Bulgarka Nature Park | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Location | Gabrovo Province, Stara Zagora Province, Bulgaria |
Nearest city | Gabrovo |
Coordinates | 42°49′N 25°20′E / 42.82°N 25.34°E |
Area | 22,000 hectares |
Established | August 9, 2002 |
Governing body | Bulgarka Natural Park |
The Bulgarka Natural Park (Bulgarian: Природен парк ″Българка″) is a Bulgarian nature park on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), occupying 22,000 hectares of territory in the central and eastern part of the mountains between the cities of Gabrovo and Kazanluk.[1]
Located between the steep topography of the Central Balkan and the significantly lower and sloping eastern part of Stara Planina, the region is characterized by significant diversity in terrain. This supports a rich diversity in flora and fauna. Further, due to the area's position in a section of the Balkans that served as a crossroads for the region for centuries, the park is home to many historic sites.[2]
The area's historical and biological significance lead to the establishment of the Bulgarka Natural Park on August 9, 2002.[1]