Nature park Zlatni pjasatsi: Genetal information

Not far away from the sea shore for almost 60 years a picturesque spot from the northern Black region has been preserved – Nature Park Zlatni Pyasatsi. The forests in the park follow the coastal line, surround the famous resort Zlatni Pyasatsi and connect with the belt of protective and park forests around the city of Varna. The park is situated 17 km to the north of the city and covers an area of 1320,7 ha, with average length 9,2 km and average width 1,2 km. The park falls in category V within the category system of protected areas developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The park’s territory is covered with natural deciduous forests composed of different types of oak and hornbeam. Under protection are 20 rare and endangered plant species (snowdrop, primerose, orchids, etc.), 70 bird species (buzzard, goshawk, hawfinch, golden oriole, etc.) and 25 mammal species (roe deer, wild boar, badger, etc.).

In the southwest part of the park is located Aladza monastery – medieval rock monastery dating back to the 14th century, which forms a historical complex with the situated nearby Early Christian catacombs.

One of the landmarks of the park is a 200-year old plane. With its 20 m of height and 4 m circumference of the stem it impresses every visitor.

The park direction manages also the protected areas “Pobiti Kamani” and “Kamchiiski Piasazi”

Pobiti Kamani
It is located about 20 km to the west from Varna and it was declared natural landmark already in 1937. Its most characteristic features are the numerous limestone columns with irregular, cylindrical or conical form, situated attractively on a sand surface. The columns are scattered on an area of appr. 70 km2 and form 14 separate groups. Among them the most famous and most visited by tourists is the group “Centre – South” located immediately next to road I-9.

This unique natural phenomenon has been object of observation and research for more than 175 years and the riddle of its formation is still not solved. Up to this moment more than 10 hypotheses for the origin of the stone columns have been proposed. The most recent and considered to be most scientifically founded is the hypothesis that the columns are formed as a result of sedimentation of microbiological carbonate, similarly to the way in which atolls are formed.

Kamchiiski Piasazi
The protected area “Kamchiiski Piasazi” is located to the south of the mouth of the river Kamchia (appr. 35 km away from Varna) and occupies 372.6 ha. It encompasses a sand stripe, wide sand dunes, bush and grass communities, freshwater swamps, natural deciduous forests and cultivated coniferous forests. On the sand dunes one can meet typical sand-loving grass plants – lepidotrichum, Bulgarian flax, sea holly and others. Characteristic for the protected area are also reptiles – large whip snake, Hermann’s tortoise,etc., as well as the Eastern spedefoot toad – an endangered and rare species. Here nest the black stork and more than 20 other species of migrating and water birds.

The park direction offers:

• guided tours
• bike tourism
• educational programmes
• organizes “Green Schools”
• alternative forms of tourism