The „St. Ivan” Island is with an area of 660 decares and is the biggest of the five islands along the Bulgarian coastline. Just a strait of several meters separates it from the "St. Peter" Island with an area of 4-5 decares. Between them and the shore there were two other islands in the antiquity, called Milos and Gata, which today are underwater.
Nowadays, the „St. Ivan” Island is not inhabited. In 1884, French engineers built a lighthouse pointing the way to the Burgas bay. On the same spot there lie the remains of an antique Roman lighthouse, which was built in ІІ century A.D.
The ruins of the monastery church "St. Ivan Foreshadower", built in 1263, can be seen there.
Besides its historical relics, the „St. Ivan” Island is also a natural reserve. About 72 species of birds nest in its rocks, land, and on its shore, out of which 3 species are included in the Red book of endangered species in the world and 15 in Europe. Other rare biological species inhabit the island as well – the underground hare and the “Monk” seal.
Lots of shoals of fish and other sea wildlife can be seen in the waters around the island at a depth between 4 and 25 meters. The cliffs are covered with black mussels.
Facts about St. Ivan and St. Peter, Sozopol
It is in Bulgaria- St. Ivan and St. Peter, Sozopol is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.