Balkans, Peninsula in southeastern Europe.
The Balkans form a peninsula in southeastern Europe, lying between the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea, and Black Sea and covering roughly 550,000 square kilometers. The landscape shifts from coastal valleys and dense forests to limestone plateaus and mountain ranges running east to west.
The Ottoman Empire ruled over much of the peninsula from the 14th century onward, until independent nation-states emerged in the 19th century. The collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s brought new borders and political shifts to several countries in the region.
Markets in towns and villages sell local cheeses, cured meats and homemade rakija, while locals linger over strong coffee and unhurried conversation. Polyphonic singing can be heard at festivals and in rural churches, often accompanied by musicians playing traditional stringed instruments.
The region includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and parts of Greece and Turkey. Travelers find well-maintained roads along the coasts and through mountain passes, while remote valleys are sometimes accessible only via narrow mountain routes.
The Balkan Mountains reach 2,925 meters (9,596 feet) at Musala peak in Bulgaria and gave the entire region its name. Along the ridges run old shepherd trails, now used by hikers and connecting remote villages with high pastures.
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