Belene Island, River island in Belene Municipality, Bulgaria.
Belene Island sits in the Danube River and is Bulgaria's largest river territory, stretching about 14 kilometers long and reaching about 6 kilometers wide. The landscape consists of flat, vegetated areas extending across long distances and surrounded by water on all sides.
The island was the site of a labor camp from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1956 to 1959, where political prisoners were held during Bulgaria's communist period. This chapter permanently shaped the island and made it a place of major historical importance.
The island carries memories of its past as a place of imprisonment, which remains part of how locals and visitors understand its identity today. This historical burden shapes how the place is discussed and experienced by those who come here.
Access to the island is by pontoon bridge connecting it to the town of Belene on the mainland, making visits relatively straightforward. Keep in mind that the flat terrain means there is little shelter from weather and sun.
The eastern section of the island functions as a nature reserve, hosting about 170 species of water birds including spoonbills and red-breasted geese. This makes it an important refuge for wild birds across Europe.
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