Ecology
The Atanasovsko lake is declared for Ornithological reserve in 1980.
Just four years later it is included in the list of Ramsar convention
as a natural site having international significance. The international
organization for protection of birds Bird Life International announced
it for ornithological place in Europe.
We all knew the story of Atanasovsko lake, and we the masters of
the Salt-mines determine ourselves as inseverable part of it, which
makes us feel especially proud.
In the beginning of the past century the Atanasovsko lake was
rented to our ancestors for its „transformation in
salt-mines”(according to texts dd. 1901), for the sake of destruction
of the marsh environment in the region favourable for breeding of
anopheles. For this purpose there were built facilities under unique
salt production technology, as a result of which the salt concentration
in waters is increased. The technology of production is completely
orientated to the natural processes (solar evaporation) without
discharge of noxious emissions in the surrounding environment.
In the course of years the new water environment created by the
salt producers, representing wide range of different concentrated sea
waters, has contributed for the creation of exceptional ornithological
and biological wealth, which turns the Atanasovsko lake into the BIRD’S
PARADISE OF BULGARIA.
100 years now mainly, and sometimes only the salt-mines, ensure
means and labour for maintenance of the unique salt production
technology and thus help for maintenance of the bio-balance in the
region. The dikes and banks built for the purposes of production in
Atanasovsko lake create also conditions for nesting and breeding of
generations of multiple various birds, and the differently concentrated
sea water – necessary for the production of salt, creates also their
nourishing chain.
The combination of natural reserve with a company for salt
production is not unknown in Europe. Both activities are not
contrasting, but they complement each other and we implement and
develop them stable and willingly.
