St. Thomas Island (Bulgarian: остров св. Тома, ostrov sv. Toma) or Zmiyski ostrov (Змийски остров, Snake island), is a Bulgarian island in the Black Sea.
It has an area of 0.012 km2 (0.0046 sq mi; 3.0 acres) and is one of a very few places in Bulgaria where wild cacti grow. The Opuntia cacti were brought from the Botanical Garden in Bratislava, Slovakia and planted by the royal botanist Ivan Buresh on the orders of Tsar Boris III in 1933. They have covered most of the island since then.[1][2]
St. Thomas Island is named after a chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas that once existed on it. Snake Island, the alternate name, refers to the abundant grey water snakes that inhabit it, feeding on fish. The island is part of the Ropotamonature reserve and lies 0.4 km (0.2 nmi) southeast of Humata Foreland in Arkutino Bay.[1][2]
The first archaeological expedition on the island began in 1955 and exposed the ruins of a small church and some auxiliary buildings. In a new archaeological expedition in 2018, archaeologists discovered an ancient Thracian settlement from the early Iron Age, ancient Thracian ritual pits, a Byzantine settlement from the 5th – 6th century AD, a small monastery from the 12th-14th century and a sunken fortress from ancient Thrace in the waters between the island and the Bulgarian mainland. Bulgaria's National Museum of History said that "The exposed finds indicate that a large sea route shrine was located on the St. Thomas Island," and "The place was chosen for a reason since it was right off the ancient road from Sozopol (Apollonia Pontica) to Constantinople (at the time the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium)."[3]
^ abBaykusheva, Tatyana (2 March 2013). "Царският ботаник засадил кактуси на Змийския остров" (in Bulgarian). Черноморие. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
^ abЩилиянова, Тони (2016-01-01). "BG островите в Черно море: Всички с имена на светци, забулени в тайни за пиратски съкровища (снимки)" (in Bulgarian). 24 часа. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
^ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND THRACIAN, BYZANTINE SETTLEMENTS, MEDIEVAL MONASTERY ON BULGARIA’S ST. THOMAS ISLAND IN BLACK SEA
thomas, island, this, article, about, island, bulgaria, caribbean, island, saint, thomas, virgin, islands, island, são, tomé, príncipe, são, tomé, island, other, islands, snake, island, bulgarian, остров, св, Тома, ostrov, toma, zmiyski, ostrov, Змийски, остро. This article is about the island in Bulgaria For the Caribbean island see Saint Thomas U S Virgin Islands For the island in Sao Tome e Principe see Sao Tome Island For other islands see Snake Island St Thomas Island Bulgarian ostrov sv Toma ostrov sv Toma or Zmiyski ostrov Zmijski ostrov Snake island is a Bulgarian island in the Black Sea The island as seen from the coast It is situated in Burgas Province Primorsko Municipality 7 km 4 mi north of Primorsko and 15 km 9 mi km south of Sozopol Contents 1 Island 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 ReferencesIsland editIt has an area of 0 012 km2 0 0046 sq mi 3 0 acres and is one of a very few places in Bulgaria where wild cacti grow The Opuntia cacti were brought from the Botanical Garden in Bratislava Slovakia and planted by the royal botanist Ivan Buresh on the orders of Tsar Boris III in 1933 They have covered most of the island since then 1 2 St Thomas Island is named after a chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas that once existed on it Snake Island the alternate name refers to the abundant grey water snakes that inhabit it feeding on fish The island is part of the Ropotamo nature reserve and lies 0 4 km 0 2 nmi southeast of Humata Foreland in Arkutino Bay 1 2 The first archaeological expedition on the island began in 1955 and exposed the ruins of a small church and some auxiliary buildings In a new archaeological expedition in 2018 archaeologists discovered an ancient Thracian settlement from the early Iron Age ancient Thracian ritual pits a Byzantine settlement from the 5th 6th century AD a small monastery from the 12th 14th century and a sunken fortress from ancient Thrace in the waters between the island and the Bulgarian mainland Bulgaria s National Museum of History said that The exposed finds indicate that a large sea route shrine was located on the St Thomas Island and The place was chosen for a reason since it was right off the ancient road from Sozopol Apollonia Pontica to Constantinople at the time the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium 3 Gallery edit nbsp St Thomas Island from Arkutino nbsp St Thomas Island nbsp Wild cactiSee also editList of islands of Bulgaria St Anastasia Island St Cyricus Island St Ivan IslandReferences edit a b Baykusheva Tatyana 2 March 2013 Carskiyat botanik zasadil kaktusi na Zmijskiya ostrov in Bulgarian Chernomorie Retrieved 17 January 2016 a b Shiliyanova Toni 2016 01 01 BG ostrovite v Cherno more Vsichki s imena na svetci zabuleni v tajni za piratski skrovisha snimki in Bulgarian 24 chasa Retrieved 17 January 2016 ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND THRACIAN BYZANTINE SETTLEMENTS MEDIEVAL MONASTERY ON BULGARIA S ST THOMAS ISLAND IN BLACK SEA 42 20 29 N 27 44 02 E 42 34139 N 27 73389 E 42 34139 27 73389 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Thomas Island amp oldid 1087860620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
