Since 2013 Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation organizes the celebration of Atanasov Day for Lake Atanasovsko with various events, including the 5th annual Atanasovsko Lake Half Marathon from the Sea Garden of Burgas to the border of the eponymous reserve.
"There is no other natural area like this that celebrates a name day, or birthday, has a special festival, fair, exhibitions, art workshops and residencies, conservation brigades and whatnot. Because there is no other such place - part of a big city Burgas, part of an almost wild territory inhabited by hundreds of species. Throughout its more than 100-year history, the lake has faced various challenges and today is no different. To present them we created a special film "Salty People" - says Diyana Kostovska from the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation.
Diyana is one of the characters in the film who shares how to do business in a protected area like Lake Atanasovsko, which is a protected reserve, a Natura 2000 area, a Ramsar site and at the same time the only place where sea salt is mined.
The film "Salty People" was shot in August 2022 in Lake Atanasovsko and its premiere will be on Atanasov Day, but in the old style (January 31, 2023) at the Cinema House in Sofia. The director and screenwriter is Alexandra Val, and cinematographer Georgi Chelebiev, music and vocals are by Mila Robert and Yavor Karagitliev.
The trailer of the film can be seen here https://youtu.be/YL5C_l-gqo4
"On Atanasovday we invite you to meet the birds at Lake Atanasovsko. At the moment the southern part is teeming with feathered creatures and what better way to celebrate the holiday of our beloved lake than to get up close and personal with its inhabitants. Come on 18 January 2023 (Wednesday) at 16.00 to the Bird Watching Shelter on the shore of Lake Atanasovsko" - invite the organizers of the LIFE project "The Lagoon of Life".
And they promise a lot of pink flamingos, Dalmatian pelicans, Shelduck, Eurasian teal and other protected bird species. In the afternoon, the impressive pelicans return from Lake Vaya, where they feed and present an amazing sight - flying low over the waters and dykes of Lake Atanasovsko, where they land for the night. Around them, the currently very pink flamingos feed peacefully and can also be seen well up close.
The BBF will provide binoculars and optical tubes, bird identifiers and ornithologists. Of course, there will be refreshments for the guests at the celebration!
