View source for Musala

{{short description|Highest mountain in Bulgaria}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Musala
| other_name=Мусала
| photo = Musala_IMG_1447.jpg
| photo_caption = Musala seen from the south
| elevation_m = 2925.4
| prominence_m = 2473
| map = Bulgaria
| map_caption = Musala in Bulgaria
| label_position = right
| listing = [[List of countries by highest point|Country high point]]<br />[[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]
| location = [[Sofia Province|Sofia Region]], Bulgaria
| coordinates = {{coord|42|10|47|N|23|35|12|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range = [[Rila]]
| topo =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = Gondola lift from [[Borovets]], then hike
}}

'''Musala''' ({{langx|bg|Мусала}} {{IPA|bg|mosɐˈɫa|}}); from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] through [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]]: from ''[[Musalla]]'', "near God" or "place for prayer"<ref>Известия на българското географско дружество, 1964 г. стр. 197.</ref><ref>Bŭlgarski ezik, Volume 19,Institut za bŭlgarski ezik (Bŭlgarska akademii͡a na naukite), 1969, str. 573.</ref> is the highest [[mountain|peak]] in the [[Rila|Rila Mountains]], as well as in [[Bulgaria]] and the entire [[Balkan Peninsula]], standing at {{convert|2925.42|m|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ГEOграфия'21, брой 5, 2007 г. |url=http://www.prokarstterra.bas.bg/geo21/2007/5-07/pp21-22.html |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=www.prokarstterra.bas.bg}}</ref>

With a topographic prominence of {{convert|2473|m|ft}}, Musala is also the [[List of European ultra-prominent peaks|6th highest]] peak by [[topographic prominence]] in [[Continental Europe|mainland Europe]].<ref name="peaklist">{{cite web|url=http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/EuroCoreP1500m.html|title=Europe Ultra-Prominences|work=Peaklist|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref> It is also the [[Most isolated major summits of Europe|3rd most]] topographically isolated major peak in [[Continental Europe]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=337| title = Most Isolated Peak of Europe Countries - Peakbagger.com}} </ref>

Musala is situated within the [[Rila National Park]], which is noted for its rich [[Flora (plants)|flora]], including species such as [[Macedonian Pine]] and [[Bulgarian Fir]] in the forests on its middle slopes, and [[Fauna (animals)|fauna]]; it is one of the easiest places in Europe to see the [[wallcreeper]]. All major mountain ranges of Bulgaria can be seen from the top; these include [[Vitosha]] to the northwest, [[Sredna Gora]] towards the northeast, the [[Balkan Mountains]] along most of the northern horizon behind Vitosha and Sredna Gora, the [[Rhodope Mountains]] to the southeast, [[Pirin]] to the south, [[Osogovo]] and [[Ruy Mountain]] to the west, and of course, the rest of [[Rila]].

A cosmic ray station was built on the peak in 1960 with cooperation from the Hungarian Academy of Science. The station conducted scientific experiments using a muon telescope. The station was destroyed by an electrical fire on October 29, 1983.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kavlakov|first=S.|date=2009-11-16|title=Cosmic Ray investigations on peak Musala in Bulgaria: A memoir|journal=Advances in Space Research|series=Cosmic Rays From Past to Present|volume=44|issue=10|pages=1178–1182|doi=10.1016/j.asr.2008.10.040|bibcode=2009AdSpR..44.1178K}}</ref>

With an average annual temperature of -2.2&nbsp;°C, Musala is the coldest place in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula.{{citation needed|date=July 2017 |reason =source needed for the claim that Musala is the coldest place in the Balkans.}} Temperatures stay below 0&nbsp;°C for about 8 months each year.<ref name= NOAA/> Due to this, about 45% of the annual precipitation on Musala is snow, and snow cover lasts for about 200 days (more than six months).{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Three of the main rivers of Bulgaria, the [[Iskar (river)|Iskar]], [[Maritsa]] and [[Mesta River|Mesta]] have their sources near Musala.

The next highest peaks in the vicinity of Musala are [[Malka Musala|Malka (Little) Musala]] ({{convert|2902|m|ft}}) and [[Irechek (peak)|Irechek]] ({{convert|2852|m|ft}}).

== Climate ==
Musala has an alpine climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Usually, through winter, the temperatures do not exceed the freezing point for months. Snow cover lasts for about 8–9 months. Through the summer, temperatures rarely go above 14-15C. The summer season only lasts for 2 months, and snowfalls are possible. For the period 1931–2013, the highest recorded temperature was {{Convert|20.0|C}}, and the lowest - {{Convert|-31.2|C}}. The average annual temperature is {{Convert|-2.5|C}}, which makes the peak the coldest place in Bulgaria.

{{Weather box
|location = Musala Peak (2000–2013)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 7.0
|Feb record high C = 8.0
|Mar record high C = 12.1
|Apr record high C = 13.7
|May record high C = 12.6
|Jun record high C = 18.0
|Jul record high C = 20.0
|Aug record high C = 18.7
|Sep record high C = 16.4
|Oct record high C = 14.2
|Nov record high C = 9.6
|Dec record high C = 6.8
|year record high C = 20.0

|Jan high C = -8.2
|Feb high C = -7.6
|Mar high C = -5.6
|Apr high C = -1.2
|May high C = 2.7
|Jun high C = 7.1
|Jul high C = 10.1
|Aug high C = 10.2
|Sep high C = 6.3
|Oct high C = 2.2
|Nov high C = -1.8
|Dec high C = -6.1
|year high C = 0.7

|Jan mean C = -11.0
|Feb mean C = -10.6
|Mar mean C = -8.6
|Apr mean C = -4.1
|May mean C = -0.1
|Jun mean C = 4.4
|Jul mean C = 6.9
|Aug mean C = 7.2
|Sep mean C = 3.4
|Oct mean C = -0.6
|Nov mean C = -4.4
|Dec mean C = -8.6
|year mean C = -2.1

|Jan low C = -13.8
|Feb low C = -13.6
|Mar low C = -11.6
|Apr low C = -7.0
|May low C = -3.1
|Jun low C = 1.6
|Jul low C = 3.7
|Aug low C = 4.2
|Sep low C = 0.5
|Oct low C = -3.1
|Nov low C = -6.9
|Dec low C = -11.0
|year low C = -4.9

|Jan record low C = -30.6
|Feb record low C = -29.8
|Mar record low C = -26.8
|Apr record low C = -20.6
|May record low C = -15.6
|Jun record low C = -12
|Jul record low C = -8
|Aug record low C = -9.8
|Sep record low C = -14
|Oct record low C = -17.5
|Nov record low C = -27.4
|Dec record low C = -31.2
|year record low C = -31.2

|Jan precipitation mm = 126
|Feb precipitation mm = 110
|Mar precipitation mm = 130
|Apr precipitation mm = 128
|May precipitation mm = 119
|Jun precipitation mm = 105
|Jul precipitation mm = 80
|Aug precipitation mm = 56
|Sep precipitation mm = 47
|Oct precipitation mm = 72
|Nov precipitation mm = 88
|Dec precipitation mm = 115
|year precipitation mm = 1176
|Jan rain days = 1
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 0
|Apr rain days = 0
|May rain days = 4
|Jun rain days = 8
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 7
|Sep rain days = 6
|Oct rain days = 3
|Nov rain days = 1
|Dec rain days = 0
|Jan snow days= 13
|Feb snow days= 14
|Mar snow days= 17
|Apr snow days= 18
|May snow days= 14
|Jun snow days= 5
|Jul snow days= 2
|Aug snow days= 1
|Sep snow days= 4
|Oct snow days= 8
|Nov snow days= 13
|Dec snow days= 15
|year snow days= 124
|Jan sun = 114
|Feb sun = 112
|Mar sun = 140
|Apr sun = 127
|May sun = 168
|Jun sun = 181
|Jul sun = 250
|Aug sun = 250
|Sep sun = 182
|Oct sun = 169
|Nov sun = 128
|Dec sun = 104
|year sun = 1925
|source 1 = Stringmeteo.com
|date=June 2012
}}

{{Weather box 
|location= Musala Peak, 1991–2020 (elevation  2925m)
|metric first= Yes 
|single line= Yes
| Jan record high C =7.2
| Feb record high C =4.9
| Mar record high C =6.5
| Apr record high C =8.6
| May record high C =13.0
| Jun record high C =17.6
| Jul record high C =19.8
| Aug record high C =19.2
| Sep record high C =17.9
| Oct record high C =15.0
| Nov record high C =11.0
| Dec record high C =10.2
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = -6.7
| Feb high C = -7.0
| Mar high C = -5.1
| Apr high C = -1.9
| May high C = 2.4
| Jun high C = 6.6
| Jul high C = 9.3
| Aug high C = 9.7
| Sep high C = 5.9
| Oct high C = 2.7
| Nov high C = -1.5
| Dec high C = -5.3
|year high C = 

| Jan mean C = -9.7
| Feb mean C = -10.0
| Mar mean C = -8.2
| Apr mean C = -4.8
| May mean C = -0.2
| Jun mean C = 3.7
| Jul mean C = 6.0
| Aug mean C = 6.4
| Sep mean C = 2.6
| Oct mean C = -0.3
| Nov mean C = -4.3
| Dec mean C = -8.1
|year mean C = 

| Jan low C = -12.5
| Feb low C = -12.9
| Mar low C = -11.1
| Apr low C = -7.4
| May low C = -2.5
| Jun low C = 1.2
| Jul low C = 3.3
| Aug low C = 3.9
| Sep low C = 0.2
| Oct low C = -2.7
| Nov low C = -6.8
| Dec low C = -10.8
|year low C = 
| Jan record low C  =-27.5
| Feb record low C  =-31.6
| Mar record low C  =-26.8
| Apr record low C  =-22.5
| May record low C  =-13.5
| Jun record low C  =-9.0
| Jul record low C  =-6.1
| Aug record low C  =-6.0
| Sep record low C  =-11.9
| Oct record low C  =-16.3
| Nov record low C  =-23.2
| Dec record low C  =-24.9
| year record low C =

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 75
| Feb precipitation mm = 74
| Mar precipitation mm = 95
| Apr precipitation mm = 98
| May precipitation mm = 88
| Jun precipitation mm = 80
| Jul precipitation mm = 72
| Aug precipitation mm = 55
| Sep precipitation mm = 48
| Oct precipitation mm = 40
| Nov precipitation mm = 40
| Dec precipitation mm = 68
|year precipitation mm = 
| unit precipitation days =  1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days  =11
| Feb precipitation days  =11
| Mar precipitation days  =13
| Apr precipitation days  =13
| May precipitation days  =13
| Jun precipitation days  =12
| Jul precipitation days  =10
| Aug precipitation days  =7
| Sep precipitation days  =7
| Oct precipitation days  =7
| Nov precipitation days  =8
| Dec precipitation days  =11
| year precipitation days =
| Jan sun  =126
| Feb sun  =119
| Mar sun  =142
| Apr sun  =134
| May sun  =159
| Jun sun  =170
| Jul sun  =228
| Aug sun  =241
| Sep sun  =185
| Oct sun  =165
| Nov sun  =124
| Dec sun  =106
| year sun =


|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Bulgaria/CSV/MusalaPeak_64215.csv
| title = Musala Peak Climate Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = August 29, 2023}}</ref>
|date= August 2023
}}

==Namesakes==
[[Musala Glacier]] on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Musala Peak.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:BASA-131K-1-47-10-Musala, Rila.jpeg
Image:Bulgaria - Rila - Musala april 2006.jpg|Hikers near the summit of Musala. The pyramid in the background is the Everest shelter
Image:Pirinfrommusala.JPG|The [[Pirin Mountains]] can be seen from Musala
Image:Maritsaorigin2.JPG|The origin of the [[Maritsa]] River seen from Musala
Image:Musala.JPG|Musala as seen from Yastrebets. The chalet Musala and the Everest shelter can be seen as well.
</gallery>

{{commons category|Musala}}

==See also==
* [[Rila]]
* [[Malyovitsa]]
* [[Rila National Park]]
* [[List of mountains in Bulgaria]]
* [[Geography of Bulgaria]]
* [[List of mountains of the Balkans]]
* [[List of European ultra-prominent peaks]]
* [[List of the highest European ultra-prominent peaks]]
* [[Most isolated major summits of Europe]]
* [[List of mountain ranges]]
* [[List of World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book |title=Българска енциклопедия А-Я |publisher=БАН, Труд, Сирма |language=bg |year=2002 |chapter=Мусала |isbn=978-954-8104-08-1 |oclc=163361648 }}

==External links==
* [http://www.webcams.bg/6/musala/ '''Musala''' – controllable web camera] {{in lang|bg}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfufGO3eOtg Musala climb on youtube]

{{Ultras of Europe}}
{{Highest points of Europe}}

[[Category:Geography of Europe]]
[[Category:Highest points of countries]]
[[Category:Two-thousanders of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Landforms of Sofia Province]]
[[Category:Samokov Municipality]]
[[Category:Mountains of Rila]]
[[Category:De-Stalinization]]