The longest cave in northwestern Bulgaria, Bashovichki Pech, where fossil remains of cave animals have been found, is endangered due to a construction site in its immediate vicinity. For 10 years, speleologists who study it are fighting for its protection and at the end of January 2022, the natural landmark was declared a protected area. The aim is to protect inanimate nature with a natural underground karst spring, water galleries, paleontological finds, bat habitat and endemic invertebrate fauna.
Above the cave, however, is a quarry that serves the construction of infrastructure in Vidin. Concerns of cavers are that excavations could lead to destruction in it. Although part of the quarry falls under NATURA 2000, a construction permit has been issued. Bashovichki Pech is one of the longest water caves in Bulgaria, about 4 kilometres of which have been explored, but researchers suggest it may be longer.
Vidin speleologists have been mapping the natural landmark since 1979, and now they are waiting for the right time to enter the left gallery and continue its research. In addition to the natural underground formation, the protected area includes a terrestrial part with an area of over 3 acres, in which the entrance is located. Due to the status of a natural landmark, it prohibits the destruction, damage and removal of elements of the cave structure, including stones, sediments and cave formations, as well as paleontological or archaeological finds. The cave animals are protected and the import of non-native plant and animal species is not allowed.
The new protected area is located within the territory of the village of Oreshets and the village of Bela, Dimovo municipality, as well as the village of Granitovo, Belogradchik municipality, Vidin district.
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