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Kopacki rit
National Park is one of the most important European floodplains and a special
zoological nature reserve.
It is
located in the far east of Croatia, in Baranja, in the central part of the
floodplain of the Danube, not far from Osijek.
Kopacki rit
Park was named after the town of Kopacevo and translated from Hungarian means
"swamp meadow".
The
appearance of the wetland itself depends on the intensity of the flood, so its
size and shape change.
Kopacki rit
covers 17,700 hectares, or 177 square kilometers.
It consists
of several lakes and ponds that are intertwined with natural canals connected
by the rivers Drava and Danube. The Danube in Kopacki rit forms its inner
delta.
The Drava
and the Danube delimit this floodplain and create one of the largest European
wetlands, which includes water areas, floodplain forests of white willow and
pedunculate oak, reeds and wetland meadows, along with the inevitable white
water lily and many other plant species.
The largest
lakes are Kopacko Lake and Sakadas.
Kopacki rit
is a habitat of 2300 biological species, many of which are rare and endangered.
The wetland part is a hatchery for many species of fish, while many species of
mammals live on the mainland. Every year, more than 140 species of birds nest
in it, such as the bald eagle, black storks, steppe falcons or large colonies
of herons and wild geese. Thus, Kopacki rit is also the most important ornithological
reserve in Croatia and this part of Europe and as such is included in the list
of ornithologically significant areas - IBA (Important Bird Area).
Therefore,
it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 within the Mura -
Drava - Danube biosphere.
In 1993, the
Ramsar Convention included it in the list of wetlands of international
importance.
The national
park provides visitors with the pristine beauty of untouched nature. It is thus
protected from human action on its natural form. Natural protection is provided
and it is suitable as a habitat for many animal species.
It is a
tourist paradise for visitors eager to escape from urban areas.
In any
season, Kopacki rit provides a new beautiful image, different from the previous
one.
And the surrounding villages are imbued with
country architecture, rich history and provide visitors with indigenous culinary
content typical of the region of Slavonia and Baranja.PHOTO GALLERY OF KOPACKI RIT
