Geomorphological studies of Jovan Cvijic in Bulgaria

Abstract

The geomorphologic studies of Jovan Cvijić in Bulgaria are crucial for many Earth scientists from the beginning of the 20th century. Cvijić laid the foundations of the morphotectonic division of the Balkan Peninsula, clarified a number of tectonic and glacial processes and offered proof that there were traces of the Wurm glaciation in Rila Mountain. His findings on the geographical scope of the last glacial period on the Balkan Peninsula are largely based on his research in the Rila and Pirin mountains in Bulgaria. He is the first scientist to define the snow line altitude during the Wurm glacial stage in Balkan Mountains and discover the glacial origin of high mountain lakes there. Many of his theories on relief evolution in the region remain very important to the development of geology and geomorphology in all Balkan countries. In this paper, we provide a review of some publications by Jovan Cvijić that relate to the territory of Bulgaria and analyze the impact of his findings on the work of Bulgarian geologists and geomorphologists.