Pirin National Park is in Pirin mountain. The park includes unique ecosystems, rare endemic and relict animal and plant species, large number of lakes, caves and waterfalls. The Pirin region occupies the South-Westernmost part of Bulgaria and is named after the magnifiicent Pirin Mountains.
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The "Vihren" National Park was opened in 1962 and eleven years later it was renamed into National Park "Pirin". It has expanded continuously. Nowadays the whole area of the park approximates 40, 000ha. It falls completely into the Northern reach of Pirin. Stretching from Predela to Todorova Polyana. This is the most beautiful, the most impressive, and also the most often visited part of the mountain. The alpine character is accentuated by deeply grooved relief formations. The highest point is the Vihren peak, 2915 m high, and the lowest one is the entrance door of the park over the town of Bansko - 950 m. |
Pirin hosts about 20% of all rivers in Bulgaria, more than 200 mountain lakes and about 230 mineral springs (1/3 of the mineral waters of the country). The numerous tributaries of Strouma and Mesta fill nature with music and life, while the crystal-clear calm waters of the lakes are covered with ice during most of the year. |
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Lovers of nature and winter sport are heartily welcome to the network of huts, departmental holiday homes, fine hotels, restaurants and traditional taverns (mehanas) in the mountain and the towns and villages of the region. Furthermore, the Pirin region has preserved its fascinating folklore traditions and customs, architectural monuments and designated reserve villages, houses and churches from the National Revival Period, archaeological sites from all ages and small but excellently arranged museums. |
The Pirin National Park (with an area of 40,447 hectares) is included in the UNESCO Convention for the Preservation of World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites. The 100 peaks over 2,000 meters, the 186 high mountain lakes, the rich flora (over 1089 species) and the variety of fauna (172 mammal species) represent nature's generosity.
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Dolnoto ribno ezero (The Lower Fish Lake) is the largest and most preferred by the tourists. The winter landscape as seen from Todorin Reak is really magnificent. All this scenery reeinds of the legend about the two lakes named Todorini Otchi (Todora's Eyes). The legend says that the lakes gathered the tears of Todorka, who lost her lover Vassilak killed by the oppressors.
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There are 172 vertebrate species found in the park; this includes 4 fish, 10 amphibians, 14 reptiles, 102 birds, and 42 mammals. 114 of these species are listed as threatened to varying extents. Five species are included in the World Red Data Book-the Greek turtle, the Big night bat, the Gray wolf, the Pole cat, and the European otter. Four species in Pirin are threatened with extinction in Europe- the Long eared bat, the Brown dormouse, the Mole, and the Brown bear. Among the mammals and birds listed as threatened within Bulgaria are the Brown bear, the Gray wolf, the Pine marten, the Rock marten, the Polecat, the European otter, the Wild cat, the Balkan chamois, the Golden eagle, the Capercaillie, the Hazel grouse, the Eagle owl, the Black woodpecker, and the Three toed woodpecker. |
Near the Bunderitisa chalet stands the oldest tree in Bulgaria - the Baikusheva Mura (white fir) - 9,5 m thick and 27 m high. Its age is more than 1300 years.
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The visitor has a choice of zones within the park itself, including the forest of Bosnian pine where the ancient Baikusheva pine stands guard as it has done for centuries past. The crystalline limestone allows such delights as the near extinct edelweiss and the Pirin poppy to flower and grow among the rocks. The Pirin lakes, surrounded by an area of Macedonian pine and Silver fir and spruce, teem with animal life, and eagles and falcons have made their homes high up in the mountains. |
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For more photos go to the gallery or click here |
