Holocene glaciation in the mountains of Bulgaria

Abstract

This study presents a review on Holocene glacial traces in Bulgaria. Pleistocene glaciation in this territory was spread over a number of mountains above 2000 m a. s. l., while in the later time, it was restricted only to the highest areas of the two highest mountains, Pirin and Rila. Two major phases can be distinguished on the basis of field evidence—a Little Ice Age (LIA) phase, and a present-day phase. Features of present-day glaciation are only found in the Pirin Mountains, in the highest parts of Northern Pirin which are built of carbonate rocks (marble). The two glacierets in these mountains, which are now the southernmost glacial masses in Europe, occupy only c. 1.5 ha. Several permanent snow patches are also found to fill the bottoms of high altitude karst dolines in the same area, contributing to a total of 3.5 ha of firn and ice, which have not completely melted for several centuries. The post-LIA climatic warming, which has progressed with an increased pace for the last 3 decades, reduced the glaciated area in the highest mountains of Bulgaria by 58%. However, glacierets and snow patches in Bulgaria have appeared to be more stable when compared to most other locations with similar topographic setting in Southeastern Europe.