Biosphere reserves in Bulgaria. Nature reserves of Bulgaria Glamy - a landmark of the protected area

Bulgaria surprises with pleasant surprises. It is striking in its incommensurability of scale. It is small geographically (you can drive the length and breadth of the country in a day), but it has such colossal natural wealth that “you can’t tell it in a fairy tale or describe it with a pen.”

Let's get at least some ideas about this, let's take a look at the Bulgarian national parks - magnificent areas with their own natural surprises, amazingly rich flora and fauna, healing water from numerous mineral springs.

The parks are hospitably accessible to visitors. Guests are greeted by experienced guides, who explain in detail and willingly show the most mysterious and secluded places.\

Let's start with the oldest national park in Bulgaria -"VITOSHA"opened in 1934. It is located in the center of the southwest of the country, half an hour's drive from Sofia. It has two national reserves. It luxuriously occupies the entire Vitosha Mountain with the once famous great Bulgarian forest that grew here. The main decoration of the flora is oak. Macedonian and Scottish pine, common and silver spruce, willow, juniper and blueberry also grow. About 300 species of moss and 500 species of duckweed are found on the peat bogs of the park.

The fauna is exceptionally rich and diverse. It is home to about 600 species of invertebrates, 10 species of amphibians, 12 species of reptiles, about 50 species of mammals, 150 species of birds. Wolves, bears, wild cats, badgers, deer, wild boars, and martens coexist safely. The unusually bright colors of many species of butterflies are pleasing to the eye.

Vitosha is rich in reservoirs. There are many springs and streams that give rise to large rivers. The largest of them, Struma, flows into the Gulf of the Aegean Sea. A completely unusual feature of the park is the stone rivers, fascinating with their silent generosity.

Here you can see the largest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata. Its dimensions are impressive: its length is 17 km and its depth is as deep as a 6-story building. Bizarre formations of stalactites and stalagmites, ponds and rivers make it the most beautiful cave in the country.

In the national park“GOLDEN PIASYTSI”You will learn that it was opened in 1943 and significantly expanded in 1981. One of the smallest parks in the country.

The wonderful features of the flora are explained by its location - north of Varna, near the Golden Sands resort, at an altitude of 277 m above sea level. The fauna will also delight you. Here you can see deer, wild boars, red squirrels, hares, eagles, falcons, and pheasants.

Archaeological and historical landmark - Aladzha Monastery with wonderfully preserved wall paintings

The national park is also small in area "BLUE KAMYNI" located between Sofia and Burgas. Its distinctive feature is its incredible mountain, rock formations and landscapes. In the north, steep, difficult-to-climb cliffs are covered with beech forest. The southern side is entirely gorges, ravines and cliffs. Almost no vegetation. The park has the cleanest air and a very favorable climate. The rarest birds live here - the royal eagle, the long-legged buzzard and the peregrine falcon.

On the high slopes of the mountainPIRINThere is a national park with the same name. Founded in 1962. It is divided into several parts. The flora is amazing. The lower belt is occupied by fir and beech forests, higher by pine woodlands, subalpine and alpine meadows.

The pine trees in Pirin are a special natural song, a special aroma and fragrance. Their age can reach 500 years. In the thickets of Bosnian pines stands the ancient Baikushev pine, whose age is estimated at a thousand years.

There are about 1300 varieties of plants here. Today's rare edelweiss and Pirin poppies bloom in the crystalline limestone stones. More than 300 species of moss have been found in the park.

An unusual decoration of the park are numerous glacial lakes. They are picturesquely framed by Macedonian pines, silver firs and spruces.

The fauna of two ancient reserves is fascinating. They are classified as biosphere. Here you can meet brown bears, wolves, handsome deer, roe deer, and foxes. Higher in the mountains live chamois and snow mice. You can watch the flights of the noble golden eagle, eagles and falcons, admire the Alpine swift, crane or ptarmigan.

The park is on the list of world cultural and national values.

Original in its own wayVRACHANO-BALKANnational park. Located in the north-west of the country. It is famous for its dense thickets of virgin forests and sparkling waterfalls. The park's flora includes more than 700 plant species, including rare, endemic species protected by law.

The park is especially noteworthy for its ancient, mysterious caves. The most famous of them are Ledenika and Tymnata Dupka.

Read more about Ledenik. The total length of the cave is 300 m, the vegetation cover is lichens and mosses. The cave has 10 halls. The lowest height is in the first hall called “Antebulum”. This hall is especially interesting in winter and spring, when ice stalactites, stalagmites, and waterfalls appear. This phenomenon gave the name to the entire cave. After this hall, through the “Plyznyata” tunnel, there is an exit to the “Malkata Hall”, which is almost circular in shape. There is a “Concert Hall” with excellent acoustics, where concerts are often organized. In the “Hladilnika” (refrigerator) hall, guests will find the Lake of Wishes, which, according to legend, promises to fulfill their most cherished desire. You can cross the “Small Abyss” hall across the bridge. The depth of the “Big Abyss” hall is 12 meters; the karst formations here resemble the flow of waterfalls. The walls of the “White Hall” are covered with natural drapery, the ceiling is decorated with numerous stalactites. An iron staircase leads to the last, highest hall, “Seventh Heaven”. Among the natural formations here, unusual dry lakes will be of interest.

The cave is extremely impressive. Included in the 100 most interesting tourist sites in Bulgaria.

The nature reserve of this park “Vratsa Karst” is a repository of karst caves with bats that permanently live here.

CENTRAL BALKANThe national park is located in the highest and most unusually beautiful part of the middle Balkans, northeast of Sofia. Most of it is covered with ancient forests. Valuable tree species such as oak, spruce, beech, and hornbeam grow in them. The park area attracts with its magnificent landscape. There are meadows, rock walls, caves, canyons, abysses and waterfalls interspersed here.

The famous Praskalo waterfall (125 m), the highest in Bulgaria, is simply enchanting. Passing through the picturesque Troyan Pass, you can visit the Troyan Monastery, founded in the 17th century.

There are 9 nature reserves in the park, 4 of them are biosphere. There are more than 150 protected animal species and more than 50 plant species, many of which can only grow in this mountainous area. The variety of vegetation is amazing. About 500 species of higher vascular plants have been recorded. Tree species such as sessile oak, Turkish oak, red oak, hornbeam, Mosian birch, and exotic false acacia are especially valued in the park.

Near the city of Shumen - national park"SHUMEN PLATEAU".Here you will admire the uniqueness of the landscape: plateaus and valleys, mountain ranges with steep slopes and dense forests. The ideal climate gives life to vascular plants; there are more than 500 species of them. Among the trees are sessile oak, Turkish oak, common hornbeam, Mysian birch, red oak, and exotic false acacia. The fauna is also rich.

In the park you can visit the archaeological reserve “Shumen Fortress”. The city fortifications built by the Thracians have been preserved. During all the previous centuries, the fortress was subjected to capture and destruction. It was restored and carefully repaired. Therefore, the fortress has been perfectly preserved. Today it houses a museum, the exhibitions of which tell about the exciting events of the past.

Modern history is embodied in another architectural monument - the memorial complex “1300 Years of Bulgaria”, located in a picturesque forest corner near the city of Shumen. It houses a Tourist Center.

Historically interestingRUSENSKYnational park. It is located on the banks of the Danube, in the vicinity of the city of Ruse. Unique and very original. The ruins of medieval castles and rock paintings in temples attract attention. Many caves carved into the rocks, which at one time served as monasteries, have been preserved. The second largest cave in Bulgaria, Orlova Chuka, is of keen interest.

The flora is rich, in which steppe plants are found along with typical Bulgarian species. Many shrubby plant species.

For all its diversity, the flora is inferior to the richness of the animal world. The park is literally teeming with lizards, snakes, and turtles. Among the many rare birds are the vulture, golden eagle, and snake eagle. Predators live here - wolves, jackals, wild cats.

The largest national park in Bulgaria"RILA"relatively young, founded in 1992. Located in the southwest of the country, it occupies a good half of the Rila Mountains. The total area of ​​the park is more than 81,000 hectares. On its territory there are 4 nature reserves, many deep canyons, caves, waterfalls, rivers, and mineral springs.

The true decoration of the park is its numerous lakes. These enchanting water surfaces gracefully fit into the colorful natural landscapes. The sounds of the murmur of numerous rivers and streams add romantic shades to the perception of the surroundings.

The plant world is enviably rich. Thickets of coniferous forests, about one and a half thousand species of trees, hundreds of species of mosses and algae, 141 varieties of medicinal plants, 20 of which are listed in the Red Book - a far from complete list of flora components. The fauna is not inferior either: dozens of species of fish, amphibians, mammals, and birds are found here.

The Rila Monastery is very popular among Bulgarians and guests of the country - high in the mountains there is a rare example of Bulgarian Orthodox church architecture. Founded at the end of the 10th century. In 1983 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The youngest national park in Bulgaria -"STRANJA» , founded in 1995. It is located in the south-eastern part of the country, extending almost 50 km to the Black Sea coast. It is famous for its luxurious oak and birch forests and rich wildlife. It is very interesting to observe here the habitat of the golden eagle, lesser spotted eagle, white-tailed eagle, black stork, and common honey beetle.

A visit to the village of Bryshlyan, which has the status of a historical and architectural reserve, is of undoubted interest. Ancient monasteries, chapels, historical monuments dating back to the Thracian era will attract the attention of tourists interested in the history and culture of the region. And in the village of Balgari you can see the very careful attitude of the Bulgarians towards the traditions of their people. On the day of Saints Constantine and Helena, exciting ritual dances on hot coals are organized here.

Visitors to Strandzha Park can also visit the Ropotamo Nature Reserve, located nearby. It goes along the banks of the Ropotamo River to the Black Sea dunes. Unique in the beauty and richness of the landscape. While admiring the natural panorama, you can see the contrasting juxtaposition of sandy beaches and cliffs, dunes and bays, islands and swamps, forests and meadows. The climate is surprisingly mild, hence the richness of flora. Both predators and representatives of the smaller animal world feel comfortable here in their own way. Having visited the Arkutino swamp-reserve, you can observe the rarest species of birds and admire unusual species of cacti.

So our “adventures” through the natural beauties of Bulgarian national parks have ended. The first touches of knowledge have been obtained. All that remains is to come, see, feel and buy property in Bulgaria! We assure you, it's worth it!

There are many national parks in Bulgaria. Particularly good for tourism is the Rila Park, famous for its “Seven Lakes” and the Rila Monastery, as well as the Pirin Park located in the highest part of the mountain of the same name, the Vratsa-Balkan National Park with the Vratsa Karst Nature Reserve (more than 200 karst caves with unique flora and fauna), Central Balkan Park with the highest waterfall in Bulgaria - Praskalo (height - 125 m), Sinite Kamyni Park with incredibly picturesque mountain landscapes, Ruse National Park with the richest fauna and the unique medieval Cherven Castle and Ivanovo rock monastery.

The Vratsa Balkan Nature Park is a place with a unique concentration of biological diversity and beautiful karst formations. In the registers of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the park belongs to the category of landscapes and natural parks under protection,

The Bulgarian Nature Park is located in the north of the Balkan Range in Bulgaria. The area of ​​the park is almost 22 thousand hectares. The park is located on the territory of two municipalities: Tryavna and Gabrovo. The elevation difference in the park is 1120 m, and the average height above sea level is 940 m.

Belasitsa Nature Park was created relatively recently, so it is considered the youngest Bulgarian park. The name of the park was given by the Belasitsa ridge, around which the protected area is organized. The Belasitsa mountain range is located in the ego-west of the country,

Rila National Park occupies a significant part of the Rila Mountains, located in the southwest of the country. The area of ​​this one of the three largest national parks in Bulgaria and one of the largest in Europe is 81,046.0 hectares, and it was created on February 24, 1992.

The Shumen Plateau Natural Park was founded in 1980 to preserve the landscape and rare species of plants and animals. It is located in the eastern region of the Danube Plain, near the city of Shumen. The Shumen Plateau occupies about four thousand hectares.

Natural parks in Bulgaria occupy about 5% of the country's territory, and their total area is almost 500 thousand hectares. The first national park was opened in Bulgaria in 1934. And today there are fourteen of them in the country.

Pirin National Park is a UNESCO protected site. It is part of the picturesque Pirin mountain range and includes two reserves “Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa” and “Yulen”. The park contains numerous lakes, waterfalls, and caves that appeared during the Ice Age. Around the Pirin lakes, surrounded by Macedonian pines, firs and firs, various birds live, including eagles and falcons. There is a forest of Bosnian pine trees, edelweiss (symbol of Pirin) and Pirin poppy.

The Vitosha National Park, which occupies the entire Vitosha Mountain, is the first of the Bulgarian natural parks. It is famous for the fact that its territory is home to a large number of rare species of butterflies, birds and mammals. Here you can also find wolves, bears, wild cats, badgers and deer. In Vitosha Park there is the longest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata (length - 17 km).

One of the youngest national parks in Bulgaria is Rila Park, which occupies almost half of the Rila mountain range. The park contains the famous Seven Rila Lakes, which are of glacial nature. In addition, there are many rivers and streams. Rila Park is home to bears, wild boars, deer, eagles and other animals.

Central Balkan National Park is located in the middle Balkans. It is famous, first of all, for the Praskalo waterfall (125 m) - the highest in Bulgaria. The park itself has nine nature reserves, which are inhabited by over 150 species of animals.

The most extensive forests have been preserved in the Vrachano-Balkan National Park. This park, located in northwestern Bulgaria, amazes with its amazing nature. In the forests of the Vrachano-Balkansky Park there are more than 700 species of plants, some of which are protected by law. Here is also the Vratsa Karst nature reserve, famous for its caves, which are home to a huge number of bats.

The Shumen Plateau National Park is located near the city of Shumen. More than 100 species of birds live here and rare tree species grow, including sessile oak, red oak, Turkish oak, Mosian birch, etc.

The natural park “Sinite Kameni”, located near the town of Sliven, is miniature but very interesting. Rare plants grow on unusually beautiful mountain formations. The royal eagle, peregrine falcon and long-legged buzzard live here.

Ruse National Park is also very popular among tourists. This park is home to a huge number of turtles, lizards, and snakes. Here you can meet wolves, jackals and even a wild cat. Large birds include the vulture, golden eagle, and serpent eagle.

Another famous park is Strandzha National Park, located in the southeast of the country. This is the newest and largest national park in Bulgaria, famous for its oak and birch forests. The rivers of the park are rich in fish, and the forests are home to golden eagles, eagles and storks.

Not far from the Strandzha National Park is located one of the best nature reserves in Bulgaria - Ropotamo. It attracts tourists with its diverse landscape, as it stretches along the bed of the Ropotamo River to the Black Sea dunes. The mild climate promotes the growth of lush vegetation, in which a variety of predators and other representatives of the animal world thrive. The Arkutino swamp, located on the territory of the reserve, is a paradise for birds.

Natural parks in Bulgaria are located mainly in the mountains, but there are also coastal sea parks among them. Parks of this type include the Golden Sands National Park. It opened in 1943 and was significantly expanded in 1981. This park is located north of Varna, at a low altitude, so its flora and fauna are very different from other national parks in Bulgaria. The Golden Sands Park is home to hares, deer, wild boars, red squirrels, eagles, falcons and pheasants.

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Thanks to its mild climate and nature, Bulgaria is beautiful throughout the year. This is a small island of life, preserved in the very center of industrial Europe. The gently sloping sandy beaches and emerald waves of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast are irresistibly attractive, and eleven national parks fill the space with delightfully clean air.

These national parks are protected by the state and are a national treasure of the country. So, these are: 3 national parks - Rila, Central Balkan and Vrachno-Balkan and 8 natural parks - Aleko-Vitosha, Strandzha, Shumen Plateau, Madara Caves, Vratsa Karst, Pirin, Steneto, Golden Sands. In addition, UNESCO included nine sites from the sights of Bulgaria (Pirin National Park, Srebrina Nature Reserve, etc.) among the monuments of world cultural significance.

Pirin National Park

The Pirin mountain range is an incredibly picturesque mountain range located in the southwest of the country. Their height reaches almost three kilometers. At the foot they are surrounded by dense fir and beech forests, which gradually turn into pine woodlands, above which subalpine and alpine mountain meadows are located. The mountains themselves are replete with mysterious caves, sinkholes and sinkholes. This is the area in which Pirin National Park was founded in 1952. It occupies an area of ​​more than 40 thousand hectares. Under its protection is the natural complex of the karst landscape as well as the delightful lakes of the Pirin mountain range.

The flora of Pirin National Park includes about 2,100 plant species, and half of them are unique and are found only in Bulgaria. Some pines are almost 500 years old. The fauna here is more reminiscent of the Alpine. The number of animal species, most of them belonging to the invertebrate family, reaches 2,300. However, you can also find brown bear here, as well as wolves, deer, roe deer, wild boar, badger and fox. And if you rise above the forest line, you find yourself in the habitats of chamois and snow mice. The skies of Pirin are dominated by the golden eagle, the alpine crane, the alpine swift and the alpine ptarmigan.

The mountain lakes, numbering more than a hundred, amaze with their sublime beauty. Near the highest peak of the Pirin massif - Mount Vihren (2914 m) there are mountain glacial lakes.

Pirin National Park has been included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage since 1983.

Srebrina Nature Reserve

In northern Bulgaria, 17 kilometers from the city of Silistra, there is the Srebrina Nature Reserve. It owes its name to Lake Srebrina located on its territory, which means “Silver Lake”. This reserve was founded in 1952 Its length is 600 hectares. The main reason why these places acquired the status of a nature reserve is the huge number of species of birds inhabiting it.

The lake, which is an insignificant area of ​​water, annually gives shelter to 180 species of birds, which is half of all bird inhabitants of Bulgaria. It’s hard to believe that only about 80 species are migratory, and the remaining 100 live permanently within this lake, truly miraculously adjacent to each other in such a small space.

The local colony of Dalmatian pelicans, which is over 100 years old, is famous. These amazingly beautiful, huge birds, whose wingspan reaches 1.5 m, have chosen to live on the floating reed islands of the lake. Here they need not be afraid of foxes and similar predators.

In warm weather, Srebrina gathers around two thirds of the entire European population of black terns. The reed becomes a cozy refuge for the hatching chicks of little cormorants, spoonbills and loons. A huge number of pelicans, little egrets, wild ducks, geese and other waterfowl inhabit the fertile lake. There are also 6 species of fish, snakes and turtles.

Here, on this small reservoir located in the Danube floodplain, there is its own museum belonging to the reserve. From here, ornithologists can use instruments to observe the life and habits of the feathered inhabitants of the reserve.

The Srebrina Nature Reserve is included in the UNESCO list of biosphere reserves.

Vitosha Nature Reserve

On Mount Vitosha, which is located not far from the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, is the oldest of the country's natural parks. It was declared a nature reserve back in 1934.

Most of Vitosha Mountain is a national park. Its area is 26,606 hectares. This is a real natural miracle, which the residents of the capital readily recognize by placing Mount Vitosha on the coat of arms of their hometown.

The slopes of the mountain are covered with forests and meadow vegetation, and numerous holiday homes, tourist and sports centers are always happy to welcome people from all over the world. For greater convenience for vacationers, several chairlifts have been installed on the mountain, one of which almost reaches its peak Cherni Vrah.

Kamchia

South of Varna, a small road leads to Kamchia, where the river of the same name forms a large lagoon and flows into the sea. A small picturesque resort spreads along wooded river banks.

The adjacent 500 hectares of the Longoza Nature Reserve are marshes and forests with dense, almost tropical, undergrowth. Ancient trees with vines form a dense cover.

This is a typical delta, which regularly floods in the spring, flooding a huge area. Pelicans, kingfishers and aquatic birds of all kinds live here.

Cape Kaliakra

To the north of the city of Balchik, the Black Sea coast is almost untouched by tourism. The road passes through the port of Kavarna, from where Bulgaria exports Dobrudzhan wheat. The road leads to Cape Kaliakra, famous for its 60-meter-high red rocks.

The legend says: when the Turkish army captured the fortress that stood on the cape, the surviving 40 girls tied themselves with braids and rushed down into the sea. They preferred death to violence. Today it is a peaceful reserve where cormorants build their nests, seals leap into the sea, and pink starlings and blackbirds frequent the cliffs and caves.