Shumen Plateau Nature Park
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| Shumen Plateau Nature Park | |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian: Природен парк Шуменско плато | |
 Shumen Plateau forest near Shumen | |
  | |
| Location | Shumen Heights, Shumen Province, Bulgaria |
| Nearest city | Shumen |
| Coordinates | 43°15′59″N 26°52′41″E / 43.26639°N 26.87806°E |
| Area | 3,929.9 hectares (9,711 acres) |
| Established | 1980 as national park, and as nature park in 2003 |
The Shumen Plateau Nature Park (Bulgarian: Природен парк Шуменско плато) is located in the Shumen Plateau of the northern province of Shumen of Bulgaria, the highest plateau of the Danubian Plain. The Park encloses the Bukaka Reserve Forest, which is known for indigenous Fagus sylvatica (common beech) moesiaca (the Balkan beech) forest. This Park was declared a National Park in 1980 and a Nature Park in 2003 to conserve its ecosystems and floral and faunal biodiversity, and to preserve its tableland landscape together with many tourist sites such as the Shumen fortress, the Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria, cave monasteries, and surface and underground karst caves. The park has the first thematic educational trail in the Karst Nature Park, constructed as part of a project titled "Natural Park of Shumen Plateau" with funds provided by the EU Cohesion Fund and the Republic of Bulgaria; the trail is integral to the Operational Program "Environment 2007–2013".
Located in Northeast Bulgaria, the park is part of the Shumen Plateau, which in turn is integral to the "Shumen Heights" to its east. The plateau is one of three zones of the Shumen Heights, the other two being the Balkan area in its central part and the Fiseka on its west. Together, the three zones are in the shape of an irregular rectangle oriented in northwest–southeast direction. The river valleys in this area form the shape of segmented bays.[1]
The entire plateau is delimited on the northern border by the Pakosha, Strazhka, and Chairdere river valleys; by Pakosha and Vranato valleys on its west; by the Vrana, Ticha, and Kamchiya river valleys on the south; and the lowlands of the Shumen-Smyadovo border on the east, while the Fiseka mountain rises to a height of 500.5 metres (1,642 ft) in a north-west direction. The plateau is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long from west to east; and 7–8 kilometres (4.3–5.0 mi) wide south to north, 7–8 kilometres (4.3–5.0 mi) wide in the far south; 9–10 kilometres (5.6–6.2 mi) wide in the central part; 11–12 kilometres (6.8–7.5 mi) wide towards the north and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) wide in the northern extremity. Width wise, the plateau is oriented in north–south direction and extends 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) and 17 kilometres (11 mi) respectively. The plateau covers a total area of 73.13 square kilometres (28.24 sq mi).[citation needed]
The Shumen Plateau Nature Park encloses the Bukaka Reserve Forest, which covers a total forest area of 63.04 hectares (155.8 acres). This forest is protected on account of its indigenous Fagus sylvatica (common beech) moesiaca (the Balkan beech) forest" that is several hundred years old. The only human activity allowed within this reserve is use of trails which pass through it.[1] The Shumen Plateau occupies the highest plateau in the Danubian Plain, with an elevation of 502 metres (1,647 ft), and features "bizarre and fantastic rock phenomena and underground Karst forms".[2][3]
History
The Shumen Plateau is part of the Natura 2000 network and was designated per the Council Directive 92/43/EEC for the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.[1] Within this plateau, the park is demarcated over an area of 3,929.9 hectares (9,711 acres). It lies in the eastern part of the Danubian Plain, near the town of Shumen,[3] and was declared a National Park in 1980 and a Nature Park in 2003. The responsibility of park's management is with the government of Bulgaria and is dictated under the Management Plan for Nature Parks and the Protected Areas Act (1998).[1]
Biology
The park and the plateau have distinctive topographic features and plateau's water resources, climate and soil conditions dictate the biodiversity of its plant species.[1]
Flora
The park has a dense forest area, with about 90% area covered by forests mostly of the mixed deciduous forests. The plants and tree species reported from this forest, are: ash (Fraxinus), beech (Fagus), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), lime (Tilia), maple (Acer campestre), Turkey oak (Quercus cerris), and many more. The forest's conifer vegetation consists of: European black pine (Pinus nigra), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Oregon pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and spruce (Picea). The shrub species reported are: dog rose (Rosa canina), the European Cornel (Cornus mas), the hawthorn (Crataegus), and the hazel (Corylus). The open area of the park is covered with several species of bush and grass. Other plant species reported are 14 types of orchid (Orchidaceae) and more than 250 species of herbal plants.[3] The Management Plan for the park lists 550 species of vascular plants (excluding mosses).[1]
Fauna
The faunal species reported consist of 350 invertebrates and more than 240 vertebrates. The mammals recorded are: badger (Meles meles), beech marten (Martes foina), fox (Vulpes vulpes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and soforth. There are also several species of avifauna. The reptile species reported include Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima), European green lizard (Lacerta viridis), Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni), horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca), and wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Animals, which are under different protection categories, reported in the park are: black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna), Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), and Romanian hamster (Mesocricetus newtoni).[3]
