SREBARNA

BG0000241 – Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

Srebarna Lake is the only preserved Danubian lake in Bulgaria. Its name (translated “Silver”) has always been associated with wealth and variety of birds. Over the years, this unique wetland has gone through many transformations and changes – from disruption of life-giving link with the river resulting in almost complete drying of the lake in the mid- 90s of the 20th century, to wildlife revival after re-connecting the lake to the river. Continue Reading →

BATOVА

BG0002082 – Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

Batova protected area is located north of Varna and covers the valley of the Batova river and most of Frangensko plateau, including the coastline of Albena and Golden Sands and its adjacent marine area. Continue Reading →

VARNA-BELOSLAV LAKE

BG0000191 – Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC.

The Varna-Beloslav Lake Complex includes two lakes – Varna and Beloslav – located west of Varna and connected by an artificial canal. Varna Lake is a coastal firth lake of natural origin. Continue Reading →

YATATA

BG0002046 – Protected Area under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

The protected area covers a wetland surrounded by grasslands, deciduous forests and rocky biotopes.

Yatata, (translated The Flocks) is a site with a great variety of birds all seasons. It supports over 220 species of birds, including six globally threatened species, such as the Red- breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis), the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), the Pygmy Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax pygmeus), the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicula) and others. Continue Reading →

THE KAMCHIYA COMPLEX

BG0002045 – a Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

The Kamchiya river complex is located about 25 km south of Varna. It comprises of tidal forests, known as “Bulgarian longoz” around the mouth and lower reaches of the Kamchiya River, extensive sand dunes and beaches, shrubs and grasslands, freshwater marshes and marine area. Very typical are the swampy forest areas – remnants of old river branches naturally connected with the river. The complex includes the former Starooryahovsko swamp southwest of the reserve, now converted into arable land. In winter and spring large spills that attract big numbers of waterbirds are formed there. Continue Reading →

SHABLA LAKE COMPLEX

Special Protected Area (SPA)under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

With its beautiful and unspoiled nature, Shabla Lake Complex is among the most representative places of the Natura 2000 network. The site is included in the Natura 2000 network because of its European importance for the conservation of rare and endangered habitats – coastal freshwater and brackish lakes, sandy beaches and reedbeds that thousands of birds use as roosts during migration or while wintering. This lake complex provides opportunities for developing year-round eco-tourism, but particularly popular are the bird watching tours. Continue Reading →

KAMCHIYSKA MOUNTAIN

BG0002044 – Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

Kamchiyska Mountain covers the northern stretch of the coastal part of the Balkan Mountains. On the east it borders the Black Sea, to the northit reaches up to the valley of the Kamchiya river. The area is included in the European Natura 2000 network due to its exceptional importance for the conservation of biodiversity. Major forest habitats are formed by pure oak and beech forests and mixed deciduous forests, dominated by Turkey oak (Quercus cerris), Oriental oak (Quercus frainetto), (Quercus dalechampii), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Moesian beech (Fagus sylvatica ), and Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa). Continue Reading →

KALIAKRA

Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

This is the part of the Black Sea coast, which covers the eastern part of the Dobruja plateau between Kavarna and Shabla cape. Here are the last steppe remnants, typical in the past of the region of Dobrudzha. The beautiful colors of wild peonies and pheasant’s-eye in spring, the silvery- green tones of tarragon in summer and the elegant movements of feather grass in autumn create the unique appearance of this area. Continue Reading →

DURANKULAK LAKE

Special Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

With its strategic location on one of the major bird migration routes in Europe – the Via Pontica – Durankulak Lake is a haven for thousands of migratory birds passing each year on the way to their breeding territories or remaining to spend the winter. In winter the variety of waterfowl is incredible, but the top attraction is the flocks of many thousands of wild geese flying off the lake at sunrise. Along with the Greater white-fronted goose(Anser albifrons), big flocks are formed by the globally threatened Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis). This small goose with colorful plumage travels thousands of miles from the Siberian tundra and back, attracted by the tranquility, mild winters and large arable areas with suitable grain in Coastal Dobrudzha. Continue Reading →