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ID
Protected Area “Atanassovsko Lake”
Name: Protected Area „Atanassovsko Lake”
Address: on the land of Bourgas, Srafovo quarter, the villages Banevo, Izvorishte, Vetren and Rudnik, Municipality Bourgas.
Regime of protection: In PA “Atanassovsko Lake” is prohibited to:
• Remove characteristics of the landscape (boundary strips, single trees or groups of trees) during the usage of arable lands in the PA;
• Plant trees on grasslands or to turn them into arable lands and perennial plants;
• Use pesticides and chemical fertilizers;
• Implement draining activities except for salt production;
• Reed cutting in the period March, 1 – August 15 when is the breeding season for the bird species in the PA;
• Firing of reed beds and costal vegetation;
• Building of wind farms with the exception of those that are in accordance with Bulgarian legal ecological framework.
Distinctive features: Atanassovsko Lake is part of the European ecological network Natura 2000. It occupies 1690 ha among arable lands, residential quarters and near the Bourgas Airport. Atanassovsko Lake is divided in two parts by the road Bourgas-Varna. The sea is nearby and that is why Atanassovsko Lake is very salty but it is surrounded by smaller freshwater basins and system of channels. The natural water basin is shallow with depth 30 sm.
The water: There is a multitude of habitats at Atanassovsko Lake. Most characteristic are the shallow freshwater basins without vascular plants. They are separated by dikes overgrown with Salicornia. Thus is how most of the wetland looks like. At the borders of the lake appear typical for the freshwater basins vegetation like reed and bulrush. There are many freshwater basins, wet grasslands and well developed system of channels overgrown with marsh plants near the lake.
The life in the lake: These unique habitats turned Atanassovsko Lake into suitable place for feeding, breeding and resting for many bird species. The lake is well known as the bird paradise of Bulgaria. In the region of Atanassovsko Lake are observed 318 bird species out of 450 species in our country. In order to appreciate this heavenly place we should mention also 241 vascular plants such as Salicornia, Sea Wormwood, Typha, Suaeda, etc. Among the rare plants is the elegant Orchid. Atanassovsko Lake is very important place for the endanger species like Otter. In the over salty lagoon is the only deposit of the micro scopic brine shrimp. The specific pink color of the water is due to its existence there.
The lake, salt and something else: The Atanassovsko Lake is famous not only for the birds but also for the salt production. Here is the place where the past and the present meet. Since 1906 at this firth is developed traditional salt production. This primitive way of salt production is very suitable for protection of the biodiversity at the lake. The more salt is produced, the more increases the number of birds. There is another dependency at this unique lake. The quantity of the produced salt depends on the brine shrimp and the existence of the brine shrimp depends on the good management of the lake. Atanssovsko Lake provides also medical mud and lye, which are very valuable for the people.
The lake and the city: They are bound together as the lake is at the heart of the city, near the sea garden. It is also near several quarters of the city. The influence of the lake on the city and vice versa is inevitable. Atanassovsko Lake suffers great anthropogenic influence from the densely populated city and the international airport situated east from the lake. This brings most of the problems for Atanassovsko Lake and the salvation of these problems depends on the citizens of Bourgas and its guests.
Main threats for the protected area:
• The change of the wetland which is part of the ecological network Natura 2000 is the most serious threat. The change of the dikes, as well as the pollution of the water from the surrounding channels should not be underestimated too. These threats are the reason why the nesting birds lose their breeding habitats and the places for rest as the dikes become overgrown with vegetation.
• The birds and their offspring are very vulnerable to the increasing number of predators, especially the dogs and jackals. During the last years this threat increased due to the wild-boars that appeared in the region.
• Noise pollution from the international road that passes through the southern part of the lake. It also causes the pollution with household and construction wastes.
• Power lines cause dead to birds which is proven by their monitoring in the southern part of the lake.
• The change of the wetland which is part of the ecological network Natura 2000 is the most serious threat. The change of the dikes, as well as the pollution of the water from the surrounding channels should not be underestimated too. These threats are the reason why the nesting birds lose their breeding habitats and the places for rest as the dikes become overgrown with vegetation.
• The birds and their offspring are very vulnerable to the increasing number of predators, especially the dogs and jackals. During the last years this threat increased due to the wild-boars that appeared in the region.
• Noise pollution from the international road that passes through the southern part of the lake. It also causes the pollution with household and construction wastes.
• Power lines cause dead to birds which is proven by their monitoring in the southern part of the lake.
Curious facts about the lake:
Atanassovsko Lake is a Ramsar place – wetland with international importance.
Atanassovsko Lake is an important place for the endangered in Europe species like Otter and Wild Cat.
Atanassovsko Lake is the place with the biggest salt production in Bulgaria.
Atanassovsko Lake is the biggest deposit of medical mud in Bulgaria.
Scientific facts about the protected area:
The protected area “Atanassovsko Lake” is part of the national ecological network in Bulgaria according the Biodiversity Act. It is registered under number BG0000270 in the European ecological network Natura 2000. It is declared by the Birds Directive aimed at protection and maintenance of the habitats of the protected birds. All the activities implemented in the protected area are directed at recreation of the habitats and improvement of the ecological status of the protected species.
The total area of Atanassovsko Lake is 72 100, 163 da and it covers territories of Municipality Bourgas.
288 bird species are registered in the region of the protected area.
127 species are important for protection on European level, including 19 species that belong to the category SPEC1 of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that they are globally threatened species. 28 species belong to SPEC2 and 80 belong to SPEC3 as species threatened of extinction in Europe.
The protected area “Atanassovsko Lake” is part of the national ecological network in Bulgaria according the Biodiversity Act. It is registered under number BG0000270 in the European ecological network Natura 2000. It is declared by the Birds Directive aimed at protection and maintenance of the habitats of the protected birds. All the activities implemented in the protected area are directed at recreation of the habitats and improvement of the ecological status of the protected species.
The total area of Atanassovsko Lake is 72 100, 163 da and it covers territories of Municipality Bourgas.
288 bird species are registered in the region of the protected area.
127 species are important for protection on European level, including 19 species that belong to the category SPEC1 of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that they are globally threatened species. 28 species belong to SPEC2 and 80 belong to SPEC3 as species threatened of extinction in Europe.
ID
Protected Area “Atanassovsko Lake”
Name: Protected Area „Atanassovsko Lake”
Address: on the land of Bourgas, Srafovo quarter, the villages Banevo, Izvorishte, Vetren and Rudnik, Municipality Bourgas.
Regime of protection: In PA “Atanassovsko Lake” is prohibited to:
• Remove characteristics of the landscape (boundary strips, single trees or groups of trees) during the usage of arable lands in the PA;
• Plant trees on grasslands or to turn them into arable lands and perennial plants;
• Use pesticides and chemical fertilizers;
• Implement draining activities except for salt production;
• Reed cutting in the period March, 1 – August 15 when is the breeding season for the bird species in the PA;
• Firing of reed beds and costal vegetation;
• Building of wind farms with the exception of those that are in accordance with Bulgarian legal ecological framework.
Distinctive features: Atanassovsko Lake is part of the European ecological network Natura 2000. It occupies 1690 ha among arable lands, residential quarters and near the Bourgas Airport. Atanassovsko Lake is divided in two parts by the road Bourgas-Varna. The sea is nearby and that is why Atanassovsko Lake is very salty but it is surrounded by smaller freshwater basins and system of channels. The natural water basin is shallow with depth 30 sm.
The water: There is a multitude of habitats at Atanassovsko Lake. Most characteristic are the shallow freshwater basins without vascular plants. They are separated by dikes overgrown with Salicornia. Thus is how most of the wetland looks like. At the borders of the lake appear typical for the freshwater basins vegetation like reed and bulrush. There are many freshwater basins, wet grasslands and well developed system of channels overgrown with marsh plants near the lake.
The life in the lake: These unique habitats turned Atanassovsko Lake into suitable place for feeding, breeding and resting for many bird species. The lake is well known as the bird paradise of Bulgaria. In the region of Atanassovsko Lake are observed 318 bird species out of 450 species in our country. In order to appreciate this heavenly place we should mention also 241 vascular plants such as Salicornia, Sea Wormwood, Typha, Suaeda, etc. Among the rare plants is the elegant Orchid. Atanassovsko Lake is very important place for the endanger species like Otter. In the over salty lagoon is the only deposit of the micro scopic brine shrimp. The specific pink color of the water is due to its existence there.
The lake, salt and something else: The Atanassovsko Lake is famous not only for the birds but also for the salt production. Here is the place where the past and the present meet. Since 1906 at this firth is developed traditional salt production. This primitive way of salt production is very suitable for protection of the biodiversity at the lake. The more salt is produced, the more increases the number of birds. There is another dependency at this unique lake. The quantity of the produced salt depends on the brine shrimp and the existence of the brine shrimp depends on the good management of the lake. Atanssovsko Lake provides also medical mud and lye, which are very valuable for the people.
The lake and the city: They are bound together as the lake is at the heart of the city, near the sea garden. It is also near several quarters of the city. The influence of the lake on the city and vice versa is inevitable. Atanassovsko Lake suffers great anthropogenic influence from the densely populated city and the international airport situated east from the lake. This brings most of the problems for Atanassovsko Lake and the salvation of these problems depends on the citizens of Bourgas and its guests.
Main threats for the protected area:
• The change of the wetland which is part of the ecological network Natura 2000 is the most serious threat. The change of the dikes, as well as the pollution of the water from the surrounding channels should not be underestimated too. These threats are the reason why the nesting birds lose their breeding habitats and the places for rest as the dikes become overgrown with vegetation.
• The birds and their offspring are very vulnerable to the increasing number of predators, especially the dogs and jackals. During the last years this threat increased due to the wild-boars that appeared in the region.
• Noise pollution from the international road that passes through the southern part of the lake. It also causes the pollution with household and construction wastes.
• Power lines cause dead to birds which is proven by their monitoring in the southern part of the lake.
Curious facts about the lake:
Atanassovsko Lake is a Ramsar place – wetland with international importance.
Atanassovsko Lake is an important place for the endangered in Europe species like Otter and Wild Cat.
Atanassovsko Lake is the place with the biggest salt production in Bulgaria.
Atanassovsko Lake is the biggest deposit of medical mud in Bulgaria.
Scientific facts about the protected area:
The protected area “Atanassovsko Lake” is part of the national ecological network in Bulgaria according the Biodiversity Act. It is registered under number BG0000270 in the European ecological network Natura 2000. It is declared by the Birds Directive aimed at protection and maintenance of the habitats of the protected birds. All the activities implemented in the protected area are directed at recreation of the habitats and improvement of the ecological status of the protected species.
The total area of Atanassovsko Lake is 72 100, 163 da and it covers territories of Municipality Bourgas.
288 bird species are registered in the region of the protected area.
127 species are important for protection on European level, including 19 species that belong to the category SPEC1 of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that they are globally threatened species. 28 species belong to SPEC2 and 80 belong to SPEC3 as species threatened of extinction in Europe.
