Nature

Plants

Strandja vegetation has a unique specificity and even non-specialist fizionomicheski clearly distinguished from deciduous forests in Europe. Typical forest of beech and oak is the presence of relict evergreen undergrowth of bushes lavrovidni.

Located on the biogeographical crossroads flora of Strandja is a unique combination of relict South euxeinos, Mediterranean, Central European, Balkan, Eurasian, Pontic-Central and Atlantic groups floral elements. Feature here is the close involvement of trees and shrubs typical of the mountains, and at the same time meaningful participation of annual grasses, which in turn is typically dry and shallow soils in a Mediterranean climate. 

Animals

Among the invertebrates in the Park conservation significance are 164 species. Relic are 34 species and 4 species of endemic and 80 are local Bulgarian. In the World Red Book includes 16 species, while the EU -10.

Natural Park "Strandja" is Bulgarian protected areas with the most abundant vertebrate fauna - 404 species.

By its fish wealth park is among the first in Europe. Inside the Strandja established and 41 species of freshwater fish passage and another 70 species inhabit coastal marine areas of the park. According to this indicator it is among the first in Europe. The number of relict species is large - Ponto-Caspian 9 (preserved from the times of the ancient Sarmatian Sea) and 5 Boreal relicts (from Latin - Vorealis - "northern" species originating northern regions of Eurasia and North America and reach our latitudes during the Quaternary cold snap. 

Mushrooms

Mushrooms in the park have not been studied systematically, having been described over 100 species. High proportion of rare species in Europe, especially the Mediterranean (Clathrus ruber, Leucopaxillus lepistoides etc..) Testifies to a rich and interesting fungal kingdom. Valuable edible species are 20, of which widespread in the park are 14 species. In the Bulgarian Red List of fungi includes 8 species as critically endangered is bohuzievata mushroom (Agaricus bohusii), and two are endangered (Agaricus altipes, Melanogaster variegatus). Threatened or rare in Europe are 17 species, including the bride mushroom (Amanita caesarea), Bronze and king boletus (Boletus aereus, B.regius). 

Habitats

Diversity of climatic factors, the characteristics of geography and topography, and the lack of strong anthropogenic pressure are instrumental in Strandja lounge and keep a great variety of natural habitats. Their total number (classification of Palaearctic) is over 130, and this indicator park is the first among the protected areas in Europe. Natural habitats are typically 13 Strandja of yuzhnoevksinski type and include various forests of eastern beech and oak with the participation of Strandja periwinkle Caucasian blueberry, cherry laurel and holly Colchis, caucasian primrose, oak, hornbeam and lime; Bulgarian coastal dense forests; groves: with oak Strandja - lazhnik with cupped Hypericum, heather and heather. Habitats of subevksinski type include oak-Turkey oak and oak-hornbeam forests. 

Location

The territory of the park is locked between the following geographical coordinates: 41.95 'and 42.18' N. and 27.45 'and 28.05' E. Strandja exceptional biodiversity due to the geological past of Strandja, its climate and unique geographical location - a crossroads between Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. Specific mountain vegetation was formed before the formation of the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia, in the presence of a land connection along the entire coast. This ancient plant community is called South euxeinos (from the city "Evksiniya pont" - Black Sea) or more Colchis (named after the mythical Colchis valley in Georgia, Caucasus) and incorporates areas in Strandja, northern Turkey, Caucasus and North Iran. 

Relief

Geomorphological and paleontological past. Landscape and geomorphology

Strandja occupies the southeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It ends the continent of Europe and will move to Asia.

The larger and higher part of the mountain is located within the Republic of Turkey, while peak Mahiàda - its highest point (in Turkey) reaches 1031 m asl The highest peak in the Bulgarian part of Strandja is gradishte High Peak (710 meters above sea level, southwest of Malko Turnovo). 

Soils

The Natural Park "Strandja" falls soil Mediterranean area of Europe. The park is part of Strandja Province, characterized by wetter soils than typical for Southern Europe and inversion in the location of brown forest soils.

For the park established seven soil types, the following areas of interest: alluvium (alluvial) soils (Fluvisols) - 4%; shallow soils (Leptosols) - rendzinas, lithosols and rankeri - 10%; metamorphic soils (Cambisols) - brown and maroon-brown - 4%; luvisols (Luvisols) - cinnamon and leached cinnamon - 46%; planosoli (planosols) - podzolized and psevdopodzol. cinnamon - 20%; yellow soils (Alisols) - 11%; chervenozemi (nitisols) - 5%. 

Rivers

Strandja is intersected by deeply incised streams, valleys and rivers that they create a dense network in the hills and it does not make their transition easier. In the Bulgarian part of the mountain top are Veleka and Rezovska.

Note: On July 2, 2006 immemorial flood destroyed much of the coastal vegetation along Veleka Rezovska with their tributaries and changed the face of their valleys. Self-regeneration of the rivers as part of the natural processes in nature, it will take decades. 

Coast

Goes over Strandja second largest migratory route of birds in Europe - Via Pontica, collecting flocks of northern and eastern Europe and western Siberia. Over Nature Park front of migration narrows to a few kilometers for a day can be seen huge flocks of white storks - up to 40 thousand pelicans - 2000, honey-buzzards (Pernis apivorus) - up to a thousand, buzzards (Buteo buteo) - 3000 , spotted eagles (Aquila pomarina, A. clanga) - 2000.

In the park fly globally threatened species such as the golden eagle (Aquila heliaca), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya niroca), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) etc.