Preliminary selection of the most significant karst springs in Bulgaria

Abstract

In June 2022, the Karst Commission of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) initiated, under the auspices of UNESCO, the adoption and implementation of the project „Most Important Karst Aquifer Karst Springs (MIKAS)”. The project is completely implemented on a voluntary basis and is based on the knowledge and professional experience of leading karst scientists from almost all countries of the world. The coordinator of MIKAS is Prof. Zoran Stevanović from the University of Belgrade. Bulgaria is also participating in the implementation of the project. The aim of the present study is a preliminary selection of nationally significant karst springs, based on published information, as well as the experience and knowledge of the Bulgarian karst experts participating in the project. According to the team’s research so far, the karst springs Glava Panega, Andaka near Dryanovo, Iskrets spring, Devnya springs, Toplya spring and the spring from the Musinska Cave have the highest probability of being proposed for inclusion in the Global List.