Poda Protected Area

The Poda Nature Reserve is part of the wetland Burgas. Poda extends south of the town center of Burgas on both sides of the highway Burgas - Sozopol; it lies between the districts of Pobeda, Meden Rudnik and Kraimorie. In the west, the area adjacent to the Mandra Lake and on the south by the nature reserve Usungeren at the Foros peninsula. The nature reserve Poda is because of its flora and fauna among the 100 national tourist objects in Bulgaria, compiled by the Bulgarian Tourist Office.

The nature reserve

The reserve covers the Liman Poda, which flows through a small channel into the Black Sea in the south-eastern part. It was originally a part of the Mandra Lake before it was converted into a reservoir. In the east it is separated from the Black Sea by a narrow sandy isthmus. On this Spit the highway Burgas -Sozopol runs. Right and left of the headland are furnished numerous artificial nests for birds. Here nests a large number of endangered bird species. Poda, as well as all other parts of the wetland Burgas is an important station of the north-south migration of birds.

Flora and Fauna

In the nature reserve Poda can admire the bird life throughout the year. During the time of bird migration flocks of pelicans and birds of prey can be seen. Also coypu then find plenty of food and can be observed.

255 bird species have been recorded in Poda, which corresponds to 67 % of the total avifauna of Bulgaria. 71 species of them are in Bulgaria on the Red List. In the open water areas, one can observe small white heron, little grebes as well as colonies of great cormorants. In the winter months the rich food supply Nirzen, grebes, Glöckener, gray ducks and other animals attracts.

During the breeding period, the observer has the possibility of mixed colonies of spoonbills, ibises, herons, little, white, red and night - herons to watch.

Burgas is also known as a venue for the stork and gripping migration. About the city of Bourgas intersect eight flyways. During the migration period to huge flocks of white and black storks, pink and Krauskopf pelicans, Lesser Spotted Eagles, Honey Buzzards, waders, gulls and terns, and many other species of birds can be observed.

The best time for bird migration is:

  • Spring migration - late March to mid-May
  • Autumn migration - late August to mid-October

Alone during the autumn migration skim up to 300,000 white storks and 30 birds of prey, the city and its surroundings.

History

In Roman times, this was the Via pontica, an important coastal road of Constantinople Opel, about Apollonia and Odesos to the Danube Delta. The former Liman was the entrance point to the port of Deultum. The entrance at the height of Kraimorie was attached. There was the castle of Pyrgos, which gave its name to the later city of Burgas. With the help of a bascule bridge the waterway and land was protected. But the castle and took a tax. Today is on this narrow path again a strategically important road: highway Burgas -Sozopol, the way to Istanbul to be expanded.

Until the 1950s, the lake was famous as part of the Mandra Lake, together with the Burgas lake for its abundance of fish and was used economically. At the two lakes, a large part of the fishing industry in Bulgaria was settled. After the construction of the oil refinery Nechtochim changed the ecological balance and the lake was very dirty. In recent years, especially after the lakes were declared a nature reserve, the situation improved. Today, the fish population has recovered and is back fishing possible.

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