Kraishte (, sometimes with a definite article Краището, Kraishteto) or Krajište () is a geographical and historical region split between southwestern Bulgaria and southeastern Serbia, with a very small part in northeastern North Macedonia.
Geography Geographically, Kraishte is a mosaic of highlands and mountains of low to medium height, interspersed with high valleys. To the west, the region is delimited by the valley of the South Morava in Serbia. To the north Kraishte includes the Znepole area with the valley of the Jerma and reaches the Svetlya valley and the Radomir basin. To the east and south are the Dupnitsa and Kyustendil basins respectively, in which the Dzherman and Struma rivers separate it from the higher mountains of Rila and Osogovo. To the southwest, it extends to the Kriva River in North Macedonia.
The highest summit of Kraishte is the Besna Kobila mountain in Serbia (1,922 m); the border mountain of Karvav Kamak includes the highest point of the region in Bulgaria, Bilo (1,737 m). The Bulgarian part of the region includes 23 small mountain ranges in two grouping: the Ruy-Verila range encompassing Miloslavska planina (1,485 m), Ruy (1,706 m), Ezdimirska Planina (1,219 m), Strazha (1,385 m), Lyubash (1,398 m), Bohovska planina (1,318 m), Karvav Kamak (1,737 m), Leshnikovska Planina (1,086 m), Elovishka Planina (1,329 m), Penkyovska Planina (1,187 m), Lyulyak (1,324 m), Erulska Planina (1,481 m), Cherna Gora (1,129 m), Golo Bardo (1,158 m) and Verila (1,415 m) and the Milevsko-Konyavska range consisting of Milevska planina (1,733 m), Izvorska Planina (1,243 m), Kobilska Planina (1,356 m), Chudinska Planina (1,497 m), Lisets (1,500 m), Zemenska Planina (1,295 m), Rudina Planina (1,172 m) and Konyavska Planina (1,487 m).
There is only one nature reserve — Ostritsa, situated in Golo Bardo mountain range.
Major towns in Kraishte include Tran and Zemen in Bulgaria and Bosilegrad in Serbia.
In Serbian geography, the region is regularly treated together with the neighbouring Vlasina as "Vlasina and Krajište".
Climate Kraishte has a moderate, relatively cool continental climate. Warm air masses from the Mediterranean are mostly blocked by the Osogovo, Doganica and Dukat mountains. Instead, the prevailing winds blow from the north. Winters are long and often bitterly cold; the northeasterly winter wind Kozodero ("the goat flayer") can keep the rivers frozen for months at a time. Springs and autumns are short and summers are relatively cool for the interior of the Balkans. The town of Tran in Kraishte holds the record for the lowest temperature ever measured in Bulgaria, at –38.3 °C.
List of mountains in Kraishte
Mountain Height Countries Miloslavska 1485 m Bulgaria, Serbia Ruy / Ruj 1706 m Bulgaria, Serbia Bohovska 1318 m Bulgaria, Serbia Karvav Kamak / Krvavi Kamik 1737 m Bulgaria, Serbia Milevska 1733 m Bulgaria, Serbia Izvorska 1243 m Bulgaria, Serbia Chudinska / Čudinska 1497 m Bulgaria, Serbia Ezdimirska 1219 m Bulgaria Strazha 1385 m Bulgaria Lyubash 1398 m Bulgaria Leshnikovska 1085 m Bulgaria Elovishka 1329 m Bulgaria Penkyovska 1187 m Bulgaria Lyulyak 1324 m Bulgaria Erulska 1481 m Bulgaria Cherna Gora 1129 m Bulgaria Golo Bardo 1158 m Bulgaria Kobilska 1356 m Bulgaria Lisets 1500 m Bulgaria Zemenska 1295 m Bulgaria Rudina 1172 m Bulgaria Konyavska 1487 m Bulgaria Gramada 1719 m Serbia Čemernik 1719 m Serbia Vardenik 1875 m Serbia Besna Kobila 1922 m Serbia Dukat 1881 m Serbia, North Macedonia Lisinska 1829 m Serbia Gloška 1756 m Serbia
See also Krajina Bosansko Krajište Skopsko Krajište
References