Karstification in the mountains Durmitor (Montenegro) and Pirin (Bulgaria) and its expression in surface landforms

The present study makes a comparison of the development of karstic processes and their landform expression in two representative high mountain areas on the Balkan Peninsula: Durmitor (Dinaric chain, Montenegro) and Pirin (Rhodope massif, Bulgaria). Main accent is put on epikarst and its features. On the background of many similarities: strong glaciation in the Pleistocene, pronounced cirques and arêtes, preserved moraine deposits, rough present-day topography, some obvious differences are observed. These are mostly derived by the differences in carbonate bedrock (limestone in Durmitor and marble in Pirin), and climate (damp to the west and drier to the east). The tectonic setting is also important. Such a comparison has not been done so far. It would contribute to obtain a better regional outlook on the processes in the high mountain karstic areas in Southeastern Europe. Keywords— high mountain karst; Northern Pirin; Balkan Peninsula