The Kresna Gorge

The Kresna gorge is located along the Struma River valley in Southwestern Bulgaria. The river runs between the Pirin and Malashevska Mountain for 18 km, and forms sheer and picturesque slopes of the defile. The Kresna gorge is a region of high world and European nature-protecting activity. It is a biological corridor for the migration of the big mammals between the Balkan Peninsula Mountains, as well as birds’ migration path. The gorge includes the places of living of 58 mammal species, some of which are the bear, wolf, otter, marten, red deer, wild cat, and others. 17 species of bats are found here, which is more than in the whole Central Europe. 232 species of birds, 31 species of amphibians and reptiles, 14 species of fish, and 942 daily and night butterflies are registered in the gorge, some of which can be seen only here. 457 different plants were counted in the Kresna gorge, as a number of them are endemic species.

Location