Kamchiya

Watershed and tributaries of the Kamtschija ( Bulg labeled )

The river Kamtschija

The Erite fortress at the mouth Kamchiya on the Tabula Peutingeriana ( 375 )

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Kamtschija (also Kamchiya, Kamchiya or Kamčija, Bulgarian Камчия ) is a river in north-eastern Bulgaria. It is 254 kilometers long is the längeste flow of the Balkan Peninsula, which flows directly into the Black Sea. He is also the biggest Bulgarian river, which flows into the Black Sea. Its catchment area covers 5358 km ². The Kamtschija is part of the Black Sea drainage area.

The Kamtschija rises in the Balkan Mountains and bears her name only from the confluence of two of its tributaries: the Luda Kamtschija ( Wild Kamtschija or Crazy Kamtschija, Bulg Луда Камчия ) and the Goliama Kamtschija (Grand Kamtschija, Bulg Голяма Камчия ), consisting of the eastern Balkan Mountains come. This confluence is located one kilometer north of the village Zonewo ( Bulg Цонево ), shortly after the Luda Kamtschija the reservoir leaves Zonewo.

In ancient times the river was called then Panisos ( Panysos ), and later with the Slavs Ticha ( Bulg Тича ). It is believed this is the modern name of Cuman origin.

Most of the Bulgarian fleet in the Middle Ages from the ninth to the 14th centuries was built at the mouth of Kamtschija because there was enough wood in high quality. In the 18th century settled Lipovans on the lower reaches of the Kamtschija, a Russian-speaking minority, who had their settlement area moved from the mouth of the Danube to the Kamtschija.

The river Kamtschija started from the Great Kamtschija Lisa Mountains ( Bulg Лиса планина ), with a length of 244 kilometers. The lower river can be navigated by small motorboats. The river carries an average water volume of 1,136 m³ / s ( near the village of Ticha - Bulg Тича ) to 26.287 m³ / s at the mouth.

The lower reaches of the picturesque Kamtschija, to its mouth, was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1951 Kamtschija ( Bulg резерват Камчия ).

This area is notable for its biodiversity. The underflow in the mouth area is often flooded and consists of an old primary forest, a riparian forest. The freshwater marsh is crossed by boggy, ancient rivers that cut deep into the forest. The beach is up to 450 meters wide and up to 19 meters high sand dunes that are wooded or grassy.

The unusual coexistence of ash, oak, elm, alder and maple, which are up to 40-50 feet tall and be embraced by creepers, give the impression of an imposing tropical rainforest.

Immediately at the mouth of Kamtschija into the Black Sea are located on the left bank of the ruins of the Roman fortress Erite (43 ° 1 ' 26 " N, 27 ° 53' 12" O43.02388888888927.886666666667 ), which is also listed in the Tabula Peutingeriana. The fort served as a fortified way-station, she lay on a hill 30 meters high, 200 meters from the river and from the sea.

The Kamtschija opens at a 50 meter wide sandy beach. Because of a Spit the river bends right at the beginning of the sandy beach from its easterly direction nearly north and flows 300 meters to the sandy beach along and parallel to it to the north, before flowing into the Black Sea. The river is wide at its mouth about 40 meters - depending on water levels.

The mouth is located between the villages Blisnazi ​​in the north and Staro Oryahovo in the south. 30 km west of the mouth is the town of Dolni Tschiflik, Varna is located 30 kilometers to the north, the sun beach 50 km to the south.

Inflows

The Kamtschija has 27 tributaries, the largest tributaries are the Luda Kamtschija with a length of 201 km and a catchment area of 1612 km ². The second largest tributary is the Varna river with a length of 68 kilometers and a watershed area of 938 km ².

Faune

Among other things, the following species of fish are found in the river: barbel, Barbus meridionalis Petényi, bream, Carassius, perch, channel catfish ( a catfish ), chub, European eel, European catfish, common sunfish, gudgeon, pike, carp, Mairenke, Näsling, roach, loach, bleak and rudd.

Towns

The following villages are situated on the river Kamtschija: Welitschkowo ( Oblast Varna ) ( Bulg Величково ) - Grodjowo ( Bulg Гроздьово ) - Dabrawino ( Bulg Дъбравино ) - Venelin (village) ( Bulg Венелин ) - Kruscha ( Oblast Varna ) ( Bulg Круша ) - Kamtschija ( Resort ) ( bulg Камчия ).