Tisata was declared a nature reserve by Order No. 6633 of the Ministry of Forestry on 5 December 1949 under the name Tisova Barchina to protect the largest natural habitat of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Bulgaria.[1][2][3] Initially it encompassed a territory of 19 ha[4] but was expanded several times and nowadays occupies 584 ha or 5.84 km2,[2] as well as a buffer zone of 420 ha. The borders of the reserve were determined in 1991.[3]
The territory of the reserve is divided into two separate sections by the southern reaches of the Kresna Gorge on the Struma River. The western section occupies the eastern slopes of the Maleshevo mountain range, while the eastern one is situated on the north-western slopes of the Pirin mountains. The altitude of the reserve ranges between 300 and 700 m. In terms of geology the most common rock type is gneiss. The climate is continental Mediterranean;[3] the predominant soil type are leached cinnamon forest soils. The soils on the foothills of Pirin are partially exposed to erosion.[3]
Flora
Predominantly evergreen sclerophyll vegetation in the Tisata Reserve
There are 460 species of vascular plants. About 80% of the reserve's territory is covered by forests dominated by Greek juniper, a relict species that evolved in Asia Minor.[3] There trees are 10 to 15 m[4] but some individuals can reach 20 m and a diameter of 1 m. The Greek juniper forms monotypic or mixed forests with trees such as Oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens) and South European flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus). Rarer tree or large shrub species include Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus).[3] Another important tree species is the evergreen European yew (Taxus baccata).[3]
Мичев (Michev), Николай (Nikolay); Михайлов (Mihaylov), Цветко (Tsvetko); Вапцаров (Vaptsarov), Иван (Ivan); Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev), Светлин (Svetlin) (1980). Географски речник на България [Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). София (Sofia): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).
Душков (Dushkov), Добри (Dobri) (1972). Пирин. Туристически речник [Pirin. Tourist Dictionary] (in Bulgarian). София (Sofia): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).