Natural park “Blue stones. Blue Stones Location of Blue Stones

(Natural Park "Blue Stones")

In Bulgarian - "Blue stones"

Location of the Blue Stones

The Blue Stones are located about 10 km northwest of Sliven. You can only get here by your own car or taxi.

Description of Blue Stones

Blue stones are rocks made of Persian and partly Lower Thracian porphyry quartz stone. Name of this natural phenomenon associated with color effects that occur depending on the angle of the sun's rays illuminating them. The stones appear bright or light blue, violet-blue and even grey-black. The blue stones are a labyrinth of peaks, valleys, caves and sheer abysses. On an area of ​​7 hectares, you can see several interesting natural formations. The rock formation Halkata (a ring; the diameter of the hole is 8 meters) is the symbol of the city of Sliven. According to legend, in ancient times there was a sea here, and during a storm, ships were tied to a rock so that they would not sink. There are several caves in the park. It is believed that the water from the spring in the Kushbunar cave cures eye diseases.

On the territory of the park there is also the Kutelka reserve, where, on an area of ​​more than 700 hectares, massifs of moesian beech and other rare and protected plant species, listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria, grow. There are more than 384 species medicinal plants. Of the 50 species of orchids, more than half grow here. There are about 1,600 species of butterflies in Bulgaria, of which 826 can be found in the Blue Stones park. Birds of prey live in the park: the common vulture, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, eagle owl. The park is also famous for its valuable archaeological sites. The ruins of medieval fortresses and monasteries have been preserved.

Natural Park"Blue Stones" is located on a rocky massif, which rises above the city of Sliven in Bulgaria. The natural park at this place has been open since 1980 and covers an area of ​​11 hectares. The name of the park comes from the color of the rocks. The fact is that these rocks are the largest European deposit of quartz porphyte.

The Blue Stones Natural Park includes several interesting natural objects. For example, the rock phenomenon of Halkata is the Loop. The Kutelka nature reserve is located on the territory of the park. It was created in 1986 to protect the habitats of birds of prey and groves of mysian beech.

Many places in the Blue Stones park are associated with historical events in Sliven and Bulgaria in general. For example, the Haramiyata area is associated with the traditions of the haiduk units.

The park occupies a relatively small area, but the diversity of local biological species is impressive. More than a thousand higher and 97 varieties of lower plants grow on this territory, among them more than 70 species of rare, endemic and relict species.

The fauna of the park includes 244 species of vertebrates and more than a thousand species of invertebrates. It was in the area of ​​the city of Sliven that the first people in Bulgaria began to study butterflies. Most of The vertebrates living here are protected by law. 176 bird species have been recorded in the park. Of particular interest are birds of prey nesting in the rocks.

There are more than 50 hiking trails on the territory of the natural park. There are 18 routes for tourists of historical, cultural and entertainment orientation. The local climate is favorable for activities different types sports: speleology, rock climbing, cycling, paragliding, hang gliding, as well as winter sports.

Tourist routes are equipped with recreation areas and information boards. The asphalt road allows easy access to many areas and attractions of the park. And open cable car delivers tourists to the upper station in the Karandila area in 20 minutes.

In the northeast of Sliven there is an information center for tourists. Park "Blue Stones" is included in the list of national sites for tourists. On the territory of the park, hunting and chasing animals, destroying bird nests, and collecting eggs is strictly prohibited.

Blue Stones is a name that has an emblematic meaning for the city of Sliven. This is the name of the rocky massif, towering directly above the city.
The blue color, in essence, is absent in the stones and in the rock mass as a whole. Blueness appears in the presence of characteristic for this region of the country atmospheric conditions most often in the evening. The prosaic explanation of this fact can be found in the geological composition of the rocks - this is one of the largest deposits of quartz porphyry in Europe.
The name "Sinite Kamyni" was given to the natural park created in 1980. Today, the Sinite Kameni Natural Park covers an area of ​​11,380.8 hectares and has become part of the country's system of protected areas. Part of the territory of the park - the areas of Grebenets and Stidovo - are included in the wide migratory front of birds Via Pontica. There are six interesting natural objects in the Sinite Kamani Nature Park: Halkata (Loop), one of the most famous, is a rock phenomenon that has become a favorite place for tourists due to its proximity to the city. Within the boundaries of the Sinite Kamani Natural Park, there is also the Kutelka Nature Reserve with an area of ​​708 hectares, created in 1986 in order to preserve the groves of the mysian beech (Fagus silvatica ssp. moesiaca) and rock habitats of many birds of prey.
Despite its small territory, the Sinite Kameni Natural Park demonstrates the presence of a great biological diversity. 97 species of lower plants grow here, of which 43 are freshwater algae and 54 are lichens. higher plants there are 1,027 species and 29 subspecies. On the territory of the park today you can find 70 species and 7 subspecies of endemic, rare, relic and protected species, including rock tulip (Tulipa urumoffii), colchicum davidovii (Colchicum davidovii), Pontic hazel grouse (Fritillaria pontica), underdeveloped limodorum (Limodorum abortivum), Arabian wingworm (Aethionema arabicum), forest anemone (Anemone sylvestris), common belladonna (Atropa bella-donna), etc.
The fauna in the Sinite Kameni Natural Park is represented by 244 species of vertebrates and 1153 species of invertebrates. Among the invertebrates, 5 groups have been best studied, mainly butterflies and spiders. The first data for the first study of butterflies in Bulgaria (published in 1835-1837) were collected in the Sliven region, and at the end of the 19th century, the country's first entomological society "Svetulka" (Firefly) was founded here. As for vertebrates, 78% of them are subject to protection under the Law on Biological Diversity, and 23 of the local species are included in the world list of protected animals. 176 bird species are found in the park, of which 149 are protected species. Birds of prey are of exceptional interest, for which the rocky massifs in the park offer favorable conditions for nesting. The Sinite Kameni Nature Park is one of four areas in the country included in the large-scale restoration project for the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Bulgaria.
Many places in the natural park are connected with the historical past of Sliven, as well as Bulgaria - the Haramiyata (Rebel) area has a direct connection with the traditions of the haiduk detachments. The Bulgarka peak (Bulgarka) is the highest in the eastern part of the Balkan Mountains (1181 m above sea level), and not far from it is the Daulite area with a 300 m ski slope, offering excellent opportunities for winter recreation. In the area of ​​Ablanovo, 6 km from the city, there is one of the first forest nurseries in the country, established in 1898.
The asphalt road makes it easy to climb the mountains - by car you can quickly reach most of the listed areas. An open cable lift takes tourists to the high part of the mountains in 20 minutes - the upper station is located in the Karandila area, a popular place for summer holidays among the inhabitants of this region of the country.
More than 50 trails have been laid on the territory of the Sinite Kameni Natural Park, which have become the basis for 18 tourist routes of various thematic directions - biological, historical, and entertaining. natural conditions the park allows you to practice different sports: mountaineering and speleology, cycling and motoring, hang-gliding and paragliding, winter sports and hiking in the mountains. The staff of the natural park creates and maintains places for recreation, takes care of the marking of routes, the installation of signposts and boards with information about tourist routes, natural attractions in the natural park, and about the rules of nature protection. A well-organized and extensive network of tourist paths and alleys creates excellent conditions for mass tourism, especially in summer period. The Directorate of the Natural Park created two thematic trails - ecological trail in the area of ​​Mollova Koria and the path of health in the area of ​​Ablanovo, especially popular among people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and vision.
At the very foot of the mountains, in the north-eastern part of the city of Sliven and at the beginning of the well-known Haiduk trail among the inhabitants of the city, there is the Information and Tourist Center of the Sinite Kameni Nature Park. The permanent exhibition acquaints visitors with the most characteristic examples of nature, animal and flora in the park: here you can see collections of rocks, mosses and lichens, herbariums, insects. In the photographs, you can see the diversity of flora and fauna in this area, natural attractions and the most popular areas for recreation in the park. The Sinite Kameni Natural Park is included in the list of one hundred national tourist sites.
Employees of the Park Directorate provide the necessary information to tourists and guests of Sliven and at the Tourist Information Office in the city center.
Hunting and chasing animals, collecting and destroying eggs, and destroying bird nests are prohibited on the territory of the park.

The Blue Stones Natural Park was declared in 1980 to protect the natural ecosystems of a particular landscape. rocks for the purposes of science, recreation and tourism. The waterfalls of Mount Sliven are part of the main chain of Stara Planina.

The blue stones cover an area of ​​7094.1 hectares, and are located among the southern slopes of Stara Planina. In the west, north and east, the park is surrounded by spacious forests and in the south by the borders of the city - the district center of Sliven.

The park has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. In dozens of places in Blue Ridge you can see the ruins of ancient castles, monasteries, ancient roads. Here is a Roman fortress III - V centuries, and along the river is one of the 24 - monasteries built in the XIII - XIV centuries, known as Sliven Lesser Athos. The Blue Stones Natural Park is famous for the purity of the air, the specific climate of the forests, with a variety of landscapes - forests, meadows. Forests occupy 79% of meadows - 8.7%, rocks - 3.4%, wetlands - about 1.5 percent.

Despite its small territory, the Blue Stones Natural Park demonstrates the presence of a large biological diversity. 97 species of lower plants grow here, of which 43 are freshwater algae and 54 are lichens.
There are 1,027 species of higher plants and 29 subspecies. On the territory of the park today you can find 70 species and 7 subspecies of endemic, rare, relict and protected species, including rock tulip, david colchicum, Pontic hazel grouse, underdeveloped limodorum, Arabian winged beetle, forest anemone, belladonna, etc.

The fauna in the Blue Stones Natural Park is represented by 244 species of vertebrates and 1153 species of invertebrates. Among the invertebrates, 5 groups have been best studied, mainly butterflies and spiders. The first data for the first study of butterflies in Bulgaria (published in 1835-1837) were collected in the Sliven region, and at the end of the 19th century, the country's first entomological society "Svetulka" (Firefly) was founded here.
As for vertebrates, 78% of them are subject to protection under the Law "On Biological Diversity", and 23 of the local species are included in the world list of protected animals. 176 bird species are found in the park, of which 149 are protected species.
Birds of prey are of exceptional interest, for which the rocky massifs in the park offer favorable conditions for nesting. The asphalt road makes it easy to climb the mountains - by car you can quickly reach most of the listed areas.
An open cable lift takes tourists to the high part of the mountains in 20 minutes - the upper station is located in the Karandila area, a popular place for summer holidays among the inhabitants of this region of the country.

More than 50 trails have been laid on the territory of the Blue Stones Natural Park, which have become the basis for 18 tourist routes of various thematic directions - biological, historical, and entertaining.
The natural conditions in the park allow you to engage in various sports: mountaineering and speleology, cycling and motoring, hang-gliding and paragliding, winter sports and hiking in the mountains.
The staff of the natural park creates and maintains places for recreation, takes care of the marking of routes, the installation of signposts and boards with information about tourist routes, natural attractions in the natural park, and about the rules of nature protection. A well-organized and extensive network of tourist paths and alleys creates excellent conditions for mass tourism, especially in summer.
The Directorate of the Nature Park has created two thematic trails - the ecological trail in the area of ​​Mollova Koria and the health trail in the area of ​​Ablanovo, which is especially popular among people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and vision.

At the very foot of the mountains, in the north-eastern part of the city of Sliven and at the beginning of the well-known Haiduk trail among the inhabitants of the city, there is the Information and Tourist Center of the Blue Stones Natural Park.
The permanent exhibition visually acquaints visitors with the most characteristic examples of nature, flora and fauna in the park: here you can see collections of rocks, mosses and lichens, herbariums, insects.
In the photographs, you can see the diversity of flora and fauna in this area, natural attractions and the most popular areas for recreation in the park.