Orelyak, Mountain summit in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.
Orelyak is the highest summit of Central Pirin, reaching 2,099 m on the range's main ridge between Baba Peak to the south and Chala Peak to the south-east. It has the form of a three-headed dome, built of karstified marbles with dark brown forest soils and sparse grass. The western slopes drop steeply, in places vertically, to the Pirinska Bistritsa valley, while the south-eastern slopes fall more gently toward the Dobro Pole area.
The lower northern slopes of Orelyak lie within the Orelyak Reserve, established to protect the old-growth beech forests of Central Pirin. The reserve covers only this northern section of the summit's slopes, not the western or south-eastern ones.
The peak's names — Orelyak, Orelek and Orlovi skali (Eagle Rocks) — refer to eagles. A street in Sofia's Banishora quarter is named after Orelyak. The summit is climbed from the Popovi Livadi refuge, and a 10 km gravel road from the same refuge reaches the top, where the 96 m repeater stands.
A marked trail from Popovi Livadi refuge leads to the summit, with a gravel road offering vehicle access as an alternative. Conditions on the route vary by season, so checking local information before starting your ascent helps with planning.
A 96-meter radio and television transmitter stands near the summit and shapes how visitors see this mountain formation. This structure has become a useful landmark for climbers navigating the area.
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