14H3
Pyramids in sand-clay rocks
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: H3.1В2 Bare siliceous inland cliffs; PAL. CLASS.: 62.42 Siliceous bare inland cliffs.
Conservation status. None.
Category. Vulnerable [VU – B2 D2 H2 I J].
General characteristics. This habitat type encompasses unique shapes that are the result of the erosion of the sand-clay rocks. They are situated in the foothills of the southwestern slopes of South Pirin Mts. As a result of intensive erosion processes Melnik river and its feeders have carved deep into the hills of old Quaternary alluvial-proluvial sediments (ca. 100 m) that lay upon soft Neogenic sediments, susceptible to erosion-denudation impact. The places where the rocks were transformed into screes have Slavonic names (Mela, Melzha, Melove), hence the name of Melnik town and respectively the name of the earth pyramids – Melnik Pyramids.
The vertical high banks of Melnik River and its feeders are incised into unique shapes and screes. The specific local environment shelters specific vegetation. On the vertical rocks plants are absent or very few. A reason for this is the still-active erosion processes. More vegetation occurs on some of the screes and on the tops of the hills. Artemisia campestris, Carpinus orientalis, Dianthus cruentus, Festuca rupicola, Fraxinus ornus, Juniperus oxycedrus, Peucedanum austriacum, Prunus cerasifera, Senecio rupestris, Stipa pennata, Syringa vulgaris are among the characteristic species. The bat species Rhinolophus hipposideros occupies the artificial galleries in the Melnik pyramids. Similar earth shapes exist also on the slopes of Pirin Mts. above Struma River near Kresna town, Mela locality.
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Achillea setacea, Artemisia campestris, Bromus squarrosus, B. sterilis, B. tectorum, Carpinus orientalis, Cotinus coggygria, Crepis setosa, Dianthus cruentus, Festuca rupicola, Fraxinus ornus, Galium heldreichii, G. lucidum, Geranium rotundifolium, Juniperus communis, J. oxycedrus, Orlaya grandiflora, Peucedanum austriacum, Phleum phleoies, Poa bulbosa, Prunus cerasifera, Quercus pubescens, Sanguisorba minor, Sedum annuum, S. grisebachii, Senecio rupestris, Seseli rigidum subsp. rigidum, Stipa pennata, Thymus longicaulis.
- Animals – bats: Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Rhinolophus hipposideros.
Distribution in Bulgaria. South Pirin Mts. – the valley of Melnishka river and its feeders; 400–500 m alt.
Conservation importance. Nature phenomenon and unique habitat.
Threats. Construction and development of tourist infrastructure, erosion processes, forestation, planting of alien species.
Conservation measures taken. The pyramids near Melnik are proclaimed as Melnishki Piramidy Protected site. A significant part of the area of distribution of these pyramids is within sites from the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.
Conservation measures needed. Phytocoenological studies, monitoring, regulated tourist access.
References. Popov 1970.
Author: Veska Roussakova.
