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ABOUT THE CENTURY-OLD TREES
The elders of the wood – The century-old trees, are more often lonesome relics of majestic woods that once covered the Bulgarian lands. They are silent witnesses of the heroic events in the Bulgarian history and there are myths and legends about most of them.
All through the history of mankind the century-old trees have enjoyed a great honor and some of them have even been deified. The sacred tree a symbol of the divine life has been depicted even in the ancient Egyptian monuments.
In Bulgaria these traditions reflect the performance of sacrifices and the placing of rite crosses in honor of the saint patron of a certain region. This ancient ritual is of special importance in northwestern Bulgaria and is called “Obrok” or “Podkrust”. The “obrok” (rite cross) is raised in the field or outside the village but always under a big old tree, usually an oak, elm, lime or walnut tree. The tree under which such a rite cross has been placed becomes sacred and should never be cut down.
The century-old trees treasure many secrets. The Dendrochronology science studies the climatic and ecological conditions and the yearly growth of these old trees. The yearly rings of a tree give information about the dry and beneficial years, of the great natural disasters, the invasions of pests and the other natural conditions that have taken place in the past and influenced the growth of the trees.
The century-old trees are important part of the natural, cultural and also historical legacy of Bulgaria and must be preserved.
PROTECTED CENTURY-OLD TREES IN WESTERN STARA PLANINA
MUNICIPALITY BELOGRADCHIK
Location: town of Balchik, place “Kaleto”
Protected tree: Black pine-tree
Age: 150 years
Height: 23 m
Stem circumference: 2.3 m
Location: village of Izvoz, place “Djerma cheshma”
Protected tree: Winter oak
Age: 350 years
Height: 18 m
Stem circumference: 4.8 m
Location: village of Borovitsa, at the cross-road for the village of Protopopintsi
Protected tree: Oak
Age: 250 years
Height: 19 m
Stem circumference: 4.8 m
Location: village of Rabisha
Protected tree: Winter oak
Age: 300 years
Height: 17 m
Stem circumference: 2.2 m
MUNICIPALITY CHUPRENE
Location: village of Repliana
Protected tree: Oak
Age: 300 years
Height: 17 m
Stem circumference: 4.3 m
MUNICIPALITY CHIPROVTSI
Location: village of Jelezna, place “Sarbin dol”
Protected tree: Oak
Age: 300 years
Height: 20 m
Stem circumference: 4.2 m
Location: village of Belimel, place “Paresineto”
Protected tree: Winter oak
Age: 300 years
Height: 10 m
Stem circumference: 3.2 m
MUNICIPALITY BERKOVITSA
Location: town of Berkovitsa, place “Oranjeriata”
Protected tree: Summer oak
Age: 250 years
Height: 16 m
Stem circumference: 4.3 m
Location: village of Bistrilitsa, place “Babino pole” – there is a rite cross under the tree
Protected tree: Summer oak
Age: 300 years
Height: 24 m
Stem circumference: 3.8 m
Location: village of Bistrilitsa, place “Babino pole”
Protected tree: Oak
Age: 350 years
Height: 22 m
Stem circumference: 4.2 m
Location: village of Gaganitsa, place “Kalimanitsa”
Protected tree: Oak
Age: 350 years
Height: 25 m
Stem circumference: 3.8 m
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