, iucn_category = , photo = Rusenski Lom NP.jpg , photo_caption = Panorama of the Rusenski Lom canyon , location =

Ivanovo Municipality Ivanovo Municipality ( bg, Община Иваново) is a municipality ('' obshtina'') in Ruse Province, Central-North Bulgaria, located along the right bank of Danube river in the Danubian Plain. It is named after its administrative centre - ...

Ruse Province Ruse Province ( bg, Област Русе, translit=Oblast Ruse), or Rusenska Oblast ( bg, Русенска област, former name Okrug, Ruse okrug) is a Provinces of Bulgaria, province in northern Bulgaria, named after its main city, Ruse, ...

, Bulgaria , nearest_city =

Ruse Ruse may refer to: Places *Ruse, Bulgaria, a major city of Bulgaria **Ruse Municipality ** Ruse Province ** 19th MMC – Ruse, a constituency *Ruše, a town and municipality in north-eastern Slovenia * Ruše, Žalec, a small settlement in east-ce ...

, map = Bulgaria , relief = 1 , coordinates = , area = , established = 26 February 1970 , visitation_num = , visitation_year = , governing_body = , url = http://www.lomea.org/ } Rusenski Lom Nature Park ( bg, Природен парк Русенски Лом) is a protected area in

northern Bulgaria Northern Bulgaria ( bg, Северна България, Severna Bylgarija), also called Moesia ( bg, Мизия, ''Mizija'') is the northern half of Bulgaria, located to the north of the main ridge of the Balkan Mountains which conventionally sep ...

. The park was established on 26 February 1970, in order to protect the canyon of the

Rusenski Lom The Rusenski Lom ( ) is a river in northeastern Bulgaria, the last major right tributary of the Danube. It is formed by the rivers Beli Lom and Cherni Lom, the former taking its source south of Razgrad and the latter southeast of Popovo, Bulgaria, ...

, the last significant right tributary of the

Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

. The park covers an area of . The area of the park was settled in the prehistory. Between the 12th and the 14th centuries, during the

Second Bulgarian Empire The Second Bulgarian Empire (; ) was a medieval Bulgarians, Bulgarian state that existed between 1185 and 1396. A successor to the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Tsars Kaloyan of Bulgaria, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II ...

, the area became attractive for monks and several cave monasteries were founded. As a result of this, it became a significant cultural center. After the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

conquered the area, they started to decay. The remains of the monasteries are now a part of the

Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo ( bg, Ивановски скални църкви, ''Ivanovski skalni tsarkvi'') are a group of monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries hewn out of solid rock and completely different from other monastery co ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

located inside the park. The canyon is isolated, allowing for the creation of a natural environment which combines features of Mediterranean and Central European fauna and flora. Much of the area is covered by forest. The nature park is a major tourist attraction. Major activities in the park include visiting the rock-hewn churches, rafting, and visiting caves.

References

{{Authority control Geography of Ruse Province Nature parks in Bulgaria Tourist attractions in Ruse Province Protected areas established in 1970 1970 establishments in Bulgaria