Pirin National Park

Pirin National Park occupies the bigger part of Pirin Mountain, which is set in South-western Bulgaria. The park borders with seven municipalities at Blagoevgrad region - Gotse Delchev, Bansko, Razlog, Simitli, Kresna, Strumyani and Sandanski.

Pirin National Park was created in 1962. It occupies more than 42 000 ha century-old forests, amazing peaks-giants, emerald lakes, beautiful edelweisses and limpid rivers representing the natural landscape of the mountain and the home for many animals such as wild goats, roes, bears, wild cats, wolfs, etc.

Pirin National Park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

The park is divided into three zones with different regime. The zones area:

Territories with strict regime - these territories are occupied by reserves which are more than 15 % of the park's area.

'Bayuvi dupki - Dzhindzhiritsa' Reserve is one of the oldest reserves in Bulgaria. It was declared a reserve in 1934. Its aim is to protect the forests of pinus peuce and Bosnian pine and the rich variety of flora and fauna. In 1977 it was listed as a biosphere reserve in the UNESCO program 'Human and biosphere'.

'Yulen' Reserve was declared in 1994. It hides the variety of forests, alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems and the beauty of all shapes of the alpine relief.

Territories with temporary statute of protection. They are about 3 % of the park's area.

Human interference is allowed in the other territories which are about 82 % of the whole area. They are territories with tourist and protection functions divided into several park regions: Vihren, Bezbog, Bayuvi dupki, Kamenitsa, Sinanitsa and Trite reki.

'Vihren' is the park region with the most developed tourist net. It is near the attractive Bansko ski resort, which is very famous in the country and abroad. The main tourist destinations are Demyanitsa and Banderitsa Rivers, Vasilashki, Tipitski, Dalgoto and Ribnoto Lakes, and different rock gates.

One of the most significant sightseeing's in the park is located in the region. It is Baykushevata pine (spices of the Bosnian pine) which is one of the oldest trees in Bulgaria. It is more than 1300 years old.

The highest peak in the mountain Vihren (2915 m) rises here. It attracts many tourist and mountaineers.

'Bezbog park' region includes part of 'Yulen' Reserve. The information centre of the park region is situated in village of Dobrinishte. Significant tourist sites are the church of St St Petar and Pavel (1835) and the mineral springs of Dobrinishte.

'Bezbog' mountain hostel could be reached by a chair-lift from village of Dobrinishte.

On the area of 'Trite reki' park region is located one of the most visited and most beautiful mountain hostels - 'Pirin'. Another good place offering excellent conditions for the visitors is 'Gorski rai' recreation area.

'Kamenitsa' park region characterizes with the highest ridges rising above 2500 m. Above all of them rises Kamenitsa peak (2822 m). Here could be seen the beautiful lakes - Spanopolski, Bashliyki, Chairski, Mozgovishki, Tevno, Kuklensko.

Pirin National Park comprises 13 tourist routes, 8 mountain hostels, 4 huts and 1 camping. The park is a wonderful place for recreation, mountain walks and practicing winter sports.

Internet sources: http://pirin.bg/ http://bg.wikipedia.org
Pictures: http://bg.wikipedia.org, Internet