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| Central Balkan National Park |
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Over an area of 716 sq. km. the National Park protects and preserves the primary habitats of rare and threatened with extinction species and micro communities, self-regulating ecosystems of an exceptional biological diversity, of both scientific and cultural significance. In the Park people will have the opportunity to discover century-old beech-tree woods, cut through by fast flowing rivers, high-capacity waterfalls and canyons, spacious mountain ridge pastures and a sequence of severe-looking peaks, among which mount Botev - the highest in the Stara Planina Mountain.
The impressive plant diversity and the highly endemic trees are among the unique features of National Park Central Balkan. There are 2337 species and sub-species of plants here, 1900 of them are higher species and sub-species, 188 algae species, 229 moss species, 15 fern species. They represent more than half of the flora species in Bulgaria. In the protected by the Park area there can be seen 9 local species, 10 typical Bulgarian species and 67 Balkan species of endemic plants. The beech-tree woods in the Park together with those in immediate proximity to it take up a territory of approximately 60 000 hectares and represent the widest and most compact comparatively intact by human activity beech-tree massifs in Bulgaria.
The various relief of the Park provides for the multiformity of the wildlife. The whole Park is of global significance for the preservation of 19 invertebrates and 21 vertebrates threatened with extinction worldwide. On the territory of Central Balkan (0.6% of the total area of Bulgaria) are preserved 66% of the mammals, 40% of the reptiles, 45% of the nesting birds, 50% of the amphibians, 70% of the invertebrates, which makes it a unique biological 'reservoir' for Bulgaria.
The archaeological sites, the historical monuments and places within the Park or in proximity to it are important factors for the development of the cognitive and educative tourism in National Park 'Central Balkan'. The most famous and already well-studied Thracian fortresses in the Park can be listed in chronological order. These are the Cherti grad fortress - located south of the town of Teteven, the Paunov kamak fortress and the Djuglata fortress by the village of Taja. The Pirdopska krepost fortress, the Monastery fortress near the village of Taja and the defensive fortress on the Maragidik (Rusalka) peak all date back to the ancient Roman times.
In the territories that belong to National Park 'Central Balkan' there are many monasteries - the Etropolski Monastery, the Sokolski Monastery, the Sopot Monastery, the Kalofer Monastery, the Troyan Monastery, the Zelenikovski Monastery and the Shipchenski Monastery.
The area around the Park is famous for its crafts. The town of Troyan hosts Bulgaria's only museum of crafts and applied arts displaying the distinctive art of masters and crafts typical for this area, such as ceramics, artistic wood carving, iconography, artistic metal processing and textile. The most popular crafts in the Teteven area are copper products, iron mongery, woodcarving and weaving.
Most developed on the southern part of the Park are the traditional practices of wool braiding and the production of rose oil. Kalofer is famous for its carpets, and the Kalofer area is known for its leather products, copper products, and linen and cotton cloth.
Each year national and international exhibitions of Bulgarian and foreign masters are organized at the National Fair of People's Artistic Craft in the village of Oreshak. Numerous religious and civil holidays and traditions are celebrated in the area. These include the gathering of large groups of people in areas of the monasteries shown above during Christian celebrations.
There are annual celebrations of the Day of Roses in settlements south of the Park and of plums and plum brandy in the town of Troyan.
The town of Gabrovo is also famous for its many monuments of history and culture. The town has attained worldwide fame with the celebrations of humor and satire.
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| Friday, Apr 16, 2010 |
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| » RENTALS |
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| Other |
€ 460 |
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| Location: |
Veliko Tarnovo |
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