The abandoned meander of Sava river has been standing defiant for over two millenia and its beauty overshadows the river itself (as it flows through southern Srem).
Nowadays it is a widely known special nature reserve, which attracts tourists, mostly people who love nature, from all around the world. It lures you with its beauty, mystique and heavenly nature; its grandeur and riches will fascinate you.
It was once a part of the river, afterwards it became still water and nowadays it is a marsh, Obedska pond spreads over thirteen kilometers. The first thing that will fascinate you when you visit this “heaven for birds” is the fact that it spreads as far as your eyes can see – its width reaches up to 750 meters.
The fact that the average water level does not exceed 2.5 meters, even during the rainy season, makes it an ideal place for numerous plant and animal species.
After Yellowstone, Obedska pond is the first nature reserve in the world, which was declared a special nature reserve, and it has a special level of protection. In our country, it has been protected by law since 1874. Many eminent organizations and institutions have recognized it the most important bird habitat in the world.
The legend says that Angelina, mother of Prince Đurađ Branković, escaped from the Turks on a ferry, which was crossing the Sava river. The ferry was stranded on eastern part of the pond and from its remains, a church was built. Later on, Angelina founded a female monastery Obed and that is how the pond got its name.
The beauty of this tourist attraction lies in its various geographical shapes. Obedska pond consists of ponds, still water, swamps, wet meadows and forests. This kind of a flooded terrain is unique in the whole of Eurasia, also it is a temporary or permanent home to a great number of migrating birds and an eternal museum for centuries old English oak (Quercusrobur) forests.
Diverse flora of Obedska pond
Hundreds of plant species (pannonian,dacian, endemic and mediterranean) have found their home in this special nature reserve, which spreads over 10 000 hectares.
The number of endemic species is not the same every years, which makes Obedska pond one of the most interesting places for studying plants on the old continent.
Some of the most important and most interesting endemic species which you can see here are: Water soldier, White water-lily, Yellow water-lily, Aldrovanda, Swamp nettle, OrchisLaxiflora, AcorusCalamus, Comarumpalustre L., Centaureajacea L.
As a natural monument in the special nature reserve Obedska pond one black poplar is protected. Apart from being beautiful, plant species from this reserve are also used in medicine. There are around fifty sub-endemic plant species in this natural reserve, whose healing properties have been recognized and nowadays they are used in medicine.
What is also interesting is that you can find around 180 fungi species, 50 moss species and 500 woody species in Obedska pond.
Rich fauna of Obedska pond
Maybe the most fascinating part of this heaven on earth is its fauna. In early spring, nearing the end of March, migrating birds are starting to come back to these parts, where they can nest and raise their offspring. Until autumn, before they start flying south, the population of migrating birds reaches an incredible number several hundreds of thousands, which makes Obedska pond one of the most densely populated areas. There are around 220 species that live here and the most important groups are: herons, cormorants and eagles.
These bird species are exceptionally interesting: Spoonbill, Little egret, Black stork, White stork, Black scoter, Lesser spotted eagle, White-tailed eagle, Black kite, Hobby Falcon, Collared Flycatche, Reddtart and Cirl Bunting.
Other than birds, which surely are the most important and most numerous part of fauna, there are also 50 mammal species, 13 amphibian species, 11 reptilian species and 16 fish species. This was the place where European beaver was successfully reintroduced to its natural habitat.
When water level becomes high Obedska pond becomes a natural hatchery for grass carp, silver and red carp, which enter the pond from Sava river. During different seasons, the number of fish species is usually the same. Throughout summer when the land is dry, water can only be found in larger ponds, during spring and autumn subterranean waters influence the circulation of fish in Obedska pond.
Obedska pond is also a home to a great number of insects. There are 34 insect species in Obedska pond, or nearly 62% from 55 known species in Serbia. Dragonfly and Syrphusribesii are surely the most numerous representatives of insect species, but also the most important, because they prevent mosquitoes from reproducing.
However, the most interesting and the rarest species are the stag beetle, the rhinoceros beetle and the Old World swallowtail. There are also numerous mammal species in Obedska pond.
Representatives of mammals are numerous and well known, although there are some indigenous species such as: bicolored shrew and the common shrew common hedgehog, southern shrew, mole, sphingidae, fat dormouse and hazel dormouse, the harvest mouse, fox, ermine, European pine marten, otter etc.
The last, but not the least animal group consists of reptiles and amphibians. Many of them can only be found here, in the ex-Yugoslavian region; the common European adder is exceptionally interesting, because it is the only venomous snake from these parts, which can be found in great numbers in Obedska pond.
When you are already there, don’t miss…
Many interesting and exciting things await you, if you decide to visit Obedska pond. Surely the most popular activity is birdwatching, organized walking tours with a guide, recreational angling, big-game hunting, picnic and sightseeing.
The remains of Kupnik, a fortress from 1388, the remains of Kupinik city from the XV century and the remains of Obrez monastery which was built in 1501 are located in Kupinovo village. In the vicinity of these ruins, lies the church of St. Luke from 1486 which was demolished several times. The church of mother Angelina and the church of the Holy Spirit are also located on the island.
Whatever you choose to do, good time is guaranteed!
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