This presentation has an aim to This presentation has an aim to introduce to you the richness of introduce to you the richness of

waters of Strazhitsa Municipality. waters of Strazhitsa Municipality. In the next 10 minIn the next 10 minutesutes, more or , more or

less, we are going to talk about the less, we are going to talk about the waterholds and their waterholds and their

characteristics.characteristics.

“ Our planet is inhabitable because it has water! “ With two thirds of the earth's surface covered by

water and the human body consisting of 75 percent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one

of the prime elements responsible for life on earth. Water is our lifeline that bathes us and

feeds us. Despite this, many does not appriciate the meaning of water judging by their activities

leading to its polution.

Bulgaria is one of the countries Bulgaria is one of the countries blessedblessed to haveto have such a variety of such a variety of waterswaters. They can be divided in two . They can be divided in two groups – surface (lakes, fake lakes , groups – surface (lakes, fake lakes , springs and rivers) and springs and rivers) and underground ( mineral, pressure, underground ( mineral, pressure, growing and karst waters).growing and karst waters).

The main water resources in this Municipality are:Golyama reka, Stara reka, Kazul Dere, Lefedzha, which feed a water pool of a bigger river called Yantra. The watercourses characterized with inconstant water regime and richness of underground waters. More than 30 small fake lakes and 1 with average measures are built in order to develop pisciculture and the partial water supply.

Still nameless and almost unknown are some tiny places in our Still nameless and almost unknown are some tiny places in our country country

– – holy and miraculous. One of these is the spring called “ Sv. Marina “. holy and miraculous. One of these is the spring called “ Sv. Marina “. Every year on Velikomachenica Marina celebration many people come Every year on Velikomachenica Marina celebration many people come and even sleep in tents during night and wait for the upcoming and even sleep in tents during night and wait for the upcoming morning. People with different diseases, some incurable, tortured, morning. People with different diseases, some incurable, tortured, mentally disabled arrive looking for salvation. mentally disabled arrive looking for salvation. The legend says a hundred years ago on this place, during this The legend says a hundred years ago on this place, during this celebration, in the early morning came out water for the first time. celebration, in the early morning came out water for the first time. Water – healing, bringing a hope of miracle, which everybody avidly Water – healing, bringing a hope of miracle, which everybody avidly expected. It was a time of wars and people, living in misery and pain, expected. It was a time of wars and people, living in misery and pain, were exhausted of leading them.It is believed that grabbing a hand of were exhausted of leading them.It is believed that grabbing a hand of water will lower the diseases, every said wish will come true, the water will lower the diseases, every said wish will come true, the divorced couples will come together once again and the singles will divorced couples will come together once again and the singles will find their partner, because Sv. Marina is not only a healer, she is also find their partner, because Sv. Marina is not only a healer, she is also

a a protector of the marriage and the family. Today on this place there is protector of the marriage and the family. Today on this place there is

a a small chapel with an icon of Sveta Marina welcoming tourists, people small chapel with an icon of Sveta Marina welcoming tourists, people in need and many other visitors. in need and many other visitors.

Until 1934 the village was called Kral Bunar then it is Until 1934 the village was called Kral Bunar then it is renamed to Tsarski Izvor ( in eng.- Royal Spring) and renamed to Tsarski Izvor ( in eng.- Royal Spring) and many years later, in 1949, it is granted the name of many years later, in 1949, it is granted the name of Chapaevo. According to the story, the appearing of Kral Chapaevo. According to the story, the appearing of Kral Bunar is connected to the march of the young polish Bunar is connected to the march of the young polish

king king Vladislav III Jagelo against the ottoman empire in 1444. Vladislav III Jagelo against the ottoman empire in 1444. Marching from Nikopol toward Varna on the old roman Marching from Nikopol toward Varna on the old roman road through Gorski Goren Trambesh village, Kral Bunar, road through Gorski Goren Trambesh village, Kral Bunar, Strazhitsa, Novi Pazar, Vladislav III was highly Strazhitsa, Novi Pazar, Vladislav III was highly

impressed impressed by the sweeping springs and green fields in the east foot by the sweeping springs and green fields in the east foot of White hill and stopped with a part of his troops and of White hill and stopped with a part of his troops and went in a bivouac (camp). This was the beginning of a went in a bivouac (camp). This was the beginning of a new settlement later called Kral Bunar.new settlement later called Kral Bunar.

To begin with, this fake lake is the biggest one in our To begin with, this fake lake is the biggest one in our Municipality. Its amount of water, however, is changing Municipality. Its amount of water, however, is changing constantly during the whole year which make the constantly during the whole year which make the pisciculture harder than imagined. But it is a great pisciculture harder than imagined. But it is a great destination for a holiday because of its beautiful destination for a holiday because of its beautiful surrounding nature and villas, whose numbers can form surrounding nature and villas, whose numbers can form

a a small settlement.small settlement. Recently the Town Hall has been working on a project Recently the Town Hall has been working on a project about developing a holiday village with different kind of about developing a holiday village with different kind of attractions and building a coast base providing resources attractions and building a coast base providing resources for canoeing. for canoeing.

In the ‘60s workers of the former TKZS In the ‘60s workers of the former TKZS (a cooperation of farmers during the (a cooperation of farmers during the communistic period) built a pumping communistic period) built a pumping station in order to supply the village station in order to supply the village with the needed drinking water. This with the needed drinking water. This station use the underground water used station use the underground water used by the housewives afterwards. The by the housewives afterwards. The people then built a watering system, people then built a watering system, using the water from the fake lake for using the water from the fake lake for agricultural needs.agricultural needs.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made

of the information contained therein.