Gornje Podunavlje / Upper Danube Valley
The Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje / Upper Danube Valley” is positioned in the alluvial zone of the Danube, in its upper course in Vojvodina, at the far northwestern part of Bačka. It comprises the alluvial plane of the left riverbank of the Danube along the length of 64 km, and it represents the largest marsh complex in the upper course of the Danube in Serbia.
This lowland area is characterized by flat or slightly undulating relief with meanders, by-channels, old river courses, river islets, and ridges. Elongated ridges and swales are interchanging and stretching more or less parallel to the river course and to by-channels, which has a strong influence on the distribution of the flooding water and the level of the ground water. The area consists of marsh forests cut with ponds, swamps, wet meadows, reeds and shrubbery.
Gornje Podunavlje is a significant biodiversity center of Serbia. Its vegetation is built of 57 herbaceous, forest, and shrubby plant communities. Most communities are of the primary character, which illustrates the significant ecosystem diversity. Many fragile ecosystems are preserved, and represent the international priority in protection.
More than 1,000 plant species were determined, among which there are several critically endangered species in Serbia, such as the water violet (Hottonia palustris), mare’s tail (Hippuris vulgaris), and greater spear wort Ranunculus lingua). This area is inhabited by 60 species of butterflies, 55 species of fish, 11 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 230 species of birds, and 51 species of mammals. It is an important spawning ground and migratory route for fishes, a nesting site of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and black stork (Ciconia nigra), and the habitat of the largest red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Serbia.
The Reserve is a significant trans boundary area that forms a natural unity with the protected marshlands in Croatia and Hungary with which it represents the largest inundation area in the middle course of the Danube in Europe.
