The term 'The Balkans' refers to an area situated in South Eastern Europe that spans in part or whole various countries of the region. The word is of Turkic origin and means a mountainous region specifically referring to the Balkan Mountain Range lying in Bulgaria.
The Balkan region is also known as the Balkan Peninsula being surrounded by the Black Sea to its east, the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea to its east and south west and the Aegean Sea to its south while the northernmost extent of the region is considered to be up to the lower stretches of the Danube River.
The countries situated in the region are Greece and parts of Turkey to the south, Albania and Montenegro to the west, Bulgaria and Romania to the east, Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina comprising the central part and Slovenia and Croatia lying to the North. The term Balkans also connotes cultural and ethnic associations and hence several nations do not subscribe to the term when describing themselves and in present times the term is restricted to its geographical usage.
The Balkan region is also known as the Balkan Peninsula being surrounded by the Black Sea to its east, the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea to its east and south west and the Aegean Sea to its south while the northernmost extent of the region is considered to be up to the lower stretches of the Danube River.
The countries situated in the region are Greece and parts of Turkey to the south, Albania and Montenegro to the west, Bulgaria and Romania to the east, Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina comprising the central part and Slovenia and Croatia lying to the North. The term Balkans also connotes cultural and ethnic associations and hence several nations do not subscribe to the term when describing themselves and in present times the term is restricted to its geographical usage.