Pirin National Park

Pirin National Park is a World Heritage national park that encompasses the larger part of the Pirin Mountains. It has an area of 274 km² and lies at an altitude from 1,008 to 2,914 m. Two nature reserves are located within the park: Bayuvi Dupki and Yulen.

Much of the area is forested, with the best conifer woods in Bulgaria, holding important populations of the Balkan endemic species Macedonian Pine, Bosnian Pine and Bulgarian Fir. Animals include the Deer, the Capricorn, the Wolf and the Brown Bear.

Flora and Fauna

The huge relief diversity of the park is the reason for the variety of plant, animal and fish species on its territory, making it one of the most botanically, zoologically and ontologically interesting areas on the Balkan Peninsula.

About 1300 flora species of higher plant species can be observed within the park. Besides this, about 300 moss species and a large amount of algae have been determined.

About 2090 fauna species and subspecies are to be seen in the park, among them 300 rare species, 214 endemic and 175 relicts, as well as 15 that were included in international endangered species lists.

6 fish species inhabit the park, which constitute 6% of the whole freshwater fish species of Bulgaria, whereas 8 amphibian and 11 reptile species live within the protected area.

The number of bird species that can be seen in the park is particularly large — about 160, 40% of all bird species in Bulgaria.