Strandzha Natural Park is situated in Strandzha mountain massif and it has three clearly outlined hills. The southern hill is the highest southern ridge. It is situated in Turkish territory and Golyama Mahiada Peak is 1,031m high. Rezovskoto ridge is traced out from the valleys of Veleka and Rezovska rivers. Golyamo Gradishte (710m) is the highest Peak. The Bosnia hill is situated at southeast and its highest peak is Papiya (502m). Veleka, Rezovska, Fakiyska, Dyavolska rivers take their source from Strandzha Mountain on Bulgarian territory as well as Ergene River on Turkish territory.
Strandzha Natural Park was declared protected territory in 2000 and it is the largest in Bulgaria, spreading on 116,068.50 hectares. There are five reserves on its territory: Silkosiya, Vitanovo, Tisovitza, Uzunbudzhak and Sredoka. There are also 93,000 hectares of forests, pastures, caves, sea cliffs, dunes, estuaries. The forests are mainly mix of: sessile oak (Quercus sessiliflora Salisb.), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), oak wood (Quercus conferta Kit.) and Common Rhododendron (Rhododendron Ponticum). There are 1,665 kinds of plants on park's territory and tens of them are endemic kinds; 99 kinds of endemic invertebrate animals and the richest fauna of vertebrates from 263 kinds. For thousands of years Strandzha used to be the realm of ancient Thracian culture and there are many preserved tombs, sacrificial altars, stones and statues that one could find throughout the mountain. Brashlyan village is an architectural historic reserve that comprised all authentic houses from 18 - 19 centuries. The natural park is situated on the land of Gramatikovo village, Malko Tarnovo municipality, Kosti village, Tsarevo municipality, the towns of Malko Tarnovo, Tzarevo, Bourgas region.
Silkosiya Reserve is the oldest protected territory declared in 1931 on an area of 389.60 hectares in the region of Kosti village, Tsarevo municipality, Bourgas region. The aim was to preserve the mixed forest of oak and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) that are characteristic plants for Strandzha mountain.
Uzunbudzhak Reserve was declared protected territory in 1959 and spreads on an area of 2,529.60 hectares. It has a statute of biosphere reserve now. There are century old forests in it from: Oriental beech, oak wood (Quercus conferta Kit.), European oak (Quercus sessiliflora). There are also vegetative kinds such as: century old broad-leaved forests of oak and Oriental beech, Common Rhododendron (Rhododendron Ponticum), Purple starthistle (Centaurea calcitrapa), the Black sea holly (Ilex colchica),medlar tree (Mespilus). It is situated in Kosti village, Tzarevo municipality, Bourgas region.
Strandzha Natural Park, Oak
Sredoka Reserve was declared in 1989 situated in Malko Tarnovo town, Bourgas region. The aim was to preserve characteristic for Strandzha Mountain forest ecosystems. Sredoka spreads on protected territory of 607.80 hectares.
Tisovitzata Reserve is the only natural deposit of yew (Taxus baccata) in Strandzha Mountain. Tisovitzata was declared reserve in 1990 on an area of 749.30 hectares. The reserve is situated in the region of Balgari village, Tsarevo municipality, Bourgas region.
Vitanovo Reserve is situated in town of Primorsko, Bourgas region. It was included in the list of protected territories in 1981 on an area of 1,112.40 hectares. The aim was to preserve the characteristic for Strandzha Mountain primary forest ecosystem.
