February 24 marks the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of the largest national park in Bulgaria – Rila.

The anniversary of the park’s establishment was solemnly celebrated today with a festive program in the conference hall of the Regional History Museum – Blagoevgrad. The park’s directorate is also holding the initiative “Days of Rila National Park” at the museum in Blagoevgrad, and experts from the park directorate and curators from the Nature Department of the museum are promoting through thematic activities the beauties of the unique Rila nature and ways to preserve it. The visitor centers in Panichishte and Samokov are presenting interesting facts about the protected area with talks and screenings of materials.

Rila National Park is the largest of the three national parks in the country and one of the largest parks in Europe. It was proclaimed on February 24, 1992 with the aim of preserving for the benefit of society representative natural complexes of high conservation significance and characteristic landscapes and objects of inanimate nature that are of global importance for science and culture.

The protected area is an important part of an ecological corridor connecting the European, Mediterranean and Near-Asian flora and fauna because it includes extremely valuable and still untouched by man ecosystems. This is especially characteristic of forest ecosystems, which are about 94.8% natural in origin.

The park is one of the most significant places for globally endangered species of plants and animals, part of the pan-European ecological network "Natura 2000". It is home to four reserves that occupy about 20% of its territory - "Skakavitsa", "Parangalitsa" (one of the oldest reserves in Bulgaria, declared in 1933), "Ibar", and the largest nature reserve in the country "Central Rila Reserve".

Rila National Park is also one of the most important areas for sustainable tourism, for preserving traditions and crafts for the benefit of local communities, for mountain sports and recreation in Bulgaria. It is a natural place for scientific research, monitoring and environmental training in naturally functioning ecosystems.