Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria
Stretching across central Bulgaria, the Balkan Mountains, also known as Stara Planina, form a rugged mountain chain between the Danubian Plain and the Thracian Lowland. At their heart lies Central Balkan National Park, a protected landscape of beech forests, alpine grasslands, and deep river gorges which supports large carnivores, rare raptors, and diverse mountain flora.
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 9 January 2026, shows the terrain of this mountain range. White tones mark higher elevations within the National Park covered in snow, while bare soils and deciduous forests appear in shades of orange and brown. Agricultural land south of the mountains is visible in green hues.
Copernicus Earth Observation data support the monitoring and protection of mountain ecosystems, helping track land use, habitat extent, and environmental change in complex terrain.
