Silkosiya Reserve

Silkosia Nature Reserve
Location of Silkosiya Reserve
LocationMunicipality of Tsarevo, Burgas Province, Bulgaria
Nearest cityTsarevo
Coordinates42°04′59″N 27°45′15″E / 42.08306°N 27.75417°E / 42.08306; 27.75417
Area3.896 km2
Established1931
Governing bodyMinistry of Environment and Water

Silkosia (Bulgarian: Силкосия) is a nature reserve in Strandzha Nature Park, located in the homonymous mountain, southeastern Bulgaria. Its territory close to the villages Kosti and Balgari. Silkosia is the oldest reserve in the country, declared on 23 July 1931 in order to protect the evergreen bushes unique for Europe. It encompasses part of the Veleka river catchment area with a territory of 389.6 ha or 3.896 km2. The terrain is various, in the lower parts there are predominantly swamp areas with typical Central European flora. The reserve encompasses territory between 100 and 250 m altitude and is thus among the lowest-lying nature reserves in the country.