known as the Kom-Emine
path along the main ridge of the Balkan Mountains, as well as the eponymous off-road race.
There are several climbing route
s to the summit, such as from the Kom chalet
(two-hour climb), from the Petrohan Pass
(taking 3 hours 30 minutes to reach the peak), from the villages of Komshtitsa and Gintsi (3 hours away).
The Nishava River, a major tributary of the South Morava, originates east of Kom Peak, as does the Visochitsa
. Along with Midzhur
, Kom is among the highest and best known peaks of the western Balkan Mountains. A Bulgarian brand of mineral water
is branded after Kom. The peak is part of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria
, together with the museum of ethnography in Berkovitsa. There are several ski
piste
s descending from the peak.
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
, located in western Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, not far from the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n border. The peak is 2,016 metres high and lies south of the town of Berkovitsa
Berkovitsa
Berkovitsa is a town and ski resort in northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Berkovitsa Municipality, Montana Province and is close to the town of Varshets...
, of which it is a traditional symbol. Kom, along with the lower peaks Sreden Kom ("Middle Kom") and Malak Kom ("Little Kom") to the east, form a west-east elevation with a round grassy ridge, a steep rocky northern slope and a slant grassy southern slope. Looking north, one can see Berkovitsa and the surrounding fields, as well as Montana
Montana, Bulgaria
- Elite High Scools :*Foreign Language HS "Petar Bogdan". Emphasis on English and German language proficiency. Recognized and praised for its scholars' academic accomplishments worldwide. http://gpchemont.com/sitegpche/...
and the Ogosta Reservoir some 30 kilometres away.
The peak inspired national writer Ivan Vazov
Ivan Vazov
Ivan Minchov Vazov was a Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright, often referred to as "the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature". He was born in Sopot, a town in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria ....
to create the poem On Kom. In his honour, a bas-relief plaque bearing his image and excerpts from the poem has been installed on the peak. Kom also marks the start of the Bulgarian section of the European walking route E3
European walking route E3
The E3 European long distance path, or just E3 path is a 6950 km long-distance footpath that is planned to run from the Portuguese coast to the Black Sea in Bulgaria...
, also known as the Kom-Emine
Cape Emine
Cape Emine is a headland located at the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is located 49 miles south of Varna, 34 miles north of Burgas and 9 miles south of Obzor. It forms the tip of Stara Planina. Cape Emine is said to be Bulgaria's stormiest cape....
path along the main ridge of the Balkan Mountains, as well as the eponymous off-road race.
There are several climbing route
Climbing route
A climbing route is a path by which a climber reaches the top of a mountain, rock, or ice wall. Routes can vary dramatically in difficulty and, once committed to that ascent, can be difficult to stop or return. Choice of route can be critically important...
s to the summit, such as from the Kom chalet
Chalet
A chalet , also called Swiss chalet, is a type of building or house, native to the Alpine region, made of wood, with a heavy, gently sloping roof with wide, well-supported eaves set at right angles to the front of the house.-Definition and origin:...
(two-hour climb), from the Petrohan Pass
Petrohan Pass
Petrohan Pass is a mountain pass in the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria. It connects Sofia and Montana....
(taking 3 hours 30 minutes to reach the peak), from the villages of Komshtitsa and Gintsi (3 hours away).
The Nishava River, a major tributary of the South Morava, originates east of Kom Peak, as does the Visochitsa
Temštica
The Temštica is a river in Serbia and Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Nišava River. The Temštica itself is not very long, but receives a much longer tributary, the Visočica , flowing from Bulgaria, making the Visočica-Temštica river system 86 km long.- Temštica :The Temštica or the Toplodoska...
. Along with Midzhur
Midzor
Midžor is a peak in the Balkan Mountains, situated on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. At , it is the highest peak of the Western Balkan Mountains, as well as of Central SerbiaThe highest peak of Serbia is officially Đeravica in the Prokletije mountain range at , but is located in Kosovo....
, Kom is among the highest and best known peaks of the western Balkan Mountains. A Bulgarian brand of mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
is branded after Kom. The peak is part of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria
100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria
"100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria" is a Bulgarian national movement established in 1966 to promote tourism among Bulgaria's most significant cultural, historic, and natural landmarks....
, together with the museum of ethnography in Berkovitsa. There are several ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
piste
Piste
A piste is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. The term is European, from the French for trail or track, synonymous with trail, slope, or groomed run in North America....
s descending from the peak.