Pamporovo, known as the pearl of the Rhodope Mountain, is the biggest ski center in Bulgaria - The ski tracks are with all degrees of difficulty and a total length of 34 km. . The lifts and the rope - lines have capacity of 8500 people per hour. There is snow for about 120 and 170 days a year and snow heaps reaching up to 1-1,5 meters . The ski academy in Pamporovo is one of the best in Europe. Another ski center which is smaller is the city of Chepelare ( 10 km norther).