The foggy autumn found me in the Balkans – Stara Planina, Bulgaria. I was in the Stara Reka reserve (Old River reservation), known for its unique combination of coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. The reserve is best known for its plant diversity. It is home to the heat-loving hornbeam, the European hornbeam and the water hornbeam, as well as beech, fir and common spruce.
The territory of the reserve is home to over 45 species of plants that are listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria. Twenty of these species are not found outside Bulgaria, and three of them can only be seen within the reserve. Sixty-five species of vertebrates are permanent residents of the reserve. Of these, the golden eagle, the white-tailed buzzard, the great and little goshawk and the owl are threatened with extinction.
I had carefully planned my visit there, as fog rarely envelops the Balkans in autumn, but when it does, the place takes on a specific, memorable character. The long river, flanked by overhanging deciduous forests, offers an unforgettable view of the riverbed, featuring long stretches alternating with shaped mini-lakes and sharp river bends. Centuries-old trees with powerful root systems monitor the river’s course to ensure it does not deviate. When the wind takes pity on the deciduous vegetation, the view is unforgettable.
