Several days ago the newest metro station in the capital – that at the Sofia state university “St. Kliment of Ohrid” became host to an unusual exhibition. It is under the motto: “Rila is dear to us” and comprises of 40 photos. They all reveal the serene beauty of the mountain but at the same time show the litter left by the tourists and the damages that the construction works are doing there. This is the first cultural event held in a metro station and was organized in partnership with the Sofia municipality. Official guest at the ceremony was His Excellency Jeffrey Keating – Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria. He expressed his support for the campaign to protect the National Park Rila as part of the world nature heritage. On a special billboard he wrote: “Congratulations! Keep up the good work”. The exhibition will be on display for a month. “It is part of a number of artistic initiatives, which aim to provoke a higher responsibility towards the unique nature of Rila” say the organizers from “Citizens for Rila”.
Even before the official opening the exhibition attracted the attention and compassion to the problems of the National Park. 60-year-old Stefka Dzheneva spontaneously expressed her feelings:
“This is a wonderful idea. Let every Bulgarian stop and think over the words: “This is my nature, this is my home land, my Bulgaria”. I hope the message of the exhibition reaches those that govern us. Let them be ruthless towards the people that damage what nature has given us. When I go to the mountains I turn into a new person. The people I meet there never fail to greet you, to give you a hearty smile”.
The exhibition “Rila is dear to us” is part of the month dedicated to the highest mountain on the Balkans. Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. The massif is also the sixth highest mountain in Europe), coming after the Caucasus, the Alps, Siearra Nevada, the Pyrenees and Mount Etna and the highest between the Alps and the Caucasus. The larger part of the mountain is occupied by the Rila National Park.
The name Rila is allegedly of Thracian origin and is thought to mean "well-watered mountain", owing to Rila's abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs. Some of the Balkans' longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including the maritsa, the Iskar and the Mesta.Culturally, Rila is famous for the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most important monastery founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila.
All cultural events within the campaign to preserve the nature of the National park will continue till November 20th.
English version: Ivaila Bozhanova
