Dragoman Swamp

Dragoman Marsh is Bulgaria’s largest natural karst wetland, lying in a closed basin near the town of Dragoman, between the limestone ridges of Chepan and Tri Ushi. At about 701 m a.s.l., its water level is highly seasonal: in spring it can spread over roughly 400 ha, while in summer it contracts into a mosaic of open water, reeds, bulrush and wet meadows.

After drainage works in the 20th century and the end of pumping in the 1990s, the marsh gradually recovered. Today the area is within Natura 2000 and the Ramsar-listed “Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex”, and it is a major refuge for more than 200 bird species, including ferruginous duck and corncrake. A short wooden boardwalk and a birdwatching tower make observation easy.