Rhodope Mountains, Bulgarian Rodopi, Greek Orosirá Rodhópis, mountain system in the Balkan Peninsula.The Rhodope Mountains lie mainly in Bulgaria but also reach into Greece. The least-accessible region in the Balkans, it has within Bulgaria an area of 5,690 square miles (14,737 sq km), extending 150 miles (240 km) west to east and 60 miles (97 km) north to south. It is an ancient massif eroded to a wide, undulating plateau, but uplift has regenerated the erosion cycle, and the Struma and Mesta rivers have incised valleys that provide difficult routes. Elevations range from over 6,600 feet (2,000 metres) in the west to about 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) in the east. Maximum elevations are Golyam (Great) Perelik, 7,188 feet, and Golyama Syutkya, 7,172 feet. The Rila and Pirin massifs, the westernmost extent of the High Rhodope, lying north and west of the Struma River Valley but outside the range proper by local distinction, reach 9,500 feet.
The system is drained by tributaries of the Maritsa River. The massif forms an important climatic barrier, protecting the Aegean lowlands from cold northerly winds and preventing warm southerly winds from blowing onto the Thracian Plain.The lakes, river valleys, and extensive forests form the basis of a tourist industry. Hydroelectric stations are located on the Arda, which is an almost continuous lake for about 45 miles. In the southeastern Rhodope system, which is volcanic in character, lead and zinc are mined near Madan and Rudozem and then sent to Plovdiv and Kŭrdzhali for refining.
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