Century oak (a unique natural landmark in Silistra)
Category Other
LOCATION
The ancient oak is located in the Danube park in the town of Silistra.,429 km away from the capital Sofia. There is a bus three times a day leaving from the Sofia Central Bus Station to Silistra, as well as a train three times a day from the Sofia Central Railway Station.
DESCRIPTION
The Oak acquired the status of a protected site within the meaning of the Biological Diversity Act. It is listed in the records of centuries-old trees. The circumference of the trunk at 1.2m from the ground is 4.6m, the height is 14m and the diameter of the crown is 24m. The tree is in good condition, has healthy branches and a fully covered root system. Locals believe it has healing properties.
HISTORY
It is believed that the Danube Park itself was founded in 1870. The first written records of the park's beauty are from June 24, 1870, so it is believed that it is at least 140 years old. That is why the park is officially declared the oldest urban park in Bulgaria.
The common oak (Quercus robur), also known as summer oak, is broad-leaved deciduous tree of the Beech trees, the group of white oaks (section Quercus). It reaches 25-35 m height. Its life can be over 1000 years. Its leaves are simple, with 3 to 7 unsymmetrical rounded sides on each side (the main vein), with a rectangular shape and a length between 7 and 14 cm, dark green and smooth on top, lighter underneath, short handles (up to 8 mm). The fruits of the summer oak are acorns that fall in autumn and often serve as a food for wild boars. The common oak tree contains a lot of tannin and is used to make wine storage barrels. The barrels of such barrels have a particularly pleasant scent.[1]
In the village of Granit, Stara Zagora, there is a tree of the same kind, considered to be the oldest in Bulgaria and one of the longest in the world. Another huge representative of the species is the royal oak near Tulovo, Stara Zagora region. It is located close to the station in Tulovo, in the Tuolska Koriya area. The tree is over 1000 years old.
It is believed that the oak in the Danube Park has healing effect.
The summer oak was planted in 1910 when the Silistra park was reformed. According to eco-experts, the largest group of centennial trees in the territory of RIOSV-Rousse is of 78 summer oaks, which is evidence that in the past these lands were covered with oak forests.
It is believed that the centenarian oak has healing properties. Citizens of Silistra believe that if you stand on the bench beside it with your hands on it, it adjusts the blood pressure. The Oak occupies an important place in the daily life of locals. There are always people gathered around it believing it gives them energy and strength.
It is situated near the place where St. Dasius, one of the 12 Dorostol martyrs and the 10th century basilica, where the first Bulgarian patriarch Damian served and was buried. It was believed that beneath the oak lies the long-sought Omurtag Palace. At the end of the 1960s the archaeologist Stefka Angelova from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski "was close to the discovery of the palace of Khan Omurtag, which was believed to be under the tree, but the authorities did not allow it to continue because the centuries-old oak had to be cut off.
In a check-up, it was found that the tree is in very good condition - no hollows, its skeletal columns are healthy and its root system is completely covered. The case file was sent to the Ministry of Environment and Water to declare the tree as a protected site.
In 2012 the oak acquired the status of a protected site within the meaning of the Biodiversity Act. The old oak is also recorded in the registers of centuries-old trees. The circumference of the trunk at 1.2m from the ground is 4.6m, the height is 14m and the diameter of the crown is 24m. The tree is in good condition, has healthy branches and a completely covered root system.[2]
The centenarian, nominated by Neviana Marinova from Silistra, is the winner of the "Tree with Root 2015" competition, organized by the Eco-Community Foundation. The old oak has also presented Bulgaria in the international competition "European Tree of the Year 2016" in Brussels.
On the occasion of 1st of March 2018 the tree was decorated with a necklace of martenitsas.
SITE SIGNIFICANCE
The century-old oak is considered to be one of the city symbols.
VISITOR INFORMATION
It is located outside and is free to visit.
SITE CLASSIFICATION
Natural landmark
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak
[2] Opoznai.bg <https://opoznai.bg/view/vekoven-dab-silistra>(24.04.2018)