Srebarna Nature Reserve

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Srebarna Nature Reserve


State Party = BUL
Type = Natural
Criteria = x
ID = 219
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1983
Session = 7th
Danger = 1992-2003
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/219

Infobox_protected_area | name = Srebarna Nature Reserve
iucn_category = Ia


caption =
Lake Srebarna

locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Silistra Province, Bulgaria
nearest_city = Silistra
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 06
lat_seconds = 52
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 27
long_minutes = 04
long_seconds = 41
long_direction = E
area = 6 km²
established = 1948
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

The Srebarna Nature Reserve (Природен резерват Сребърна, Priroden rezervat Srebarna) is a nature reserve in northeastern Bulgaria (Southern Dobruja), near the village of the same name, 18 km west of Silistra and 2 km south of the Danube. It comprises Lake Srebarna and its surroundings and is located on the Via Pontica, a bird migration route between Europe and Africa.

The reserve embraces 6 km² of protected area and a buffer zone of 5.4 km². The lake's depth varies from 1 to 3 m. There is a museum constructed, where a collection of stuffed species typical for the reserve is arranged.

History

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 area was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1948 and is a Ramsar site since 1975. The reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

Legends

There are several legends about the origin of the lake's name. The one is about a khan named "Srebrist", who died in the neighbourhood whilst engaging in an unequal battle with the Pechenegs. A second one tells about a boat full of silver ("srebro" in Bulgarian) along the shores of the lake. According to a third one, which is regarded as most plausible, the name comes from the silvery reflections on the lake's surface during full moon.

Flora

There are hydrophyte species such as reed in and around the lake. The reserve is home to 139 plant species, 11 of them are in danger of extinction outside the territory of Srebarna.

Fauna

A wide variety of fauna exists in the area. 39 mammal, 21 reptile and amphibian and 10 fish species inhabit the reserve, which is most famous for the 179 bird species that nest on its territory, some of which include the Dalmatian Pelican, the Mute Swan, the Greylag Goose, the Duck, the Marsh Harrier, the Bluethroat, the Titmouse, the Heron and the Cormorant.

Honour

Srebarna Glacier on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Srebarna.

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/219 Official UNESCO website entry]
* [http://www.seebg.net/Srebarna/indexA.html Lake Srebarna - virtual tour]
* [http://www.srebarnabirding.com Birding Field Station and Guesthouse]
* [http://www.srebarnabirding.blogspot.com Life in Srebarna]