Ibar, Nature reserve in Rila, Bulgaria

Ibar is a 2,248.6-hectare reserve on the northern slopes and ridge of Rila, separated from the rest of the mountain by the peaks Ibar and Belmeken. It is one of four reserves in Rila National Park. More than 400 higher plant species grow here, including large stands of dwarf pine and the Balkan endemic Rila primrose.

The reserve was declared on 26 February 1985 by Order No. 148 of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Council of Ministers, with a total area of 2,248.6 hectares. It was created to protect relict plant species and rare and endangered animals. It is one of four reserves within Rila National Park.

The reserve takes its name from the nearby Ibar peak, which rises to 2,666 m. It is one of four reserves within Rila National Park, alongside Parangalitsa, Central Rila and Skakavitsa. The Rila primrose, a Balkan endemic, grows here and is one of the plants the reserve was created to protect.

Ibar is one of four reserves within Rila National Park, covering the northern slopes and the ridge between the peaks Ibar and Belmeken. The terrain rises through large tracts of dwarf pine, so access is on foot and the ground is steep and uneven. The reserve was declared in 1985 to protect relict plants and rare animals, and visitors should keep to the edges of the protected area.

The reserve protects large stands of dwarf pine in its higher parts, one of the reasons it was created. Among the plants recorded are the Balkan endemic Rila primrose, alpine rose and Transylvanian bellflower, part of a flora of over 400 higher plant species.