Atanasovsko Lake - Nature Reserve is located in the north-east from Bourgas towards Varna. In the 70 years of the twentieth century, the northern part of the lake with an area of ​​170 hectares, declared a protected area in the 80s it also became a nature reserve. Since 1980, the lake is included in the Ramsar Convention, according to which water birds habitat should be protected.

The road Burgas-Varna separates the lake in half thus obtained the northern and southern part. Their average depth of 30 centimeters.

In the past, the lake was the place where the evaporated salt. In 1906, the lake Atanasovsko given under concession, when there was established the first saltworks. Construction has been frozen because of the First World War, and with it the end of the resumed. The German company, under whose concession was given lake area expanded saltworks, and the first products appeared in 1934. Saltworks were used until 1973. By the way, in the territory of the lake are still working evaporators, producing sea salt. But thanks to the primitive methods of production, this in no way affects the inhabitants of the reserve.

In the area of ​​Lake identified 316 of the 400 species of birds. 14 of them - under threat of extinction, not only in Bulgaria but also worldwide. Among them: the corncrake, the red-breasted goose, the white-eyed dives, Dalmatian pelican, lesser white, slender-billed curlew, Pygmy Cormorant. In addition, 316 of these 170 species are protected in a special way, and 83 were in the Red Book of Bulgaria.

In winter the lake is not frozen, making it the center of wintering water-demanding species of birds. Among other lakes around Bourgas Atanasovsko it is one of the most favorable places where pelicans and storks roost on the road between the Bosphorus and the Danube Delta. In summer, the lake can be seen stilts, shiloklyuvok and other types of birds. The symbol of the reserve is the Collared Pratincole. Lake - the only place where the breed Mediterranean Gull, Gull-billed and sandwich tern.

As for the flora, there grows a lot of wild orchids in Bulgaria are protected in a special way.

The reserve - 17 species of fish, almost all - included in the Red Book. In addition, it contains about a dozen species of rodents, bats and insectivores.

Access to the lake is only possible on a pre-marked routes.