Bayuvi Dupki reserve

The reserve is another place with a breathtaking scenery located in the region of Bansko, which shouldn’t be missed the by lovers of nature. The reserve has gathered in itself the rich plant life and animal diversity of Bulgarian nature, which is an expression of its uniqueness. 

Do not miss to visit this paradise of nature while you are in the region of Bansko. This reserve is not accidentally recognized as the Edelweiss kingdom and it is home to many plant and animal species that are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria.  

Geographical data for Bayuvi dupki reserve

The full name of the reserve is “Bayuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa“ Biosphere reserve. It is located in the northeastern part of Pirin Mountain, near the Predel saddle. The reserve is situated exactly on the borders of Pirin National Park and is a protected area according to Natura 2000 Pirin in compliance with the directives related to habitats and birds. 

There is a control-information center built in the region of Betlovoto, as well as in the Historical museum in the town of Razlog for the easy orientation of the tourists. The reserve is crossed by the international tourist route Е4. Betlovoto is one of the famous places in Bansko, which is a favorite of tourists. 

Betlovoto offers a lively atmosphere. The region provides many attractions including a variety of places to stay, restaurants, shops and entertainment. 

“Bayuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa“reserve is one of the oldest reserves in Bulgaria and has a rich plant life. The purpose of its construction was the preservation of two rare tree species – white fir and black fir, also the preservation of the rich diversity of the animal world in the area. 

The territory of the reserve varies in height – from 1200 to 2884 m above sea level. In the reserve are located the Pirin, Dautov, Pleshki and Dunino kuche peaks. Its borders are situated between the Koncheto rocky edge and the Bayuvi dupki and Kamenetiza peaks. The famous tourist route „Predel“ hut–  „Yavorov“ hut – „Vihren“ hut passes through the reserve.

The reserve occupies a total area of 2873 hectares. It is situated between the Pirin peak and Banski suhodol peak, as its territory includes several cirques: 

• Razlozhki suhodol 
• Segmen tepe
• Konyarnika area and the valley of Byala River
• Bayuvi dupki
• Kamenitiza
• Dautov peak
• Okaden peak.

The reserve is home to about 500 higher plant species, 55 endemic species and a large number of species present in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The reserve also includes a list of endangered species, species in process of extinction and extinct species that inhabit the territory of Bulgaria and are included also in European and world lists. The Balkan wild goat (Rupicapra rupicapra) is a symbol of the biosphere reserve. 

Curious facts about the “Bayuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa“ biosphere reserve

“Bayuvi dupki–Dzhinzhiritsa“ was declared a reserve in 1934 by Decree No.1388 of the Council of Ministers (Ministry of Agriculture and State property) and amended by Ordinances N 300 of Ministry of Forests and Environmental protection in 1976 and N 976 of the Committee of environmental protection in 1980 with total area of 2873 ha. The reserve was created in order to preserve the last natural forests of white and black fir, as well as the variety of plant and animal species. In 1977 the „Bayuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa” reserve was added to the list of biosphere reserves to the UNESCO program – Man and the Biosphere. 

„Bayuvi dupki – Dzhindzhiritsa” reserve is a part of park region „Bayuvi dupki”. The reserve is crossed by the international route Е4: Pyrenees – the Alps – Rila Mountain– Pirin Mountain- Peloponnese. In Pirin National Park, the route starts from the „Predel” hut, then it passes through „Yavorov” hut, „Vihren” hut, „Tevno Lake” shelter, „Pirin” hut, to the Popovi livadi /meadows/ area. 

The name of the reserve is associated with a number of myths and legends. According to Iliya Tintilov from the historical museum in the town of Razlog, the name of the reserve is related to the old Bulgarian word “bay“, which means big, great, as it leads to the meaning “the big holes“ /Bayuvi dupki/.

Flora

The share of the natural plantations in the reserve is about 98 % of its territory. About 60% of the territory of the reserve is covered by centuries-old forests. The white fir areas are occupying the largest area – 486 ha. About 288 ha of the territory of the reserve is covered with black fir. The flora of the reserve includes also black pine, spruce, white pine, dwarf pine, and in the lower areas you can also see beech, and sometimes common hornbeam. 

The age of the dwarf pine formations in the reserve is between 100 and 250 years, as some trees are 570 years old, which is indicative of the importance of proper maintenance of this reserve and its preservation. About 30% of the territory of the reserve is still not afforested.

An interesting fact is that on the territory of the reserve „Bayuvi dupki“, which occupies an area of 1450 ha, have been described 477 plant species. 16 of them are local and 42 are regional endemic species. There can be found 46 types of plants that are added in the Red Book of Bulgaria. These are the edelweiss, petrorhagia Alpina, Pirin sedge, Taraxacum bithynicum, Aquilegia aurea, Gentiana lutea, Campanula transsilvanica, Pulsatilla halleri, Daphne oleoides schreb, Pirin limnanthes alba, Gentiana punctata, Brassica jordanoffii, Daphne cneorum and other species. 

Fauna

One of the characteristic animal species in the Bayuvi dupki reserve is the wild goat, which in fact is one of the symbols of the reserve. The reserve is also inhabited by animals such as squirrel, hawk, capercaillie, martes, martes foina, falcon, woodpecker, Tetrastes bonasia, wild boar, common viper, elaphe longissima, mountain water frog, Lacerta vivipara. In the highest areas of the reserve you can also see brown bears. 

Safety rules 

Just like in any other reserve, here there are specific rules with regard to the stay in the reserve. Any activities that are not mentioned below are prohibited:  

• Guarding the reserve
• Exploration of nature for scientific purposes
• Including for educational purposes 
• Guiding organized groups of people on marked paths
• Study and observation of wild plants and animals for scientific purposes
• Recovering the number of plants and wild animals in order to preserve the species and to avoid disturbances in the ecosystems in the region.

Facts about Bayuvi dupki peak 

Bayuvi dupki is a peak located on the main ridge in Nort Pirin, Bulgaria. It is situated on the main Karst mountainous ridge, nestled between the peaks Kamenitiza to the northwest, Razlozhki suhodol and Banski suhodol to the southeast. Its height is 2820 meters above sea level. 

The peak is located within the territory of “Bayuvi dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa” reserve. Bayuvi dupki peak is composed mainly of karstifying marbles. The western slopes of Bayuvi dupki peak lead to Vlahina River, while its eastern slopes descend steeply to the Byuvi dupki cirque. The north wall of the peak is a favorite place of the experienced climbers.  

Bayuvi dupki belongs to the category of marble peaks in Pirin Mountain. A touristic eco trail passes through its western slopes. At the very top of the peak are growing very rare herbaceous species. One of them is the only one of its kind field of glandular Euphrasia in the Balkan Peninsula. 

Bayuvi dupki is a peak with three distinct top points. The elevation is with most southern location from them. The main ridge begins to narrow down to 50 cm at places between the top points. Near the most northern point is located the rocky Karst Srednosa ridge to the northeast.  

Its slopes to the west have a significant inclination to the Valley of Vlahinska River. Its eastern slopes are located near the Bayuvi dupki cirque, but they are vertical and inaccessible. 

An interesting fact about the peak is that along the main ridge 470 m to the southeast from it is located the highest Alpine shelter in Bulgaria – Koncheto.  You can get there by 3 paths, which are of different difficulty, but two of them don’t have marking. To the north of Bayuvi dupki is located the Kamenitishki preval saddle. Three trails lead from Kamenitishki preval to the Alpine shelter.

The first trail, which is the most commonly used, is with red marking and it crosses the steep western slopes of Bayuvi dupki. The second trail crosses the main ridge along its very edge, while the third one crosses the top northernmost point and connects with the second trail. Last two trails don’t have indications and marking.  

In the deeply cut relief can be seen the deep cirques Kamenitsa and Bayuvi dupki, Razlozhki Suhodol, the Dzinzhiritsa area and Konyarnika, the picturesque valley of Byala River. A large number of caves, precipices, bare Karsts and pot-holes can be found on the Karst terrains. 

About 59% of the total area of the reserve is covered by virgin forests. They include mainly white and black fir, but there also grow spruce, pine spruce, white and black pine. Most of the trees are between 100 and 250 years old, while some are even over 500 years old.  

Certain sections in the Little Dzhindzhiritsa forest range from 520-550 years. White firs are 35 meters tall and two of the oldest black firs (over 1300 years old) are declared protected. The highest part of the forest area is occupied by thick dwarf formations aged between 100-110 years. Their average height is 1.5-2 m but in some places it reaches even 3 meters.  

Among the animal species in the reserve can be seen the wild goat – one of the symbols of the reserve. Other animals that can be found there are the wild boat, martes, squirrel, cock of the wood (they can be seen only in the Bayuvi dupki cirque and in the Dzhindzhiritsa area), tetrastes bonasia – in the Valley of Byala River and the lower part of Bayuvi dupki. 

In many parts of the reserve can be seen various songbirds, falcons, hawks, woodpeckers, amphibians, reptiles. The endangered of extinction Pirin bear can be seen on the highest parts of the reserve.

The Pirin forests are a unique natural phenomenon in Bulgaria and Europe. So old forests with so old trees are a rare phenomenon. 

Curious facts about the dwarf pine

Клекът е реликтен вид дърво, който вирее в планините между 2200-2400 м.н.в. Той формира преходният пояс между горите и алпийските ливади. Клекът е иглолистно растение от семейство Борови. На силните ветрове, то не образува ствол, а израства на повърхността по посока на преобладаващия вятър, за да преодолее силните планински ветрове. Клоните и пъпките на това дърво понасят тежестта на дебелата снежна покривка, без да се пречупят.