Geological structure and main
morphostructural areas
4th lecture from the course “Topography of the Balkan Peninsula”
1. Main morphostructures on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria
Internal earth forces form different types of morphostructures, and external earth forces
have given a different shape to the earth's surface. A morphostructure is a large
(regionally traceable) landform that arose and continuously developed during a certain
period of the evolution of a given region with a certain geological-tectonic structure
under the action of external and internal earth forces.
Between the older massifs - the Pelagonian, Rhodope and Serbo-Macedonian, younger
orogenic (folded) systems such as the Dinarides and the Balkanides are developed. The
high altitude and diverse relief are due to the elevation of the lands of the peninsula
during the Alpine mountain-forming stage, which is the youngest. The peninsula is also
home to numerous Mesozoic grabens and depressions, filled with Neogene sediments,
and in places with volcanic rocks, the best known being the Thracian Lowland and the
Kosovo Plain. The main morphostructures in the Balkan Peninsula are: Dinarides,
Pannonian Massif, Balkanides, Moesian Platform, Macedonian-Thracian Massif and
Kraishtides. The two main mountain systems in the peninsula - Dinarides and Balkanides
are part of the Alpine-Himalayan orogen.
2. Dinaric Fold System (Dinarides)
The Dinarides are part of the Dinaric–Pindic mountain range. In the west, through the
Julian Alps, it is connected to the Alpine mountain system, considered as part of it
(southern branch). It has a folded, alpine type of geological structure, and includes two
parts separated from the lake basin of Lake Skadar - Dinaric and Pindic (Hellenides). The
Dinaric part includes the Dinara, Velebit, Shator, Bielashnitsa, Garmec, Durmitor ridges,
etc. The Pindic part includesNorthern Albanians And Middle Albanian mountains,
Grammos, Pindus, Taygetus, etc. The system continues in the islands of the Aegean Sea
1
, and connects with the mountains in the Asia Minor peninsula, it is divided into three
zones:
A) The outer zone consists of carbonate Mesozoic rock sequences and Paleogene rocks, as
well as a complicated system of folds and thrusts.
B) In the middle zone Limestones with Triassic to Eocene age are widely developed.
C) The inner zone is a complex folded system, formed by geosynclinal depressions that
existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, up to the Paleogene. Igneous rocks of
Paleozoic and Mesozoic age are widely represented, and rocks of Neozoic age are less
common. This zone is connected to a system of large faults.
3. Pannonian Massif and Pannonian Basin
The Pannonian Intermediate Massif borrows a small area in the northern parts of the
Balkan Peninsula, near the Sava River. It is part of the large Middle Danubian Lowland,
which sank during the Paleogene, also known as the Hungarian Lowland, located
between the inner arc of the Carpathians, the East Serbian and Dinaric Mountains and
the Alps. Its base is made up of old rocks, covered by Neogene sedimentary rocks, which
during the Pleistocene were also covered by loess and loess-like deposits, aeolian sands
and alluvial deposits. As a result of the erosional action of the waters, wide plateau-like
intervalley hills were formed. The subsidence of the lowland continues to this day.
4. Moesianplate
Between the Carpathians and the Balkan Mountains, in the region of the lower reaches of
the Danube River, lies the Moesian Plateau (platform). This is the largest plain on the
Balkan Peninsula, extending from the Danube River valley in the north to the lowest hills
onPre-Balkans in the south and from the valley of the Timok River in the west to the
Black Sea coast in the east. It is distinguished by a platform type of geological structure -
an old-consolidated area, which during the Alpine mountain-forming stage was
distinguished by a stable platform regime, its base is made up of strongly folded
pre-Paleozoic and Paleozoic massive and metamorphic rocks, covered by thick Mesozoic
and Neozoic sediments. Almost without interruption from the end of the Paleozoic to the
Neogene it is the bottom of a water basin. Parts of it sink (the Lom Depression), and
others slowly rise (the North Bulgarian Swell). The forms of the relief are also associated
with its loess cover - vertical slopes and landslides, as well as asymmetrical and
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morphostructural areas
4th lecture from the course “Topography of the Balkan Peninsula”
1. Main morphostructures on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria
Internal earth forces form different types of morphostructures, and external earth forces
have given a different shape to the earth's surface. A morphostructure is a large
(regionally traceable) landform that arose and continuously developed during a certain
period of the evolution of a given region with a certain geological-tectonic structure
under the action of external and internal earth forces.
Between the older massifs - the Pelagonian, Rhodope and Serbo-Macedonian, younger
orogenic (folded) systems such as the Dinarides and the Balkanides are developed. The
high altitude and diverse relief are due to the elevation of the lands of the peninsula
during the Alpine mountain-forming stage, which is the youngest. The peninsula is also
home to numerous Mesozoic grabens and depressions, filled with Neogene sediments,
and in places with volcanic rocks, the best known being the Thracian Lowland and the
Kosovo Plain. The main morphostructures in the Balkan Peninsula are: Dinarides,
Pannonian Massif, Balkanides, Moesian Platform, Macedonian-Thracian Massif and
Kraishtides. The two main mountain systems in the peninsula - Dinarides and Balkanides
are part of the Alpine-Himalayan orogen.
2. Dinaric Fold System (Dinarides)
The Dinarides are part of the Dinaric–Pindic mountain range. In the west, through the
Julian Alps, it is connected to the Alpine mountain system, considered as part of it
(southern branch). It has a folded, alpine type of geological structure, and includes two
parts separated from the lake basin of Lake Skadar - Dinaric and Pindic (Hellenides). The
Dinaric part includes the Dinara, Velebit, Shator, Bielashnitsa, Garmec, Durmitor ridges,
etc. The Pindic part includesNorthern Albanians And Middle Albanian mountains,
Grammos, Pindus, Taygetus, etc. The system continues in the islands of the Aegean Sea
1
, and connects with the mountains in the Asia Minor peninsula, it is divided into three
zones:
A) The outer zone consists of carbonate Mesozoic rock sequences and Paleogene rocks, as
well as a complicated system of folds and thrusts.
B) In the middle zone Limestones with Triassic to Eocene age are widely developed.
C) The inner zone is a complex folded system, formed by geosynclinal depressions that
existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, up to the Paleogene. Igneous rocks of
Paleozoic and Mesozoic age are widely represented, and rocks of Neozoic age are less
common. This zone is connected to a system of large faults.
3. Pannonian Massif and Pannonian Basin
The Pannonian Intermediate Massif borrows a small area in the northern parts of the
Balkan Peninsula, near the Sava River. It is part of the large Middle Danubian Lowland,
which sank during the Paleogene, also known as the Hungarian Lowland, located
between the inner arc of the Carpathians, the East Serbian and Dinaric Mountains and
the Alps. Its base is made up of old rocks, covered by Neogene sedimentary rocks, which
during the Pleistocene were also covered by loess and loess-like deposits, aeolian sands
and alluvial deposits. As a result of the erosional action of the waters, wide plateau-like
intervalley hills were formed. The subsidence of the lowland continues to this day.
4. Moesianplate
Between the Carpathians and the Balkan Mountains, in the region of the lower reaches of
the Danube River, lies the Moesian Plateau (platform). This is the largest plain on the
Balkan Peninsula, extending from the Danube River valley in the north to the lowest hills
onPre-Balkans in the south and from the valley of the Timok River in the west to the
Black Sea coast in the east. It is distinguished by a platform type of geological structure -
an old-consolidated area, which during the Alpine mountain-forming stage was
distinguished by a stable platform regime, its base is made up of strongly folded
pre-Paleozoic and Paleozoic massive and metamorphic rocks, covered by thick Mesozoic
and Neozoic sediments. Almost without interruption from the end of the Paleozoic to the
Neogene it is the bottom of a water basin. Parts of it sink (the Lom Depression), and
others slowly rise (the North Bulgarian Swell). The forms of the relief are also associated
with its loess cover - vertical slopes and landslides, as well as asymmetrical and
2
