Srebarna Nature Reserve
The Srebarna Nature Reserve in Bulgaria is a freshwater lake nearby the Danube River and covers over 600 ha. It is the breeding ground of almost 100 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered. Some 80 other bird species migrate and seek refuge in Srebarna every winter. Among the most interesting bird species are the Dalmatian pelican, great egret, night heron, purple heron, glossy ibis and white spoonbill.The Bulgarian Nature Reserve "Sreburna" was included in the list of the biospheric nature reserves under the aegis of UNESCO in 1977 and in 1983 it was included in the World Register of Natural Heritage. It is situated in Northern Bulgaria, at the delta of the river Danube. Srebarna is a lake, 1.5 m deep, fed by water from the river and Karst water. The temperature of the water during winter is 0°C, and in the summer up to - 28°C.
The natural habitat favours the growth of a wide variety of animal and plant species. What is quite interesting in the Srebarna Reserve are the 160 species of birds, 90 of which nest and breed here. "Srebarna" is a stopping place for many migratory birds. It possesses one of the 4 known colonies of the curly-headed pelican in Europe. There is also a remarkable colony of herons and other rare water birds. There are many mammals, river animals, different plants. The reserve covers an area of 8000 decares. There is a Nature museum and an Ecological research station.
While Lake Srebarna was studied many times in the past by foreign biologists, the first Bulgarian scientist to take an interest in the area was Aleksi Petrov, who visited the reserve in 1911. In 1913, the whole of Southern Dobrudja was incorporated in Romania, but was returned to Bulgaria in 1940, when the area was visited once again by Petrov to examine the colonies of birds that nest there.
The natural habitat favours the growth of a wide variety of animal and plant species. What is quite interesting in the Srebarna Reserve are the 160 species of birds, 90 of which nest and breed here. "Srebarna" is a stopping place for many migratory birds. It possesses one of the 4 known colonies of the curly-headed pelican in Europe. There is also a remarkable colony of herons and other rare water birds. There are many mammals, river animals, different plants. The reserve covers an area of 8000 decares. There is a Nature museum and an Ecological research station.
While Lake Srebarna was studied many times in the past by foreign biologists, the first Bulgarian scientist to take an interest in the area was Aleksi Petrov, who visited the reserve in 1911. In 1913, the whole of Southern Dobrudja was incorporated in Romania, but was returned to Bulgaria in 1940, when the area was visited once again by Petrov to examine the colonies of birds that nest there.
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