Kozya Stena, Nature reserve in Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria.
Kozya Stena is a nature reserve in the Central Balkan National Park, located on a mountainside covered with ancient beech forests. The protected land shelters populations of bears, wolves, eagles, and other species adapted to forest and high-altitude environments.
The reserve became officially protected in 1987 and now forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage designation. This status connects it to similar ancient beech forests recognized across several European nations.
This natural sanctuary near Ribaritsa contributes to Bulgaria's environmental education programs through guided nature walks and research opportunities.
You can reach the reserve via marked trails starting from the villages of Ribaritsa or Chiflik. Wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for changing weather, as mountain conditions can shift quickly.
The beech forests here are exceptionally old, representing some of the last remaining original stands on the Balkan Peninsula. Some trees have survived for several centuries and show how the forest develops naturally without human interference.
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