Ropotamo preserve is situated 50 km south of the coastal city of Bourgas. It includes the banks of Ropotamo River. Ropotamo is one of the oldest preserves in Bulgaria, named as such in 1940.

In 1962, Ropotamo lost its preserve status. Coastal over construction and the increasingly growing number of tourists made authorities name Ropotamo a protected area once again in 1992.

The preserve houses untypical for the latitude plant species. It is also well-known for the beautiful rock phenomena, dunes and swamps.

Ropotamo’s banks are covered by thick forests. Some important plant species used in the production of medicines can be seen there.

More than 100 Ropotamo plant species have been included in Bulgaria’s red book of endangered plants.

The river mouth features salty water. Some marine fish species live there and sometimes go upstream searching for food.

Nearly 250 bird species inhabit Ropotamo. The number of endangered bird species there is 71.

If you decide to explore fully the preserve, hire a local to organize a boat trip. During the hour-long boat trip you will see many of the natural phenomena and some of the animal species.

Arkoutino region is part of Ropotamo preserve. One of Bulgaria’s most beautiful beaches carries the same name and is located in the same area.

Big sand dunes are typical for the region. The rare sand lily grows there.

Until recently, the beach was wild and a favorite spot for tent lovers and nudists. The beach gave them wonderful opportunities for sunbathing and swimming. Tourists who got tired of the noisy Sozopol beaches visited Arkoutino.

Several years ago, construction in Arkoutino began. The spot is not as calm as it used to be in the past. A major vacation complex is situated nearby.

The town of Dospat is located in the heart of Rhodopes mountain on the Dospat dam lake waterline. The relief in the region is mountain and the town is located on 1200 meters about sea level. The winter here is soft, spring comes later, autumn is warm and the summer is fresh. In the town lives about 3 000 citizens and it stands on 80 km. West from Smolyan  city and on 50 km. East from Gotze Delchev.

In the surrounding area of the city are found remains from 4 century b.c. Presumptive evidence is that the town is wearing its name from the ruler DespotSlav, who probably founded this city.

Today in Dospat predominate the Muslim population. Main occupation is wood-processing, also the production of wool knitwear.

In the last year the town is developing also as a tourist destination. A lot of new hotels and restaurants has been built. The amazing nature and the rich of fish dam lake Dospat attracts as magnet a lot of tourists.

Every year during the last weekend of August, in Dospat is arranging a fair with a lot of dancings and songs.

A Bulgarian hotel is among the 100 best hotels in the world.
The hotel “RIU Helios” in Sunny Beach received the prestigious award “TUI Holly 2008″.
The award was presented to Latchezar Todorov – the executive director of “Tera Tour Service” EOOD, at a sumptuous ceremony in Berlin for the 40th anniversary of the tour operator TUI.
The best hotels are being chosen by the tourists, clients of the tour operator, through a survey.
15 000 vacation complexes from all over the world were included in the survey. Over half a million guests have expressed their opinions.
The situated on the first line of Sunny beach hotel is participating in the survey for the first time.

The award is proof for the professionalism of the management of hotel “RUI Helios”, but also for the quality of the tourist service in Bulgaria as a whole, specialists from the industry claim.

source: news.bg