Strandja

Situated in the south-east of Bulgaria is one of the biggest and most exotic nature parks in the country. Strandja is a mountain with undulating round ridges, covered by thick green forests. The valleys of several rivers flow through the park and are really captivating with their numerous picturesque meanders. Some Karst springs are believed to possess healing powers.  
   
  The specific climate of the Strandja region is influenced by the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. The south-eastern part of the Strandja (the Ahtopol-Rezovo area) is the sunniest place in Bulgaria During the season (April - October). Strandja has the highest number of sunny days in Bulgaria.
   

The vegetation is an intriguing conglomerate of European + Black Sea + Caucasian species The beech-tree is the dominating type of tree in the Strandja mountain. There are also oak-tree forests. The Strandja mountain holds oak and beech-tree formations with diversity which is very rare in Europe

 

The total number of higher plant species 1500, ten are endangered such as the Strandjanian blueberry, Istanbul chick-peas, Crimean tea, Strandjanian oak-tree.Access of tourists to the Protected Areas is allowed.Visitors can see the oldest and thickest Strandja tree whose age is estimated to be around 1000 years.

  
 
   
Strandja is one of the richest in animal species in Bulgaria. The reason is that for a number of decades the access to the mountain has been restricted in view of the proximity of the state border. The Strandja mountain abounds in birds. There are certain times of the year when the number of birds species reaches 261, which represents 68% of all the birds found in Bulgaria.
  A considerable portion of this number are migrating birds 17 of the bird species are listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria and 1 is listed in the World Red Book There are 54 mammal species such as wolves, wild boars, deer, jackals, wild cats, rabbits. The otter population in the river of Veleka is the best preserved in Europe The actual number of animal species is probably higher than 54, for the caves of the Strandja are only partially explored.
Several companies offer bird watching tours in Strandja. The Poda Lagoon is home to the only Spoonbill colony on the Black sea coast. Glossy Ibis, the Grey and Purple Herons and the Little Egret also breed here, also Black-winged Stilts, Terns, Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers can be found here. In Ropotamo Complex one can find Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Red-necked and Little Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier etc. Kitenska and Diavolska rivers are visited for Black-headed/Yellow-legged Gull, Pygmy Cormorant, Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon, White and Black Stork, Common Buzzard you can expect to find: Little Egret, Black Stork, White Stork, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Sparrow Hawk, Sombre Tit, Yellowhammer, Sandwich Tern, Spoonbill, Syrian Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon White Storks, over 30 000 White Pelicans as well as flocks of Black Storks, Dalmatian Pelicans and Cranes.
     
  Strandja has a lot to offer to those who like horse-back riding Horses are available for rent with or without a guide at the seaside towns of Sozopol, Lozenetz, Sinemoretz and Ahtopol Many miles of Strandja's coastline are unspoilt, wild and often uninhabited - particularly further South and perfect for coastal walking. You can also go for river walks and woodland walks or go fishing for turbot, red mullet, goby, gray mullet or carp. As for sea angling, Strandja has perhaps the most varied and the most beautiful coastline on the Balkan peninsula including spearfishing and underwater fishing.
 
 
   
The region of Strandja has an ancient history. Archaeological remains from the Stone Age full of ancient temples, dolmens and necropolis, Around the 5th century BC the mountain was inhabited by the thracian tribes The remnants of two Thracian dolmens are located very close to Malko Tarnovo The mountain has also preserved the ruins of number of early Byzantinian fortresses.