Egyptian Vulture mural, Madzharovo, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
Madzharovo is a small town situated on the River Arda in the eastern Rhodopes Mountains in south Bulgaria. It has a population of around 500, making it one of the smallest towns in the country.
Madzharovo is located in the centre of a volcanic crater shaped over 35 million years ago and marked by a circle of hills to the west and cliffs to the east. The fields and woodlands, hills and cliffs and the River Arda give the town a perfect setting. However, the landscape is at odds with the drab and derelict town.
As a result of the volcanic activity, the rocks around Madzharovo contain precious minerals and it is this natural wealth that determined the town's development during the Communist period as a zinc and lead mining centre. The cheap and functional flats in typical Communist era style were built to house the miners but were largely abandoned when the mines closed in the early 1990s. Around 80% of the flats are now abandoned and derelict and inevitably Madzharovo has fallen in to sharp decline and now appears almost like a ghost town.
After industrial activity ceased, many initiatives have been undertaken to develop and promote nature and agro-tourism as a new source of income and Madzharovo is now the centre for nature tourism in the eastern Rhodopes Mountains.
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) has established a Nature Conservation Centre in Madzharovo which provides an exhibition, conducts educational programs and provides information for various routes and landmarks. It particularly focuses on the many birds of prey which can be found in the area, especially the 3 species of vulture (Griffon, Black and Egyptian).
Date: 24th May 2018
Location: Madzharovo, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
Madzharovo is located in the centre of a volcanic crater shaped over 35 million years ago and marked by a circle of hills to the west and cliffs to the east. The fields and woodlands, hills and cliffs and the River Arda give the town a perfect setting. However, the landscape is at odds with the drab and derelict town.
As a result of the volcanic activity, the rocks around Madzharovo contain precious minerals and it is this natural wealth that determined the town's development during the Communist period as a zinc and lead mining centre. The cheap and functional flats in typical Communist era style were built to house the miners but were largely abandoned when the mines closed in the early 1990s. Around 80% of the flats are now abandoned and derelict and inevitably Madzharovo has fallen in to sharp decline and now appears almost like a ghost town.
After industrial activity ceased, many initiatives have been undertaken to develop and promote nature and agro-tourism as a new source of income and Madzharovo is now the centre for nature tourism in the eastern Rhodopes Mountains.
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) has established a Nature Conservation Centre in Madzharovo which provides an exhibition, conducts educational programs and provides information for various routes and landmarks. It particularly focuses on the many birds of prey which can be found in the area, especially the 3 species of vulture (Griffon, Black and Egyptian).
Date: 24th May 2018
Location: Madzharovo, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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