Uploaded on 2015-11-17 by LillyMiteva

• **Provisioning services**: **Fresh Water**:The mountain forests around Sofia are hiding natural rivers, springs and waterfalls. The mountain artificial lakes called “Beli Iskar” and “Iskar” are providing the water supply for the capital city – Sofia. The quality of the water is very high. It comes from the mountain Rila. Image 1 shows “Beli Iskar” dam. • **Regulating services**: **Local climate and air quality**: Sofia is still maintaining a few huge parks in its core. They’re regulating the air quality in the city. The attached Image 2 is showing one of them – “Borisova gradina” The Mountain close to Sofia – Vitosha is a natural ecosystem and it’s also helping for cleaning the local air (image 3). **Carbon sequestration and storage:** The forests of Vitosha Mountain are storing the carbon dioxide and sequestering greenhouse gases. The attached image 4 shows how close the city is to the mountain. • **Habitat or supporting services**: **Habitats for species:** Vitosha Mountain is definitely a habitat for different species. I didn’t upload a picture for this because I think the previous are showing pretty enough the image of the ecosystem if it. • **Cultural services** **Recreation and mental and physical health:** The Vitosha Mountain provides walking paths, skiing during winter and even mountain biking. A lot of sport events are organized in it area during spring and summer for the people from the city. Image 5 and 6 are showing two of the sports that you can do there. **Tourism:** Ecotourism is developed in Vitosha Mountain. There are a lot of walking paths, huts and places to stay during your trip there. The image 7 shows one of the paths. **Aesthetic appreciation and inspiration for culture, art and design:** Nature is always a source of inspiration. I could upload a lot of images from the mountain but I chose this one that is taken from the city. It reminds every time when I am somewhere in the city and I seek for some beauty and piece. Then I look at Vitosha Mountain and it is enough for me to find it there. It is image 8. ![This picture shows the "Beli Iskar" Dam from the Rila Mountain. It is taken from V. Bogdanov and I found it on internet page. ][1] ![This is one of the parks in Sofia called "Borisova gradina" It helps cleaning the air. It is taken by Emil Petrov not by me.][2] ![This is Vitosha Mountain with the view of Sofia in the background. It shows how close the mountain is to the city. I took this picture from internet.][3] ![This is again the city of Sofia and the Vitosha Mountain. The forests of it are storing the greenhouse gases. It's an image from internet][4] ![It shows the sport activities you can do in the Vitosha Mountain. This one is taken from ski teaching group. It is from internet][5] ![This one shows mountain biking in Vitosha. It is also from internet][6] ![A walking path for tourists in Vtosha Mountain. I took this picture from internet][7] ![Sofia and Vitosha Mountain at their best view. I took it from internet. ][8] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1447775174372288.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14477751872310722.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1447775196133606.jpg [4]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14477752098531852.jpg [5]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14477752216053808.jpg [6]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14477752303877177.jpg [7]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1447775240669295.jpg [8]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1447775252609485.jpg