Concepts of geoparks establishment in Bulgaria and their geothermal resources

Abstract

Bulgaria is the third country in the world by number of mineral springs after Japan and Iceland. The Bulgarian-Russian collaboration in geological, environmental and landscape conservation provided a new development of the methodology for identification, evaluation and characterization of geodiversity including their geotermal resources. Individual approach to the concepts of the national geoparks stressed on their scientific and geodiversity features, environmental conditions and economic premises by defining one major geopark theme and many minor topics. Regardless of their radically different themes, the geothermal activity in geoparks is the common feature, which provides them with a great balneological potential. The concept of Geopark “Iskar Canyon” is based on the remarkable geodiversity of the Iskar River Canyon with a number of wonderful landscapes and scenic outcrops of various rock types ranging from Precambrian to Quaternary. The concept of Geopark “Belogradchik Rocks” lies on the famous Lower Triassic sandstone pinnacles. Geopark “Rila” is based on its remarkable glacial landscapes - glacier valleys, cirques, moraines, arêtes and horns. The major theme of Geopark “Burgas Lakes” is related with the ancient sea-level changes and balneo-healing properties of their humus mud. The unifying theme of these geoparks is the high spa potential of their thermal springs that have been used since the Roman Age.

Kotel Balkan – an oasis of the East Balkan geodiversity

“…Съгласно принципа на "тематичното георазнообразие" (Sinnyovsky et al, 2019) основната тема на всеки геопарк определя неговата идентичност, а второстепенните теми допълват неговото георазнообразие. Във фокуса на геопарк "Източен Балкан" стоят карстовите ландшафти -пещери, скални венци, карстови извори и водопади, 28 от които присъстват в Регистъра на природните забележителности, допълнени от 3 защитени зони и 2 резервата.…”

Review of different types of mountain springs and mineral waters from Bulgaria based on their natural origin and health benefits

“…In Sofia, the tap water is from dam Iskar, Rila Mountain. Hristov and co-authors published a review of mineral water in Bulgaria [1]. Bulgaria has one geyser -Sapareva banya [2].…”