The Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgarian: Природен резерват Сребърна, written in the Bulgarian language as Priroden rezervat Srebarna) is a protected area in northeastern Bulgaria (Southern Dobruja), near a village with the same name. It is located 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of Silistra and 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the Danube River. The reserve includes Lake Srebarna and the land around it. It is an important wetland along the Via Pontica, a bird migration path connecting Europe and Africa. This makes it a key place for nesting and resting for many bird species that are at risk of disappearing.

The reserve covers six square kilometers (2.3 square miles) of protected land and has a surrounding buffer zone of 5.4 square kilometers (2.1 square miles). The depth of Lake Srebarna ranges from 1 to 3 meters (3.3 to 9.8 feet). A museum has been built in the area, where a collection of stuffed animals that live in the reserve is displayed.

History

Lake Srebarna was studied by foreign biologists many times in the past. The first Bulgarian scientist to study the area was Aleksi Petrov, who visited the reserve in 1911. In 1913, Southern Dobrudja was added to Romania but was returned to Bulgaria in 1940. At that time, Petrov visited the area again to examine the bird colonies that nest there.

The area was declared a nature reserve in 1948 and became a Ramsar site in 1975. It was recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site under the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The reserve was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

Legends

There are several stories about how the lake got its name. One story is about a khan named Srebrist, who died nearby while fighting in an unfair battle against the Pechenegs. Another story describes a boat filled with silver (srebro in Bulgarian) that was found along the lake's shores. A third story, which is seen as the most likely explanation, says the name comes from the shiny, silvery reflections that appear on the lake's surface during a full moon.

Flora and Fauna

The reserve has water plants like reeds growing around the lake. There are 139 plant species in the reserve, and 11 of these plants are at risk of disappearing outside the Srebarna area.

The area has a wide variety of animals. It is home to 39 mammal species, 21 reptile and amphibian species, and 10 fish species. However, the reserve is most well-known for having 179 bird species that nest there. These birds include herons, cormorants, glossy ibis, Dalmatian pelican, mute swan, greylag goose, marsh harrier, and bluethroat. Small mammals in the reserve include shrews and mice.

Honour

The Srebarna Glacier is located on Livingston Island, part of the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. It is named after Srebarna.