Located east of the town of Svishtov, opposite the village of Vardim (in Svishtov municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Province) and part of the Belene Danubian Archipelago, it is a protected wetland and bird nesting area of national importance.

The island lies about 300 metres (980 feet) north of the Bulgarian bank of the Danube, between the 542nd and 546th kilometre from the origin of the river.

An inlet-type forest often forms when a part of the island is flooded during the spring high water.

[3] Of the 75 bird species that can be observed on Vardim Island, 31 are of European importance: 2 fall into category SPEC1, 11 in SPEC2 and 18 in SPEC3.

The sea eagle can be seen on the island, and until 1985 other species to be observed on it included the squacco heron, glossy ibis and pygmy cormorant.