Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

The Tisata Nature Reserve 

Bulgaria has the largest natural juniper forest in Europe

Photo: pirin.bg

"Exactly 75 years ago, in 1949, the largest natural stand of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Europe, the Tisata, at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, was declared a nature reserve.


Greek juniper is a southern protected relict species of Anatolian origin. It can reach a height of 10-15 metres, and in some places the trunks of old trees can reach a diameter of 1 metre. Another endangered species listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria in this area is the European yew. It is an evergreen, extremely slow-growing tree that can reach a height of 30 metres. Its needles contain the alkaloid taxine, which is poisonous to humans and some animals.


The area has a great ornithological diversity - 109 species of birds nest here, 30% of which belong to the southern (Mediterranean) complex - the Blue Rock Thrush, the Western Orphean Warbler, the Sardinian Warbler, the Eastern Subalpine Warbler. 


"The area is characterised by its immense ornithological wealth - 109 bird species nest here, 30% of which belong to the southern (Mediterranean) complex, including the Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), the Orphean Warbler, the Lesser Grey Shrike and the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Sylvia hortensis, Sylvia melanocephala, Sylvia cantillans). 


The Tisata is also famous for its rich herpetofauna. Of the 16 species of snakes found in Bulgaria, 11 live in this reserve.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Hungarian Minister of Interior Sandor Pinter

Romania and Bulgaria have a chance to join Schengen by land as of January 2025

Romania and Bulgaria have a chance to join the Schengen area by land as  of January 2025 , Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pinter said after an informal meeting in Budapest of the interior ministers of Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria ...

published on 11/22/24 4:37 PM

Sofia Christmas festival will kick off tonight in front of National Palace of Culture

The Sofia Christmas Festival will open tonight in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture in the heart of Sofia . The third edition of the festival starts at 6.30 pm with a rich program and attractions - а Ferris wheel, a carousel and..

published on 11/22/24 4:24 PM

MPs fail to elect a Speaker of Parliament at fifth attempt

Yet another, already fifth attempt by MPs to elect a Parliamentary Speaker has failed. Four candidates were put to the vote - Natalia Kiselova from BSP-Unified Left, Petar Petrov from Vazrazhdane, Raya Nazaryan from GERB and Silvi Kirilov from ITN...

published on 11/22/24 3:40 PM