The national park Rila monastery

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The national park Rila monastery

• Presentation provided by Petya Iordanova

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The nationall park Rila monastery is situated in
the southwestern part of the rila mountain on an
area of 25 253 . 2 ha. In 2000, when a part of
the national park is transformed National park ,
the National park Rila monastery is declared
open. On its area is located the worlds famous
Rila monastery , included in the treasure is
UNESKO .
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• The name Rila is believed to be of Thracian
  origin and is thought to mean "well-watered
  mountain", owing to Rila's abundance of glacial
  lakes (about 200) and hot springs in fault areas
  at the base of the mountain. Some of the Balkans'
  longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila,
  including the Maritsa, the Iskar and the Mesta.
• Culturally, Rila is famous for the Rila
  Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most important
  monastery founded in the 10th century by Saint
  John of Rila. Alongside the cultural landmarks
  the mountain is also famous with The Seven Rila
  Lakes.

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• The creation of Ecopath the old railway is a
  stage of the common idea for realization of the
  project improvement of touristic services
  offered for protection of biodiversity on the
  territory of Nature park Rila Monastery.
• Ecoroute runs along Rilska River , the former
  route of the narrow gauge railway / the train /
  for Rila monastery , and is intended for
  servicing visitors of restaurants and holiday
  house in the region of Eleshnitsa Area and
  Yangniloto Area

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National park rila monastery

• The Natural Park Rila Monastery is situated on
  the territory of Rila municipality and covers the
  medium and the high mountain areas of the west
  section of Rila Mountain. It covers territories
  situated from 750 m to 2,700 m altitude, as the
  highest point is Rilets peak 2,713 meters
  altitude. It covers an area of 25,253.2 ha, and
  is one of the largest natural parks in Bulgaria.
• Its territory was declared protected in 1992
  within the borders of Peoples Park Rila
  (todays National Park Rila), and the park was
  isolated in 2000 as a protected territory. The
  Rila Monastery Forest which covers an area of
  3,665 ha is situated on the territory of the
  Natural park.

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The park is situated at the border between
temperate continental and transitional-Mediterrane
an climate. The average annual temperatures in
the height interval between 2,000 and 2,500
meters altitude are 5 0 (C, and above 2,500
meters altitude the temperatures are negative.28
lakes are located on the territory of the Natural
Park Rila Monastery. The highest situated one is
the first of the Devils lakes (2,445 m), and
lowest situated one is the Suhoto Ezero (the Dry
Lake) (1,892 m). The largest alpine lake on the
Balkan Peninsula Smradlivoto Ezero (the Stinky
Lake), with area of 212 dca and depth of 24 m is
also located here. The lakes are a starting point
of a lot of small rivers and ravines, which form
the flow of the main river in the park Rilska
River. The territory of the Natural Park is one
of the richest water resources parts of Bulgaria.
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• 202 species of spineless animals are found in the
  park 5 fish species, 11 amphibian species, 12
  reptile species, 122 bird species and 52 mammal
  species. 32 species of the spineless animals are
  included in the Red Book of Bulgaria (a list of
  the endangered species in the country). Among
  them are Triturus alpestris, Hila arborea,
  Elaphe longissima, Martes martes, Aquila
  chrysaetos, etc. The spineless animals, protected
  by the Law on Preservation of Biological
  Diversity, are 139 species. Some of the most
  interesting bird species are Gyps fulvus,
  Aegypius monachus, Aquila heliaca and Hieraaetus
  pennatus.

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• 1,400 species of higher plants have been
  established, among which are Primula deorum,
  Campanula transsilvanica, and Nicotiana tabacum
  164 moss species 203 medicinal plants.
• Multiple walking tourist routes pass through the
  park territory for tourists- Rila Monastery
  Kirilova Polyana Suhoto Ezero (the Dry Lake)
  Kobilino Branishte- Rila Monastery Fish Lakes
  Smradlivoto Ezero (the Stinky Lake)- Rila
  Monastery Malyovitsa- Rila Monastery the
  Seven Rila Lakes- Rila Monastery Radovska
  River Macedonia Hut- International tourist
  route ? -4 Pyrenees - Alps - Olympus

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Two convents are situated in close proximity to
the monastery Orlitsa and Pchelino. The Orlitsa
Convent is situated at a distance of 3 km from
the town of Rila, by the asphalted road leading
to the Rila Monastery. This is one of the oldest
convents of the Rila Monastery. One of the oldest
vines in Bulgaria, planted in the 1820s is
situated in the church yard. The Pchelino Convent
is the economic farm of the Rila Monastery. Farm
and forestry activity was conducted there.