Open AccessKotel Balkan – an oasis of the East Balkan geodiversity
Author(s) -
Dimitar Sinnyovsky,
Rumen Stoilov
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
spisanie na bʺlgarskoto geologičesko družestvo/spisanie na bʺlgarskoto geologičesko družestvo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1314-8680
pISSN - 0007-3938
DOI - 10.52215/rev.bgs.2021.82.3.262
Subject(s) - geodiversity , geopark , karst , cave , geotourism , geology , natural (archaeology) , geography , paleontology , tectonics , archaeology , biodiversity , ecology , tourism , biology
The East Balkan offers picturesque mountain landscapes predetermined by а remarkable geological diversity: caves, waterfalls, karst springs and precipices, fossil deposits, stratigraphical, paleontological, tectonic and fossil slump phenomena. In its most attractive part, the Kotel Balkan, there are 28 natural landmarks, 3 protected areas and 2 reserves. Expanding the inventory with purely geological sites, such as fossils, olistostromes, thrusts, geological cycles and events, complemented by many historical sites and intangible cultural heritage (Karakachan minority traditions, craft and folklore festivals), the region of Kotel has excellent preconditions for a geopark development.