Tourists come to Bulgaria not only for the sea and new impressions, but also to see the rich world of flora and fauna. A vacation will not be enough to visit all the protected beautiful places of this country, inhabited by rare birds and animals. In this article we will take a closer look at Bulgaria's riches - its nature.
The wealth of Bulgaria's inland waters
Rivers
Akheloi
River flowing into the Black Sea. Tourists and fishermen like to spend time here. Places near the river are very beautiful - many greens, trees. The river water is cold and very clear. The place where the river meets the sea has long been favored by children who love to play here.
Ropotamo
The water body attracts the presence of turtles. It is also home to pelicans and tsapli. Not far from the river is the Ropotamo Reserve. Fish are incredibly abundant in the river waters, as it is illegal to catch them.
The river is not very popular with tourists and in vain. Everyone can take a boat ride on it. The banks of the river are covered with rich vegetation. The water of Kamchia is opaque, but it is inhabited by many fish and even turtles. The latter are on the verge of extinction. The waters of the river flow into the sea.
Lakes
Bulgaria is home to many lakes, most of which are hidden high in the mountains. However, there are two particularly picturesque lakes located in resort towns.
Pomorie Lake
Renowned for its healing properties far beyond Bulgaria’s borders. Travelers from all over the world come here for the unique mud, believed to cure many ailments.
Burgas Lake
The largest lake in the country by area. It lies within a protected nature reserve, home to numerous species of flora and fauna listed in the Red Book.
Waterfalls
There are around 300 waterfalls in Bulgaria, varying in height, length, and number of cascades. Most of them are mountain waterfalls, found within protected areas:
national nature parks such as Vitosha, Rila, and Central Balkan;
botanical gardens (Balchik).
National Parks — a Unique Natural Treasure
Bulgaria is rich in national parks thanks to its vast natural resources and the rare species of fauna that inhabit them. The history of national parks dates back to 1934. Today, there are more than ten across the country.
We recommend visiting the following natural highlights of Bulgaria:
Here you will find the seven Rila Lakes, home to wild boars, deer, and eagles.
Pirin. This park is beloved by a wide variety of animals and plants. It is home to the unique edelweiss and Pirin poppy, silver fir and spruce, Macedonian pine, as well as numerous Bosnian pines. Visitors can also admire waterfalls, caves, and lakes.
Vitosha. Here you may encounter wolves, wildcats, bears, as well as deer and badgers. The park is home to rare species of butterflies and also to Duhlata, the longest cave in Bulgaria.
Strandzha or Ruse National Park. On their territory, you can see turtles, snakes, and lizards. The parks also host rare bird species, bats, and wild animals such as wolves and jackals.
The plant world of Bulgaria
The country is rich in its diverse flora. It grows here:
Palms. Several species are represented, many growing in large pots.
Lilacs. In Bulgaria grows a different, unfamiliar to us, but very beautiful variety.
Ivy. Beautifully wraps around the trunks of trees.
Fruit trees. Figs, persimmons, peaches, pomegranates, plums, apples, pears, different varieties of grapes and even kiwis grow here.
Valley roses.This flower has been decorating the nature of Bulgaria for more than three centuries. They are cherished and nurtured, and the petals are used to extract the finest quality oil.
The forest area occupies almost one third of the country's territory. The locals take great care of it and preserve it.
Botanical Garden of Balchik
Tourists go here for the huge collection of cacti. Some of them are very rare. The garden is visited by travelers from all over the planet.
Presents a rich collection of various plants, among them especially notable are irises and roses.
Horse lovers will appreciate the local Jockey Club, which offers riding lessons with a trainer or solo riding for professionals.
The unique fauna of the Balkan country
Not to forget the many animals that inhabit the local forests and national parks. There are hares, wolves, wild boars, weasels, badgers, ferrets and squirrels.
The local waters of the country are home to different species of fish: mullet, mackerel, pelamida and flounder. If you are in Varna, go to the dolphinarium and enjoy the dolphin show.
When visiting Bulgaria you will have the opportunity to see a variety of birds such as gulls, cormorants, pelicans and others. There are also snakes lizards and turtles.
The natural world of Bulgaria is amazingly rich. Come to the country and enjoy its nature with your own eyes.
