Koviljsko — Ppetrovaradinski rit
Koviljsko – Petrovaradinski Rit is positioned in the southeastern part of Bačka, downstream from Novi Sad, near the settlements of Kovilj and Petrovaradin. It stretches along the left and right banks of the alluvial plane of the middle course of the Danube for 20 km. It represents a lowland alluvial area of the Danube, with preserved and various authentic orographic and hydrographic features: river islets, ridges, by-channels, meanders, and stagnant waters, and it is characterized by marsh forests intersected with ponds, reeds, shrubbery, and wet meadows.
Depending on the type of the relief, the altitude, and the regime of the flooding and ground water, a very diverse biota is developed. Particularly valuable is the presence of rare and threatened plant species, such as the marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe), water violet (Hottonia palustris), water chestnut (Trapa natans agg.), water shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia), marsh orchid (Orchis palustris), and other species.
This marsh area is inhabited by 46 species of fish. It is important for natural spawning of autochthonous
species, particularly the pike (Esox lucius), carp (Cyprinus carpio), and sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus).
In the reserve live 172 species of birds, of which 103 are protected as natural rarities. Old marsh forests are inhabited by wild cat (Felis silvestris) and otter (Lutra lutra), species protected as natural rarities.
