Protected area “Kalimok-brashlen”

The protected area is located along the entire length of the former Tutrakan floodplain between legumes and Tutrakan and includes all Bulgarian Danube islands in this part of the river: Mishka, Malak Brashlen, Pyasachnik, Bezimenen, Kalimok and Radetski. This is a part of 2 municipalities – Slivo pole and Tutrakan, two regions – Ruse and Silistra.
The territory is characterized by temperate continental climate with significant annual fluctuation in temperature. In winter there is severe frosts and summer high heat register. The amount of moisture in the air characterize the region relatively dry. The absolute humidity in the summer is three times higher than in winter.
The municipality of Tutrakan meets a wide variety of soils: alluvial, meadow, marsh meadow, marsh peat, humus. Suitable for cultivation of vegetables, cereals and fodder crops, vineyards and more.
On some of the islands occur Middle forests of white willow. On islands in are spread east poplar-willow forests. Intensive poplar plantations are found near former Brushlen marsh on small islands Brushlen Kalimok outside of the the Danube embankment.
This place has a great biodiversity.
Ecosystems and biotopes
Palaearctic Classification offers 28 types of habitat from a different level who belong to the main 10 units. EUNIS Classification presents 23 types of habitat of 6 units.
Flora and Fauna
Algae (number) 109
Mosses (number) 10
Mushrooms / macromycetes (number) 16
Medicinal plants (number) 179
Higher Plants (number) 380
Plants with environmen- status (number) 16
SOURCE: Project management of the Danube wetlands (EuropeAid / 115321 / D / SV / BG), 2006
There have been 380 taxon, including 376 type 4 and type with two subtypes. The species are distributed in 240 general belonging to 76 families. There have been 16 plant species of conservation. 6 species are of category “endangered” 6 – “rare” Red Book Balgaiya. Receiving special care are White water lily, Burduche, South mehurka, Key, Damn nut, Shtitolistni kakichki, flying Lake, singleton horseradish, Tselolisten clematis.
Fauna
Invertebrates (number) 500
Pisces (number) 67
Amphibians (number) 10
Reptiles (number) 11
Birds (number) 207
Mammals (number) 46
SOURCE: Project management of the Danube wetlands (EuropeAid / 115321 / D / SV / BG), 2006
The area is important habitat for some rare European scale fish as Eudontomyzon danfordii, Acipenser nudiwentris, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser sturio, Acipenser stelatus, Acipenser guldenstaedtii, Husho husho, Lota lota and others. Many rare species are 10 endangered species – 10. The object of special care are sturgeon, shtipotsite, Burbot, varlovka, wild carp.
There are one type of amphibians and one type of reptiles written in the Red Book of Species.
29 bird species subject to special measures: Rufous-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Bittern, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Great Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Ruddy shelduck, Greylag duck, Ferruginous duck, osprey, Black-winged Stilt, Thrush Nightingale, Little Tern, and others.
In the area have established six bat species with high conservation status. Rare species are Souslik, Guy, Big hamster, otter, polecat, ferret and other stage.
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