The Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje” is one of the finest pearls in Vojvodina and Serbia along the course of the Danube. The reserve comprises the remains of former vast inundated Danube areas. The reserve represents a complex mosaic of water- and land ecosystems. The greater part of the reserve is covered by marshy, inundated forest complexes. This type of preserved indigenous biotopes is very rare, both in our country and in Europe.
The Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje” is a protected goods of the 1st category, spreading along the left bank of the Danube river, from the 1367th km all the way to 1433rd km. It represents a part of the large marsh complex, which extends through the neighbouring countries, Hungary and Croatia. Besides its biodiversity, Gornje Podunavlje is famous for its authentic cultural heritage. As a result of their adjustment to the big river and its temper, the people of this area have established the characteristic habits, traditional clothes, language, fishing tools, boats and food, thus attracting the guests and making Gornje Podunavlje a very charming tourist destination.
The course of the Danube, together with its backwaters called “Dunavci” and inundated areas, left its imprint in the area of Gornje Podunavlje. The reserve is an important centre of biodiversity. The wealth of the protected area is reflected in 55 different species of fish, 11 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 230 species of birds and 51 species of mammals, as well as numerous species of invertebrates, especially butterflies with over 60 species of daytime butterflies.
Thanks to its exceptional natural resources, in 1989 Gornje Podunavlje was proclaimed the Important Bird Area (IBA). It is an integral part of the potential Biosphere Drava-Mura and one of the Ramsar Site candidate wetland.
The Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje” has many different scientific and recreational choices to offer:
- The Centre for information and education in the “Karapandža” area (at the final stage of construction, planned to start in May 2011)
- Programme of taking a walk down the Karapandža walking path and making a short trip on the ecological catamaran (available since June 2011)
- Programme of walking down the Štrbac walking path (minimum 10 visitors per group, duration: 1,5 hours)
- Programme of taking a walk down the Bestrement walking path, and boating to the Drava estuary (duration: 4 hours)
- Programme of walking down the Bestremet , and boating to Lavač (maximum 10 visitors per group, duration: 3 hours)
