RUSSENSKI LOM

In the eastern portion of the Danubian plane, just about 20 km south of Rousse, is situated a unique and picturesque site of Bulgarian nature - the Nature Park “Roussenski Lom.” Its name comes from the river “Roussenski Lom” - the last right tributary of The Danube. In 1970 the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced an area of 22,267 decares situated along the banks of the rivers Mali, Cherni and Beli Lom to be a Peoples Park. Its length is approximately 42 kilometers. The regulations stated the borders, administrative functions and management activities of the new park.
In 1986 the Commission for Environmental Protection at the Council of Ministers proposed to increase the area of the park with 27 362 decares, bringing the total area to 49,629 decares. The park now has an actual size of 3,260 hectares. In 1989 a park-management project was developed. The document describes the territory, statutes, actual status of ecosystems

VRACHANSKI BALKAN

The Nature Park Vratchanski Balkan was declared for a protected area at the end of 1989. The park covers the Vratchanska Mountain and the massif of the Lakatnishki cliff rocks. It has a territory of 28 844 ha most of which is covered with karst limestones, 1 300 meters thick. Unique in their beauty caves and chasms can be seen in the park. Their total number is above 500 and special interest attract Ledenika, Temnata dupka (Dark hole), Zmejova dupka (Dragon hole), Haidushka propast (haidushka chasm), Gardujuva dupka, Kalnata propast (Muddy chasm), Nevestina propast (Bride’s chasm) and Sokolova dupka (Eagle hole). On the territory of the park have been registered about 950 species of high plants, of which more than 80 are rare species. From scientific and preservation point of view the most interesting species are the groups living in the caves (vertebrates and bats) and the day birds of prey. There are 214 registered species of vertebrates in the park.

The Charepishki monastery “Upsenie Bogorodichno” is situated at the right riverbank of the river Iskar, where the river has formed a picturesque meander. The monastery is one of the oldest in Bulgaria and is remarkable for its mural paintings, typical Bulgarian architecture and centuries-old history. The oldest evidence for its existence is the monastery statute called “tipik”, written in the period 1390-1396. The other monasteries on the territory and in the vicinity of the park are the Lopushanski monastery, the Klisurksi monastery, Ivan Pusti monastery, etc.
The place Vola where the famous Bulgarian revolutionary Hristo Botev found his death is situated in the park. Memorable for every Bulgarian are the peaks Kupena, Kamarata and Dalgija zaber which form a circle around the Jolkovitza valley, near which, at the slope of the Kamarata peak, was killed the revolutionary leader. The first proclaimed historic site in Bulgaria – a ravine called Rashov dol, is situated in the vicinity of the nature wonder “Ritlite” (cart-ladders) and commemorates the last battle of the twelve survivors, members of Hristo Botev’s revolutionary group.
At the foot of the natural landmark “Ritlite” (cart-ladders), which is in west direction of the village Ljutibrod there are remnants of fortress walls dating back to Roman and Byzantine times. This fortress has been part of the medieval town of Corintgrad (XV century). There can be seen also the medieval church “St. George” (X century) as well as remnants of tri-nave basilica from IV –V century - the period of early Christianity. The relief of the basilica makes it one of the rarest monuments of this kind found in Bulgaria.
The position of the park – its comparatively low altitude, the existence of numerous towns and villages in its peripheral area – is a prerequisite for a well-developed infrastructure.

STRANDJA

The virgin nature, the unique mixture of maritime and mountain landscape and the interesting cultural and historic landscape are favourable for development of eco and cultural tourism, recreation and other leisure time activities. Numerous unique cultural monuments can be observed at the territory of Nature Park Strandhja. The traditional styles of cult buildings are presented by the Orthodox temples “Uspenie Bogorodichno” in the town of Malko Tarnovo, “St.St. Kiril and Metodius” in the village of Kosti, “St. Dimitar” – in the village of Brashljan as well as by numerous chapels scattered all over the mountain, all of which built near a healing spring (ajazmo). The territory of the park is strewn with numerous archeological objects, which fascinate with their mysticism and majesty. Thousands of years Strandhja Mountain was the kingdom of the ancient Thracian culture. Scattered all over the territory of the mountain, the ancient beehive tombs, dolmens, sacrificial altar, slab stones and statues are speechless witnesses of the ancient Thracian glory. The most spectacular of all of them is the megalith consecrated ground in the vicinity of Mishkova niva, known as the Temple of God Dionysus. In the village of Balgari can be seen the unique “nestinary” rite. It takes place every year on the St. Konstantin and Helena’s day (3rd June), considered to be patron and patroness of the nestinars. Miraculously, time has not changed much this intoxicating dance on live coals, which comes from the ancient Thracian times. The village of Brashljan has been declared a historic and architectural reserve with authentic Strandjan houses built in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
During the centuries the mountain was called with different names - Mons Asticus, Astisteiska Mountain, Hemimont. Today it is considered that the name Strandhja comes from the proto-Bulgarian stem “Stran”, which means closed, remote and at the same time strange and mystical. Such is the world of Strandhja Mountain – archaic, having preserved unique traditions and rites.

PERSINA

The proposed park is situated along the Svishtov - Belene lowlands, including a part of the surrounding steep Danube coast around Nikopol and Svishtov and all the Bulgarian islands in that part of Danube river.
The Svishtov-Belene lowlands are a part of the Danube hilly plain. The length of this pan is about 38 km and the maximum width is 8 km. The whole surface is about 171 km`. It is an alluvial valley of quaternary origin, filled with clayey gravel silts of thickness up to 28 m. In the middle parts (between Belene and Dekov) it is higher (35 mi and is covered by silty-graveles formations. This high part divides the valley into two pans. w here the marsh of the Belene and Svishtov were placed in the past.

CENTRALEN BALKAN

During the centuries the people living in the mountain used and preserved the natural resources. Stone instruments and remnants of ceramic utensils remind of the ancient people who lived in the mountain. The remnants of ancient dwellings in the caves show that the primeval people used well the conditions provided by the mountain. Greeks, Macedonians and Celts passed the mountain and used the natural resources to build villages and to develop economy based on ore processing, hunting and timber processing. Traditionally, nowadays, people also gather hey and timber, make special dishes from wild fruits and mushrooms, use wild herbs in which the strength of the mountain is concentrated. The animal breeding is a traditional occupation for the people in the mountain. There are remnants of ancient diary farms where the famous white and yellow Balkan cheese were produced. The Central Balkan is one of the biggest and most precious of the protected territories in Europe. It is situated over a territory of 716 m². It consists of ancient beech trees, heady waterfalls, deep canyons, vast high mountain pastures and a range of mountain peaks with the highest peak in the mountain – Botev – among them. The National park treasures extraordinary biological diversity with cultural and scientific significance. One third of the park’s territory is covered by nine reserves. 1900 species of higher plants (over 50% of the flora represented in Bulgaria) can be found in the park, 30 species of which can be seen only in Bulgaria and 11 species and 2 subspecies grow only on the territory of the Central Balkan park. This part of the mountain is inhabited by 70% of the invertebrates species and 62% of the vertebrates species in Bulgaria. The wild magnificence of the Balkan includes also 229 species of moss, 256 species of mushrooms, 208 species of algae and more than 200 species of herbs. The bird life in the park is represented by more than 130 species – a variety which makes the National Park “Central Balkan” an ornithological object of international importance. More than 130 species represented in the park – higher plants and vertebrates are included in the Bulgarian and in the World Red books. The park contributes to the protection of 19 species of invertebrates and 21 species of vertebrates threatened with extinction worldwide. Among the latter species are the imperial eagle, corncrake and ring ouzel. The Central Balkan is one of the last existing habitats in Europe of the big rapacious birds, the bear, the wolf and the Balkan chamois. The territory of the park is of national importance for preservation of the populations of white-backed woodpecker, the imperial and the golden eagle, the pine-marten, the Ural owl and the hazel hen.

VITOSHA

Sofia and Vitosha are inseparable like Naples and Vesuvius”. The description belongs to the Vienna scientist Hohshteter, who visited Bulgaria in 19th century. Even today it reflects the connection between the million city and the mountain. Vitosha is a real bliss for the citizens who enjoy the mountain during all seasons.

Vitosha is the first park in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula and is among the first ones in Europe as well. The park was declared as such in 1934 with a total area of 6 410 hectares. During the years the territory has been changed many times and today it is 26 606 hectares, which is over 90% of the total mountain.Up to now there are 326 species and varieties of mosses, 500 species of algae and 360 species of lichens known in Vitosha. Only in Bistrishko branishte there are 99 types of mosses. There are 9 species of mosses, representatives of the group Sphagnum, which form the peat and are characteristic for the Reserve Torfeno branishte.

Ten species of amphibians (3 tailed species and 7 species of frogs) and 12 species of reptiles (6 species of lizards and 6 species of snakes) have been identified in the park. Among the most endangered ones are the viper, the mountain lizard, the salamander, the blindworm and etc. Especially important for the reptiles of Vitosha are the Bosneshki karst and the three wet zones: the Boyana lake, the marsh areas north of the village of Yarlovo and the group of springs in the peat between the chalet Aleko and Kamen Del peak.

236 species of birds are known in Vitosha, 120 of them nest there. Recently, on the territory of the park can be seen some rare or endangered species: goshawk, black stork, eagle owl, golden eagle, etc.

The bat fauna is most diversified in the Bosneshki karst region. Ten out of the 13 known species in Vitosha can be found there. Near to the village of Bosnek is the longest cave in Bulgaria – Duhlata - with length of 17,5 km.

Despite the massive extermination during the 20-ies in the last century, the bear populace has been partially restored and there are 9 bears at the moment. In Vitosha can be seen all predatory and wild hoofed animals characteristic for the Bulgarian mountains: wolves, foxes, martens, deer, does, etc. The lynx and the wild goat disappeared from the mountain fauna in the beginning of the last century.

The stone screes and the stone rivers are unique for Vitosha. The biggest such area is the Zlatnite mostove (Golden bridges).

There are ten peaks in Vitosha which are over 2000 m, the highest of them being peak Cherni vruh (Black peak) which is 2290m high and is positioned in the centre of the mountain. Each of the four mountain parts of Vitosha starts from it.

The biggest fall in Vitosha is Boyana fall – the water falls from 40 m. It is situated at 1300 m in the valley of Boyana river.

Out of the 40 monasteries, which existed in the Middle Ages, only two have survived. The Dragalevski monastery “Uspenie Bogorodichno” ( XIV century) was an important cultural centre in the Sofia region, and its frescoes are of very high artistic value. In 1995 the monastery and the church were declared for cultural monuments of national significance.

The Kladniski monastery “St. Nicola” is part of the famous group of Vitosha Sveta gora. In the Middle Ages above the monastery there was an ancient town surrounded by walls and towers. It is declared for a cultural monument of national significance. In an ancient park, against the background of huge trees, can be found the Boyana church “St. Panteleimon”. It is one of the few preserved medieval monuments of the Bulgarian spirit, an exceptional example of the medieval Bulgarian architecture and iconography. As a landmark of world significance, the Boyana church has been declared as a site of World cultural heritage of UNESCO.

 SINITE KAMUNI

The Nature Park Sinite Kamani is famous for its nature landmarks. “Halkata” (the Ring) – the arc-shaped stone garland, possessing, according to the legends, magic force - is one of the symbols of the town of Sliven. The forms that the nature has sculptured in the cave Zmeevi dupki (Dragon’s holes) – Zmejat (the Dragon), Orelat (the Eagle) and Vladishkija tron (the Bishop’s throne) are amazing. The ancient beech forest in the vicinity of the Kushbunar spring in the region of Karandila is quite picturesque.

The specific climate and lay conditions of the nature park determine the great diversity of flora and fauna. The plant species are more than 1000, about 900 of which are representative of high species. 27 of the high species are registered in the Red Book of Bulgaria, the endemic species are 48 and the tertiary relict species are 2. The invertebrate animals are represented by 235 species – eight species of fish, nine species of amphibians, nineteen species of reptiles, 165 species of birds and 34 species of mammals. The lay is of typical mountain type – steep and ravine slopes and at sea level between 290 and 1181 meters above the sea level. The north and northwest winds, the wind called “bora”, famous also as “the wind of the town of Sliven” and the night breeze are typical for the region. Through the park flow many rivers and their beds form numerous shoots, pools and waterfalls.

The forests in the region comprise of oriental beech, hornbeam and pubescens oak. Widely distributed are the hazel, smoke-tree, barberry, and juniper. On the cliff rocks and in the valleys, in the forests and bushes can be seen protected species – Fritillaria graeca, Fritillatia pontica, balcan noontide, davidov meadow-saffron, wood anemone, soldier orchid, haleri pasque flower, urumow tulip, arabic stone-cress.

In the region of the park could be seen rabbits, deer and wild cats. In the oak forests lives the biggest bug in Bulgaria – stag beetle and also the beautiful beetle part of the long horns family – Rosalia alpina. Bats inhabit the caves and in the forests and over the cliff rocks fly numerous birds. The most striking ones are the day and night birds of prey – golden eagle, Egyptian vulture, goshawk, sparrow hawk, Hobby, long-legged buzzard, rough -legged buzzard, red-footed falcon and eagle owl.

RILA

The National Park Rila was proclaimed in 1992 and today it is the biggest among the three national parks with its area of 81 046 ha. The park includes woodless zone along the ridge of the mountain and a belt of coniferous and mixes forests, which represent 30 % of the whole mountain massif.

On the territory of the park there are more than 100 mountain peaks over 2000 meters in altitude. Among them is the highest mountain peak on the Balkan peninsula – Musala (2 925 м). Due to the glaciers in the Quaternary in the high mountain parts of Rila Mountain numerous glacial lakes have been formed - more than 120 permanent and 30 temporary, situated primarily in the deep circus beds. The numerous glacial lakes and the lay forms define the alpine landscape, typical for the park. There spring the longest and high-water rivers on the Balkans – Iskar, Maritza and Mesta. The water supplies, which are formed in the confines of the park, are very important source of clear drinking water for the municipalities in the vicinity, the capital and part of the population in Greece and Turkey. The territory of the National Park Rila includes forest ecosystems which are protected from human influence. The most impressive are the ecosystems of spruce and fir combined with endemic white fir, as well as that of mountain pine. About 95% of the forests are natural and their average age is 90 years. More than 1400 high species can be seen in the park. 42 species are protected by the law. 98 species are proclaimed in the Bulgarian Red Book as rare and threatened with extinction, 9 plants are mentioned in the red list of IUSN and 6 in the List of Rare, Threatened and Endemic Plants in Europe. The park is very precious also because of the existence of 105 relict species and numerous endemic species – 36 Balkan, 21 Bulgarian, 3 of which could be found only in Rila Mountain – primrose (Primula deorum), Lady’s mantle (Alschemilla pawlowskii) and Marygold (Rheum rhaponticum). At the territory of the park are registered: 282 species of moss, 130 species of algae and 233 species of mushrooms.

The National Park Rila is one of the most significant and safe places for protection of mountain fauna in Europe. This kind of fauna is represented by 172 species of vertebrates: 5 species of fish, 20 species of reptiles and amphibian, 99 species of birds and 48 species of mammals. The biggest population of Balkan chamois in Bulgaria, the biggest high mountain population of European souslik, one of the four habitats of Alpine newt and one of the two habitats of little owl can be found in the park. On the territory of the park live populations of birds of prey (15 species) as well as populations of Capercaillie. Unique is the collection of invertebrate species – 2934 species, among them 242 endemic and 244 relict species, have been registered up to now. Within the limits of the park there are four reserves with total area of 16 222, 1 ha or about 20% of the park’s territory. One of the reserves is called Parangaliza - the name comes from the stem “parangalos” which means something prohibited. It was established in 1933 and the oldest spruce forests in Europe with average age of 200 years can be found there. The Central Rila Reserve is the biggest reserve in Bulgaria and is situated over an area of 12 393.7 ha. Forest, sub alpine and alpine ecosystems are preserved at its territory. The third reserve is called Ibar and there are protected species of mountain pine as well as habitats of relict plants and rare animal species. Ibar is situated on the Northern slopes of the mountain between the mountain peaks Ibar and Belmecken. The Reserve Skakavitza is a typical forest reserve, where can be seen ancient Macedonian pine forests. All the reserves in the park are registered in the United Nations’ register of national parks and the equivalent reserves. Two of the reserves – Parangaliza and part of the Central Rila Reserve are proclaimed by UNESCO for biospheric reserves.

PIRIN

 There is no other mountain in Bulgaria, which influences in such a powerful and bold way the human eye. The marble giant peaks, the circus abysses and the emerald eyes of the lakes, the stars of the edelweiss, the whisper of the white firs and the song of the rivers make the memory of the Prinin Mountain unforgettable.

More than 2000 years ago the Thracians named the mountain Orbelius – the Snow Mountain. Later on, the Slavs named it after their god of storms and thunders – Perun - a name, which has been slightly changed nowadays to Pirin. The main ridge of the mountain goes from northwest to southeast and is about 35 km long. In the north the “Predela” connects the mountain chain with Rila Mountain, in the south Pirin borders with Slavjanka Mountain, in the east with the river Mesta and in the west with the river Struma. The pass leading to the town of Gotse Delchev along the Popovi meadows divides the mountain into two parts – Northern and Central Pirin and Southern Pirin.  In the most beautiful part of the mountain, which is also a well developed tourist destination, between the regions Predela and Todorova poljana, covering an area of 40332.4 ha is situated the National park Pirin. It was proclaimed as a National park in 1962. At first it was named Vihren and covered an area of 6212 ha and after that it expended several times. In 1974 it was renamed to Pirin. Since the adoption of the Act on protected territories the park was given a statute of a national park.

Typical for Pirin Mountain are the Alpine type glacier forms. Millions of years nature has sculptured the pyramidal and cone peaks Vihren, Kutelo, Muratov, Baderishki chukar and Kamenitza and the circuses Popovski, Vasilashki, Baderishki, Demjanishki and the narrow, sharp ridges between them, with specific names – the Horse, the Guards, the Ears. In the northern part of the mountain, where the basic stone is marble, in the circuses’ beds are formed numerous abysses, caves and pot-holes. In the park there are 50 marble and granite peaks which are 2500 meters above the sea level and Vihren – taking the third place among the highest peaks on the Balkan Peninsula with its 2915 meters, towers above them. From the cliff ridges to the valleys the mountain is furrowed by 35 small and big circuses. At the foot of the peaks which are between 1260 and 2720 meters high, there are more than 180 circus lakes. The biggest groups of lakes are Badarishki, Vasilishki, Strazishki, Todorini, Valjavishki, Popovi, Kremenski, Prevalski, Polenski and Vlahini. The rivers flow in two basic directions – the left feeders of the river Struma flow west and southwest, the right feeders of the river Mesta – east and southeast.The combination of relief and climate conditions make Pirin the most dangerous mountain in Bulgaria because of the avalanches. In 1984 in the region of Cherna livada (Black meadow) fell the biggest avalanche – 700 000 m³. Extremely dangerous was the avalanche which started from Bezbog peak – in 1971 it destroyed the mountain hostel Bezbog. Today the new hostel is built at a safer place. Along the karst ridges the vegetation is scarce but there can be seen the wild goat and the rare edelweiss. The lower belt of the mountain comprises of evergreen forests of spruce, silver fir, Scots, Austrian, Macedonian and Bosnian pine. They give shelter to deer, stags, wild boars, bears, wolves, Capercaillie and other forest animals. There are numerous nature and historic landmarks in the park – near the hostel Bandaritza, an ancient tree, called Baikusheva mura (Bosnian pine), which is 1300 years old, the Wonder tree at the Trionska meadow, the ancient Macedonian pine called Candlesticks in the region Bjala reka (White river), numerous waterfalls and caves.

On the territory of the park there are two reserves – Bajuvi dupki – Dzindziritza (2873 ha) and Julen (3156.2 ha). Bajuvi dupki – Dzindziritza Reserve is one of the oldest reserves in Bulgaria. It was proclaimed a reserve in 1934 aiming at preservation of the natural relict forests of Macedonian and Bosnian pine and the great diversity of flora and fauna. In 1977 it was registered as a biospheric reserve. The Julen Reserve was proclaimed in 1994 and plays an important role for the preservation of the ancient forests of Macedonian pine, scots pine, spruce, silver fir and mauntain pine. Most of the plants in the reserve are registered in the Red book of Bulgaria – globe flower, lion’s foot, Pirin poppy, columbine golden, etc.

Thanks to its unique nature National park Pirin is acknowledged as part of the world heritage and in 1983 was included in the lists of the Convention on protection of the world cultural and nature heritage.

The directorate of the park is situated in the town of Bansko. Aiming at more efficient management and protection, the territory of the park is divided into five parts with offices in the towns of Bansko, Razlog, Dobriniste, Kresna and Sandanski.