WWF and Muzeiko celebrate the International Danube Day together
In a way, Sofia is a Danube city… ‘Really? How is this possible – the Danube flows hundreds of kilometers away from the Bulgarian capital?’ we ask ourselves in amazement.
As any great river, the Danube has many tributaries – smaller rivers that flow into it. All these tributaries form the catchment basin of the river. Sofia and its surroundings also fall into Danube’s catchment area, as the rivulets of the city flow into Iskar River which in turn flows into the Danube.
So, Sofia is a Danube city. Still, in contrast to their peers in Wien or in Budapest, not all of Sofia’s children have had the opportunity to see the ‘beautiful, blue Danube’. Now WWF and Muzeiko are providing a chance for them to learn more about this great European river.
When?
Children and families visiting Muzeiko between 10 a. m. and 1 p. m. this Saturday will have the opportunity to admire a model of the world’s largest freshwater fish and to take pictures with it. We present you… the European sturgeon. Visitors will also enjoy a geographic puzzle with all the Danube countries; they can take part in an entertaining educational game and learn new exciting things about nature.
The challenge by the Panda and Muzeiko
The youngest visitors will also learn in person the conditions of the fourth challenge by the Panda and Muzeiko. It will be connected with protected areas and the participants will have to develop projects about one of Bulgaria’s national and nature parks.
Protected areas along the Danube
There are two Bulgarian nature parks along the Danube River: Persina and Rusenski Lom; the total number of national and nature parks along the entire course of the river through ten states adds up to more than 70. In the vicinity of the Danube Rover there are also two biosphere reserves, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage – the Danube Delta and the Srebarna Reserve. The Danube provides a home for more than 100 species of fish; more than 360 species of birds can be found in its delta, the best preserved in Europe. Some of the last surviving old-growth forests in this part of Europe too are located in the lower course of the river. That is why the team of WWF regards the region as ‘The Green Heart of Europe.’
International Danube Day
On June 29 1994 the Danube River Protection Convention was signed. Since 2004 Bulgaria also participates in the international celebrations aiming to draw the public attention to the significance of the Danube River and its tributaries as well as to the need for their protection.