Durankulak lake is just 2 km SE from Durankulak village in North-Eastern part of Bulgaria. It is visible very well from the Motorway E-87 "Istanbul - Varna - Constanta" which is passing exactly via Durankulak village.

Durankulak lake on Google

The region is comparatively well investigated. There are some main and viable populations of Lycaena dispar, Pseudophilotes vicrama and Melitaea trivia in Bulgaria.

The Durankulak lake was declared a protected area in 1983 as part of the measures for the preservation of endangered species of hydrophytic birds. The lake is used as a source of irrigation water, industrial fishing, and crayfish collection. The surrounding territories are used for grazing by goat, sheep, and cows, and for agriculture (vegetable and grain growing), recreation and tourism, as well as for forestry and hunting (to a lesser extent) outside the protected area. The human presence (mainly fishermen) is strong and uncontrolled. There are  plans in the region for the development of new recreation and tourist areas, and windpower parks.

In 1984 Durankulak lake was declared a Wetland of international importance according to the Ramsar Convention. In 1989 the territory was proclaimed an area of ornithological importance by BirdLife International. 260 species of birds have been found, 72 of which are included in The Red Data Book of Bulgaria. Part of the region was declared a CORINE area in 1998 because of its European importance for the preservation of rare and endangered habitats, plants and animals. Some butterfly and moth species of conservation importance from other groups established in the region, are: Triodia amasinus dobrogensis, Hyles hippophaes, Colias erate, Scopula corrivalaria (the only locality for the species in Bulgaria), Eupithecia variostrigata, Eupithecia inturbata, Macrochilo cribrumalis, Schrankia costaestrigalis, Diachrysia nadeja, Diachrysia chryson deltaica (the only locality in Bulgaria), Athetis furvula, Proxenus lepigone, Apamea sicula, Agrotis obesa scitha, Agrotis vestigialis, Pelosia obtusa, etc.

Photo about the lake - click here

Map of the lake to be added shortly