Regional park "Gornje Podunavlje"

Regional park "Gornje Podunavlje" represents an area of an extreme significance for the permanent welfare of natural values important globally. It was established in 1982, and occupies an area of 9996ha which is next to the left bank of the river Danube and it marks one of the last big oases left of the swampy wood complexes.The whole area consists of different ecosystems: watery, pondish, swampy, forest, of a meadow, etc. Regional park "Gornje Podunavlje" should be looked just as a part of a bigger natural unity since it has a common frontier on the north with the National park "Dunav-Drava", while on the west "Kopacki rit" expands.It is famous for its flora and fauna.

Considering trees the most represented are: a white willow (Salix alba), a black poplar (Populus nigra), a white poplar (Populus alba), as well as the plantations of various clones of Euroamerican poplars (Populus euroamericana). Nevertheless, the most beautiful and the most valuable are the stands of English oak (Quecus robur), but due to the building of bulwarks by the river Danube, other species take place.

This area is a natural dwelling of about 50 mammal species. From small rodents such as different species of mice and zoo voles, to the big representatives of game on whose top stands a deer (Cervus elaphus).

Ornitofauna represents one of the most important natural values of this park and is of invaluable significance since this area has one of the richest and the most various birds fauna in our country.There have been registered almost 230 species, although it is believed that the number is greater, and that would make over 70% of species that can be found in our country.Most of them are nestling birds.

The following species are of special significance:

Whitetail eagle (Haliaetus albicila): the biggest bird of prey in the Middle Europe, and the most endangered specie as well.Of 30 pairs, all in Voivodina, about 30% nestles in the area of this park. Together with "Kopcaki rit", it is one of the most compact population of this kind in Europe.

Black stork (Ciconia nigra): the specie which has been represented as a natural rarity in Serbia.In the area of this park, there are 20-25 nestling couples, which represents a quarter of the national population of these birds.

Big cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo): the specie which extincted as a nestling bird in Serbia during the 20th century, but in the last 15 years, 4 colonies appeared in Voivodina.This specie is a regular guest in the area of this park in searching for food.

Colonies of herons (Ardea sp., Ardeola sp., Nycticorax sp., Egnetta sp.): during the year of 1999 a few constant colonies were recoreded which, according to the latest facts, have changed nestling places.

Wild ducks (Anas sp., Aythya sp.) and wild geese (Anser sp.): these species can be found in this park mostly during winter and in the period of migrations when more than ten thousands of them are gathered.What is the most couraging is the increase in number of wild ducks' nestling couples.

Regional park "Gornje Podunavlje" represents a remarkable area, thanks to the dynamics of the water regime and its richness in ichtiofauna. Land configuration, a small slope of the height above sea-level are good conditions for making lots of meandars, stagnant tributaries, ponds and lakes and periodical spillway of the Danube make perfect conditions for the development of a great number of fish. There are 50 freshwater species such as: a carp (Cyprium caprio), a catfish (Silurus glanis), a pike (Esox lucius), a pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) and lots of others, of which some are on the Serbian red list of vertebrates which increase the necessity to preserve, revive and grow fish fund.

Web: www.gornjepodunavlje.info