Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Tisata Nature Reserve 

Bulgaria has the largest natural juniper forest in Europe

Photo: pirin.bg

"Exactly 75 years ago, in 1949, the largest natural stand of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Europe, the Tisata, at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, was declared a nature reserve.


Greek juniper is a southern protected relict species of Anatolian origin. It can reach a height of 10-15 metres, and in some places the trunks of old trees can reach a diameter of 1 metre. Another endangered species listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria in this area is the European yew. It is an evergreen, extremely slow-growing tree that can reach a height of 30 metres. Its needles contain the alkaloid taxine, which is poisonous to humans and some animals.


The area has a great ornithological diversity - 109 species of birds nest here, 30% of which belong to the southern (Mediterranean) complex - the Blue Rock Thrush, the Western Orphean Warbler, the Sardinian Warbler, the Eastern Subalpine Warbler. 


"The area is characterised by its immense ornithological wealth - 109 bird species nest here, 30% of which belong to the southern (Mediterranean) complex, including the Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), the Orphean Warbler, the Lesser Grey Shrike and the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Sylvia hortensis, Sylvia melanocephala, Sylvia cantillans). 


The Tisata is also famous for its rich herpetofauna. Of the 16 species of snakes found in Bulgaria, 11 live in this reserve.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Nesebar on the Black Sea coast covered in snow

During the weekend temperatures will vary widely above and below zero

On Saturday the weather will continue cold, predominantly sunny with a temporary increase of mid and high clouds. There will be fog before midday in some parts in the lowlands. There will be a light wind from the East, in the Eastern part of..

published on 2/21/25 7:35 PM
Rumen Radev

Survey: President Rumen Radev with highest approval rating

Out of all politicians in this country, President Rumen Radev enjoys the highest approval rating – 46.7% , followed by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (18.9%), GERB party leader Boyko Borissov (15.9%), National Assembly Speaker Nataliya Kiselova..

published on 2/21/25 4:44 PM

74% of young doctors choose to remain in Bulgaria

For the third year running, the number of young doctors who want to remain in Bulgaria after graduation has been going up, indicate the results of a survey conducted among 224 Bulgarian students who graduated the Sofia Medical University’s medical..

published on 2/21/25 2:47 PM