The Rila is a mountain range in western Bulgaria. The range includes Musala, at 2925 m the highest mountain in Bulgaria and the whole of the Balkan Peninsula.
The Rila National Park , the largest national park in Bulgaria, is located about 70 km south of Sofia, in the central and highest regions of the Rila Mountains. The park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance.
Some of the largest rivers in the Balkan Peninsula originate here. The name Rila is derived from the Thracian word roula, meaning "lots of water".
The famous Rila Monastery is also located in the Rila Mountain. The monument is a characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries) and symbolizes an awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.
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