Natural Resources
Relief. Relief in the region is gently rolling and flat, plateau-like in certain areas. The mean elevation is 130 m above sea level. The Belene and Vardim lowlands stretch between the banks of the Danube River and the sloping swath of the Danube Plain. South of the Danube River the topography is gently rolling and plateau-like in some parts. This is favorable to the development of agricultural activity. The specific geological structure of the area bordering to the Danube River causes serious geological problems related to landslides and regressive erosion. About 30 landslide areas have emerged in the Svishtov macroslope along the river. Since for the most part there have not been any reinforcement or drainage activities in the past years, there is a call for active participation in the management of geomorphologic processes and the financing of anti-landslide and preventive measures.
Climate. The Svishtov-Belene lowland falls in the temperate continental climate zone, In this region the winters can be very cold and the summers are hot. It is among the areas with the widest range in mean temperatures registered in Bulgaria - 25.5 degrees. Both the maximum and the minimum temperatures have a negative impact on the vegetation. Western and northwestern winds predominate in the Svishtov-Belene lowland.In the warmer half of the year these winds cause the soil to dry up very fast, reducing to a minimum, or completely depleting its moisture. Eastern winds are far less frequent. There is a rather high incidence of fog - 43.2 days a year.
Soils. Different types of soils exist in the region, with carbonate chernozems predominating in the higher areas around the town of Svishtov and the town of Nikopol, as well as in the higher terraces of the Svishtov-Belene lowland, while meadow-alluvial and bog soils are found in the Danube islands and the floodplain terrace. Alluvial soils are found mainly on the Danube islands.
Flora and Fauna. Approximately
150 plant species exist in the region of the
town of Svishtov. This figure does not include
the cultivated plants and weeds but only the
ones that have evolved naturally. Nowadays the
native flora of the region has only been preserved
in some Danube islands, in some areas by the
riverbanks, and on the steep slopes above the
creeks flowing towards the Danube. The wild plants
in the region comprise 19 tree species, 14 shrub
species, and more than 100 different grass species
from a total of 57 families. The higher terraces
are characterized by different grass and shrub
communities. Forest communities are represented
by forests along the rivers. There are common
wild woods of Adriatic oak, oriental hornbeam,
field maple, flowering-ash, acacia crops, and
North American poplar species.
The geographic situation, climate, and vegetation
create favorable conditions for the development of
many animal species. The water species are among
the more typical ones. The waterfowl species find
favorable feeding and nesting habitats.