Destination Danube - Bulgaria Travel

The Srebarna Lake Biosphere Reserve is 16 km to the west of Silistra. It comprises Lake Srebarna and the surroundingbanks of the Danube, occupying a territory of 600 hectares. It is a wonderful sight with its surface of cane and bulrushes,water lilies, marsh marigold, marsh fern, duckweed, etc. Various kinds of birds nest here – some 150 protected speciesof marsh birds such as pelicans, black coots, water swallows, egrets, ibis, wild geese, 11 species of wild ducks, etc. Thereserve is included in the UNESCO list of the most valuable natural sites worldwide.Persina Nature Park is the only one in Bulgaria to belocated along the Danube River in the Svishtov-Belenelowlands. It consists of numerous islands, marshlandsand river-line wetlands. The park is unique and the largestwetland ‘Ramsar Convention’ site for waterfowl inBulgaria. There are two island groups – one around Nikopolconsisting of four islands and the other around the town ofBelene with19 islands.The Malak Preslavets Marshland is a protected area betweenthe towns of Tutrakan and Silistra and is a feeding ground forherons, ibis, fallow deer stags, cormorants and other birds. It isthe paradise for the white water lily (Nymphaea alba) and hereis where the largest number can be found in Bulgaria.Over 743 higher plant species inhabit the park territory. Theinternal marshes contain typical marsh communities – yellowwater lily, broad-leaved pondweed, yellow fl oating-heart andwater chestnut in the shallow parts. In the park there are also1,100 animal species. The highlight of the park is the birdlife.Over 200 species have been recorded and almost all of themhave conservation status. The Belene Island Complex is one ofthe most important regions in the world for rare species likethe whitetailed eagle, the cormorant and the heron.17Persina Nature Park