Lake Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria
Lake Srebarna is a freshwater lake periodically flooded by the River Danube just over 1 mile to the north. It is located in north east Bulgaria near the village of the same name and 11 miles west of Silistra.
Lake Srebarna is a remnant of the once numerous lakes that lined the River Danube’s route to the Black Sea. The lake has large reedbeds and there is adjacent steppe, vineyards and agricultural land. A belt of woodland separates it from the River Danube.
Lake Srebarna was the first wetland in Bulgaria to receive legal protection status and also the first to achieve international recognition. The lake was designated as a nature reserve in 1948 to protect the biodiversity that it hosts. In 1985 it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List of Natural Properties. Lake Srebarna is also protected as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In 1989 the lake was designated as an lmportant Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is also recognised and protected at the European level and included in 2 Natura 2000 sites: the Srebarna Special Protection Area and Ludogorie-Srebarna Special Area of Conservation.
The nature reserve includes 3.7 square miles of protected area and a buffer zone of 3.4 square miles. It comprises Lake Srebarna itself, which has a fluctuating water level dependent on the River Danube, plus the former agricultural lands north of the lake, a belt of woodland along the River Danube, the island of Komluka and the aquatic area locked between the island and the riverbank. The reserve is an important wetland on the Via Pontica bird migration flyway.
The basis for the nature reserve’s international significance is that it is an important breeding, migration and wintering site for a large number of birds. Floating reedbed islands and flooded willow woodlands provide important bird breeding areas. At the northern end, the reedbeds gradually give way to wet meadows. At the north west end of Lake Srebarna and along the River Danube, there are belts of riverine forest.
The nature reserve holds populations of birds that are considered critical to species survival. It hosts the only colony of Dalmatian Pelican in Bulgaria as well as the largest breeding populations of 4 more globally threatened species: Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle and Corncrake. The nature reserve is also of European value and importance in supporting Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy lbis, Spoonbill and Ruddy Shelduck. Globally threatened Pygmy Cormorant and Red-breasted Goose also winter on the nature reserve.
In total, the nature reserve supports over 200 bird species, 41 mammal species, 21 reptile and amphibian species and 10 fish species.
Date: 16th May 2018
Location: view from the visitor centre, Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria
Lake Srebarna is a remnant of the once numerous lakes that lined the River Danube’s route to the Black Sea. The lake has large reedbeds and there is adjacent steppe, vineyards and agricultural land. A belt of woodland separates it from the River Danube.
Lake Srebarna was the first wetland in Bulgaria to receive legal protection status and also the first to achieve international recognition. The lake was designated as a nature reserve in 1948 to protect the biodiversity that it hosts. In 1985 it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List of Natural Properties. Lake Srebarna is also protected as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In 1989 the lake was designated as an lmportant Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is also recognised and protected at the European level and included in 2 Natura 2000 sites: the Srebarna Special Protection Area and Ludogorie-Srebarna Special Area of Conservation.
The nature reserve includes 3.7 square miles of protected area and a buffer zone of 3.4 square miles. It comprises Lake Srebarna itself, which has a fluctuating water level dependent on the River Danube, plus the former agricultural lands north of the lake, a belt of woodland along the River Danube, the island of Komluka and the aquatic area locked between the island and the riverbank. The reserve is an important wetland on the Via Pontica bird migration flyway.
The basis for the nature reserve’s international significance is that it is an important breeding, migration and wintering site for a large number of birds. Floating reedbed islands and flooded willow woodlands provide important bird breeding areas. At the northern end, the reedbeds gradually give way to wet meadows. At the north west end of Lake Srebarna and along the River Danube, there are belts of riverine forest.
The nature reserve holds populations of birds that are considered critical to species survival. It hosts the only colony of Dalmatian Pelican in Bulgaria as well as the largest breeding populations of 4 more globally threatened species: Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle and Corncrake. The nature reserve is also of European value and importance in supporting Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy lbis, Spoonbill and Ruddy Shelduck. Globally threatened Pygmy Cormorant and Red-breasted Goose also winter on the nature reserve.
In total, the nature reserve supports over 200 bird species, 41 mammal species, 21 reptile and amphibian species and 10 fish species.
Date: 16th May 2018
Location: view from the visitor centre, Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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