Vardim Island

There are 84 islands situated in the Bulgarian section of the Danube River with a total area of 115 square kilometers. The Vardim Island is one of the biggest. It lies to the east of the town of Svishtov, near the Vardim village. The Old Oak countryside is located here. It was declared reserve in 1971, and later was expanded and declared protected area of international and national importance. The alluvial and the alluvial-meadow soils are favourable for the growth of water-loving vegetation. Besides the typical willow, poplar, ash and sycamore, the island is the only place where the Vardim oak may be found. The trees here are heaped with nests. The island is inhabited by variety of birds, as the most popular of the birds nesting here are the herons and the cormorant, and the spoonbill’s nest is declared protected area.