WATER –HISTORICAL WATER –HISTORICAL PORTFOLIOPORTFOLIO

The Timeless Water CycleThe Timeless Water Cycle

It may be hard to It may be hard to believe, but the water believe, but the water dinosaurs drank millions dinosaurs drank millions ofof years ago and the years ago and the water that water that old old BulgariansBulgarians used for used for cooking and drinkingcooking and drinking about 1 300about 1 300 years ago years ago may have been the may have been the same water!same water!

In fact, we may be usingIn fact, we may be using that same waterthat same water

eveneven today. This is today. This is possible because the possible because the water on water on EEarth recycles arth recycles itself overitself over and over and over again through the again through the environment. This environment. This timeless process is timeless process is called the called the hydrologic hydrologic cyclecycle,or water cycle.,or water cycle.

It is essential that we It is essential that we appreciateappreciate the importance the importance ofof ouour r naturalnatural environment environment and encourageand encourage others to others to protect protect VratsaVratsa’s’s water water resources. Just as manyresources. Just as many water drops make up the water drops make up the flow of aflow of a river, events in river, events in our history createour history create patterns patterns that helpthat help to to describe who describe who we are and how we live in we are and how we live in ourour environmentenvironment..

TT    How Water ResourcesHow Water Resources

Shape Our HistoryShape Our History

Vratsa lies and is Vratsa lies and is surrounded bysurrounded by highly highly porous rock calledporous rock called limestonelimestone. Because . Because this rock is so porous, this rock is so porous, these underground these underground layers oflayers of limestone, limestone, can hold and release can hold and release water. water. It It is called is called groundwatergroundwater..

Reserve "Vratsa Karst" was Reserve "Vratsa Karst" was established in August 1983 and established in August 1983 and

occupies an area of 1467.6 hectares.occupies an area of 1467.6 hectares.

It is a protected area It is a protected area which aim is to preserve which aim is to preserve the distinctive local karst the distinctive local karst terrain .terrain .

variety of variety of geomorphological geomorphological formations formations

unique cave faunaunique cave fauna sub-Mediterranean florasub-Mediterranean flora many relict speciesmany relict species..

Between the pine trees and the rocks of the Balkan of Vratsa there is a miraculous creation of

nature. It is an amazing work out of limestone, made by the water from a river above it. It is

Skaklya - the highest waterfall in Bulgaria. The water jumps from about a hundred and forty one

meters (about 420 ft). During the summer the water almost vanishes due to the high

temperatures. What is left of it falls down just like a cloud of tiny drops and refracts the sunbeams, thus making an amazingly beautiful rainbow…

This happened towards the end of the Ottoman Empire rule of the Balkans. Turkish were passing by the place

and the darkness of the night made them stop and camp under the waterfall. When the morning came and the golden beams of the sun hit the mountain with the waterfall, their leader just sighed and said: "Mashallah,

Skaklya". The beautiful sight reminded him of one woman in his harem that had the name Skaklya. The

woman was from this area …

And that is how the nameless at the time water fall got its name - Skaklya.

God’s bridgeGod’s bridge

remnant of karst cave remnant of karst cave formed relatively close to formed relatively close to the surface from the the surface from the underground path of underground path of Lilyachka RiverLilyachka River

It is a typical passage It is a typical passage cave with three entrancescave with three entrances

““Ledenika cave”Ledenika cave” It is in the heart of the It is in the heart of the

Natural Park "Vratsa Natural Park "Vratsa Balkan"Balkan"

The cave is 320 m The cave is 320 m long and it is one of long and it is one of the most beautiful in the most beautiful in BulgariaBulgaria. .

””Ledenika cave”Ledenika cave”

There are 10 big There are 10 big halls and many halls and many galleries with really galleries with really interesting karst interesting karst formations.formations.

Mineral waterMineral water Varshets is a lovely small Varshets is a lovely small

town very close to Vratsa town very close to Vratsa and which is in the lap of and which is in the lap of Old MountainsOld Mountains

The healing thermal The healing thermal springs attracted lots of springs attracted lots of people in the ancient people in the ancient times .They visited this times .They visited this region because of the region because of the magical properties of the magical properties of the water there. water there.

SPASPA centrecentre The temperature of the The temperature of the

springs is between 36 springs is between 36 and 38 degrees.and 38 degrees.

The total flow rate is 15 The total flow rate is 15 liters per secondliters per second

The mineralisation is The mineralisation is lowlow

The water is very clear The water is very clear without any colour and without any colour and smell.smell.

The mineral water is suitable for the The mineral water is suitable for the treatment of:treatment of:

cardiovascular cardiovascular diseasedisease

liver diseaseliver disease problems of the problems of the

peripheral nervous peripheral nervous systemsystem..

Water millsWater mills There were lots of water mills

in our region in the past.

It is a hydro-technical facility It is a hydro-technical facility which used water power to which used water power to grind the grain into flour.grind the grain into flour.

Tepavitsa – “washing machine Tepavitsa – “washing machine on the river”on the river”

It is a facility which It is a facility which was built on fast –was built on fast –flowing rivers.flowing rivers.

Tepavitsa Tepavitsa

It was mostly used It was mostly used for washing woolen for washing woolen materials just with materials just with clear water.clear water.

The water was used also for The water was used also for watering in the pastwatering in the past

The big flooding in Vratsa in 1966The big flooding in Vratsa in 1966

The water when it is not The water when it is not used properly could be used properly could be not only the source of life not only the source of life but also a big danger but also a big danger because of its incredible because of its incredible power.power.

Twenty minutes were enough to:Twenty minutes were enough to:

die 120 people die 120 people More than 310 More than 310

houses were ruinedhouses were ruined All communications All communications

were cut and the were cut and the entire infrastructure entire infrastructure was destroyed.was destroyed.

Fire and waterFire and water

Fire and waterFire and water extinguishing systems with water sprayextinguishing systems with water spray

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION !!!