Located in the very heart of Bulgaria, tucked away in the most central and highest regions of the Balkan Range, is Bulgaria’s Central National Park. The park was established in 1991 to conserve the unique natural scenery and heritage of the area and also to protect the customs and livelihood of the local population. It extends in East-West direction for about 85 km, covering a 10 km wide stripe and altitude from 550 m up to 2376m (at Botev peak, the highest peak of Stara Planina mountains). Centuries-old forests of beech, spruce, fir, hornbeam, and durmast cover most of the Park with more than half the flora of Bulgaria having been identified within the Park, 10 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Loaded with vertical rock faces, precipices, deep canyons, waterfalls, as well as numerous peaks the Central Balkan National Park is a sure favorite spot for tourists, naturalists, and scientists alike.
