3. The Timeless Water CycleThe Timeless Water Cycle
It may be hard toIt may be hard to
believe, but the waterbelieve, but the water
dinosaurs drank millionsdinosaurs drank millions
ofof years ago and theyears ago and the
water thatwater that oldold
BulgariansBulgarians used forused for
cooking and drinkingcooking and drinking
about 1 300about 1 300 years agoyears ago
may have been themay have been the
same water!same water!
4. In fact, we may be usingIn fact, we may be using
that same waterthat same water
eveneven today. This istoday. This is
possible because thepossible because the
water onwater on EEarth recyclesarth recycles
itself overitself over and overand over
again through theagain through the
environment. Thisenvironment. This
timeless process istimeless process is
called thecalled the hydrologichydrologic
cyclecycle,or water cycle.,or water cycle.
5. It is essential that weIt is essential that we
appreciateappreciate the importancethe importance
ofof ouourr naturalnatural environmentenvironment
and encourageand encourage others toothers to
protectprotect VratsaVratsa’s’s waterwater
resources. Just as manyresources. Just as many
water drops make up thewater drops make up the
flow of aflow of a river, events inriver, events in
our history createour history create patternspatterns
that helpthat help toto describe whodescribe who
we are and how we live inwe are and how we live in
ourour environmentenvironment..
7. Vratsa lies and isVratsa lies and is
surrounded bysurrounded by highlyhighly
porous rock calledporous rock called
limestonelimestone. Because. Because
this rock is so porous,this rock is so porous,
these undergroundthese underground
layers oflayers of limestone,limestone,
can hold and releasecan hold and release
water.water. ItIt is calledis called
groundwatergroundwater..
8. Reserve "Vratsa Karst" wasReserve "Vratsa Karst" was
established in August 1983 andestablished in August 1983 and
occupies an area of 1467.6 hectares.occupies an area of 1467.6 hectares.
It is a protected areaIt is a protected area
which aim is to preservewhich aim is to preserve
the distinctive local karstthe distinctive local karst
terrain .terrain .
variety ofvariety of
geomorphologicalgeomorphological
formationsformations
unique cave faunaunique cave fauna
sub-Mediterranean florasub-Mediterranean flora
many relict speciesmany relict species..
9. Between the pine trees and the rocks of the
Balkan of Vratza 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…
10.
11. 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.
12. God’s bridgeGod’s bridge
remnant of karst caveremnant of karst cave
formed relatively close toformed relatively close to
the surface from thethe surface from the
underground path ofunderground path of
Lilyachka RiverLilyachka River
It is a typical passageIt is a typical passage
cave with three entrancescave with three entrances
13. ““Ledenika cave”Ledenika cave”
It is in the heart of theIt is in the heart of the
Natural Park "VratsaNatural Park "Vratsa
Balkan"Balkan"
The cave is 320 mThe cave is 320 m
long and it is one oflong and it is one of
the most beautiful inthe most beautiful in
BulgariaBulgaria..
14. ””Ledenika cave”Ledenika cave”
There are 10 bigThere are 10 big
halls and manyhalls and many
galleries with reallygalleries with really
interesting karstinteresting karst
formations.formations.
15. Mineral waterMineral water
Varshets is a lovely smallVarshets is a lovely small
town very close to Vratsatown very close to Vratsa
and which is in the lap ofand which is in the lap of
Old MountainsOld Mountains
The healing thermalThe healing thermal
springs attracted lots ofsprings attracted lots of
people in the ancientpeople in the ancient
times .They visited thistimes .They visited this
region because of theregion because of the
magical properties of themagical properties of the
water there.water there.
16. SPASPA centrecentre
The temperature of theThe temperature of the
springs is between 36springs is between 36
and 38 degrees.and 38 degrees.
The total flow rate is 15The total flow rate is 15
liters per secondliters per second
The mineralisation isThe mineralisation is
lowlow
The water is very clearThe water is very clear
without any colour andwithout any colour and
smell.smell.
17. The mineral water is suitable for theThe mineral water is suitable for the
treatment of:treatment of:
cardiovascularcardiovascular
diseasedisease
liver diseaseliver disease
problems of theproblems of the
peripheral nervousperipheral nervous
systemsystem..
18. Water millsWater mills
There were lots of water millsThere were lots of water mills
It is a hydro-technical facilityIt is a hydro-technical facility
which used water power towhich used water power to
grind the grain into flour.grind the grain into flour.
19. Tepavitsa – “washing machineTepavitsa – “washing machine
on the river”on the river”
It is a facility whichIt is a facility which
was built on fast –was built on fast –
flowing rivers.flowing rivers.
20. TepavitsaTepavitsa
It was mostly usedIt was mostly used
for washing woolenfor washing woolen
materials just withmaterials just with
clear water.clear water.
21. The water was used also forThe water was used also for
watering in the pastwatering in the past
22. The big flooding in Vratsa in 1966The big flooding in Vratsa in 1966
The water when it is notThe water when it is not
used properly could beused properly could be
not only the source of lifenot only the source of life
but also a big dangerbut also a big danger
because of its incrediblebecause of its incredible
power.power.
23. Twenty minutes were enough to:Twenty minutes were enough to:
die 120 peopledie 120 people
More than 310More than 310
houses were ruinedhouses were ruined
All communicationsAll communications
were cut and thewere cut and the
entire infrastructureentire infrastructure
was destroyed.was destroyed.
