Landscape

Strandja Mountain is low with extremely rugged and diverse relief. The folding rounded ridges covered with woods form an infinite chain which reaches the pictuesque sea shores. The villages with their pastures, meadows and small fields are dispersed through the mountain slopes amongst this wooded boundless green sea.

Two mountain ridges the Rezovsko and the Bosnensko are dominating the park .The Rezovsko ridge enters Turkey with its highest peak in the Bulgarian side of Strandja Goliamoto Gradishte(709m). In fine weather with clear skies the Black sea is visible from here.

The Bosnensko ridge is the northern boundary of the park. It starts from the border peak Kervansarai and ends at Tsarevo with the dominating massif Goliamata Papia(501m)

The main water streams are the Veleka and Rezovska, with both rising from the Turkish part of the Strandja and entering Bulgaria with beautiful rocky ravines and wooded river banks.

The western part of the park is almost entirely occupied by an extensive karst area.Powerful rock formations, gorges and abysses have moulded massifs and slopes.

Climate and Biodiversity

The richness and phenomenal diversity of the flora and fauna of Strandja are due to the climate peculiarities in the recent geological times as well as the complex macro and micro climatic conditions of our days.

The lack of glaciations during the Tertiary and releatively warm climate at this time together with high temperatures, mild winters, high level of precipitation and humidity, have caused conservation of one of the last remains of the European tertiary flora and fauna.

This National Park is presented with the evergreen Erica shrubs that together with the eastern beech and various oak species, comprise the last remained of this forest type in Europe.- Strandja deciduous forests with evergreen under story.The presence of Mediterranean, Caucasus and Pontic, European,Boreal and typical Bulgarian and Balkan elements, is caused by the influence of the continental and mediterranean climate over Strandja.1668 species of higher plants have been recorded in the park.

The number of the tertiary relicits is 63, endemic species,113 species are included in The Red Data book. The Park is among the first in Europe in respect of the habitat diversity,120.

The diversity of the vertebrates in the park Territory is also rich.The rivers of the park host 42 freshwater and anodromus fishes many of which are relics from ancient Sarmathian Sea.The number of amphibians presented is 9, and the replites,19.

More than 260 bird spieces,130 of which when nesting ,can be observed here due to the major migratory route via Pontica passing over the park territory. In respect of the diversity of mammals ,Strandja NP is among the first in Europe,63 species,including 21 bats.

There are wild cat ,wolves ,pig and deer.Undoubtedly the conservation significance of the Strandja Nature Park is of world importance.

Population

Characteristic feature for the Strandja NP is the presence of settlements in the parks boundaries.The region is scarcely inhabited and the population amounts to 7800 people being the eastern Rupian ethnographic community.


Traditions, lifestyle and spirit

In the old times, the mountain has been called Mons Astikus, Asteiska mountain, Hemimont.Today the name Strandja is being interepreted from the old Bulgarian root "stran",which means closed mountain, but also weird and mystic....this is the world of Strandja.... archaic, with orginal rituals treasured by devoted spirit and evalasting love towards Bulgaria.The distinctive spirit of the Strandja people has left lasting traces in the folk lore and in the local festivety calendar.The urbanisation process in Strandja has managed to efface entirely the tradtional lifestyle and habits of the people.

The Nestinarian Festival,fire walking, is celebrated every year at the day of St Konstantin and St Elena in May at Bulgari village and Kosti village in June. The Nestinarian ritual is of a pagan origin with Christian elements introduced later.The ritual is shrouded in mystery and magnetism.

Architecture and Monuments

The old houses in Brushlian,Kosti,Kondolovo,Stoilovo and Malko Tarnova are examples of the typical Strandja architecture.The cult traditions are evident in the orthodox cathedral St . Kiril and St Metodi in Kosti and in the many chapels scattered in the mountains.They were built in proximity of curative springs and age old trees.The mystical spirit is as impressive as the beautiful nature and the pastoral landscapes.

Ancient times and Antiquity

In Strandja the cultural strata is from the Stonge Bronge Age ,Thracian Megalith Culture, Antiquity,Middle Ages and Bulgarian Renaissance ,to our contemporary history, continuously follow each other in concentration which is exceptional for Europe.
The megalith Culture in Strandja is represented mainly by ruins of Thracian fortifications,stone sanctuaries, dolmens, necropolises and votive tablets bearing the image of a Thracian horseman.


Today Kosti Village

The village is known for its festivals,natural resouces, church, pure enviroment and peace . Last century it was known for the growing of maize and still today maize is grown , dried and used for bread making.
The local water is plentiful and clean.

There is a large plaza where the fire walking festival and other ceremonies are staged. There is a small two roomed hotel . Two cafes /resturants,two shops, a library and a Post office.Some people work to maintain the National Park and others go further afield for forestry farming.The bulk of the population of about 400, tend gardens , livestock and small farms. Horse and carts are common, donkeys, goats, turkeys, chickens, pigs and sheep also .

There are marked walking trails some to forest chapels , a water fall and many sandy river beaches.The main road in from the coast winds through the woods and another shorter coast road of 14 km is being repaired .

You feel like a child of Mother earth under the night sky in Kosti.

Maps