88k r a j o b r a z il a n d s c a p e sThe specialfeature ofthe parkare birdsnesting incolonies andthe blackstork andthe whitetailedeaglelead theendan ge redspecies listgan with the organization of the World bird watchingfestival, which symbolized the ending of a long periodof devastation of this unique natural resort.The nature park which has been on the protectedlist from the year 1967, was placed on the list ofOrnithologically significant locations in 1989, wasplaced on the list of Water locations of internationalimportance and was nominated for the UNESCO listof World natural heritage has welcomed the last yearsof the past decade in quite unsuitable condition. Thedark period began during the war when the entirearea was mined and the buildings and individual objectsof the park were destroyed. At the same time,the park was devastated by pouching and uncontrolledwoodcutting which caused incredible damageto the flora and fauna of the area.Nevertheless, the above mentioned projects andinitiatives continued with the bird ringing of blackstorks, Ciconia nigra, the relative of the white stork,an even more endangered species which does not toleratethe proximity of man. This bird, which is on theendangered European species list, nests in floodedoak woods, which are around 90 years old on average,almost exclusivelyand it is not interestedin thoseyounger than 50.Having in mindthe fact that thereare fewer than10000 couples inEurope remaining,even a laymanwill recognize thatpreserving the naturepark Kopačkirit is an assignmentof exceptionalimportancefor the world’snatural heritage.Those of you who still remember the former gloryof Kopački rit and the period of quarter of a centuryago when the documentary film about this naturalphe nomenon called “The Lost Oasis” filled the Croatianmovie theatres for months, will welcome theseinitiatives and new beginnings with open arms. In thelast four years over three million dollars were investedin the renewal project. A visitor center was built andorganized boat viewing was introduced as a novelty inthe very heart of this protected swamp area as a partof the brand new tourist offer.Kopački rit, located near the northeastern Croatianborder, in the corner created by the rivers Danube andDrava, is a natural swamp eco system and is one ofthe last preserved swamp habitats of the Podunavljeregion. The name of this the lowest part of Baranjastretching over 20000 hectares comes from the Hungarianword for belt buckle - “kapocs”, referring tothe multitude of little bridges which connect individualparts of the location like belt buckles.The connection of the park with the rivers Danubeand Drava consists of a number of channels andthe flooding dynamics determine its appearanceand are the main characteristic of this area. Dependingon the quantity of water the mosaic imageof land and water is constantly changing and oneneeds to know that floods are known to last for upto three months annually.But it is the water that creates the characteristicswamp vegetation. Big areas of the park are coveredby white willow forests and the entire park is richwith forests of black and white poplar-tree as wellas oak. There is also a multitude of reed-patches,tall reed and big water lilies with their picturesquewhite flowers. The waters are rich with fish and itis interesting that there are over 40 kinds of fishin the park. Due to the abundance of fish food thenature resort represents an ideal nesting ground forthe entire bird colony and for all three hundred birdspecies, most of which are swamp birds.During the attractive 90 minute boat ride withthe “Eagle” tourist boat the park employees willgladly bring your attention to the biological diversityof Kopački rit, even in European standards.Up to this moment there have been over 4000biological species registered in Kopački rit, mostsignificant ones being the endangered bird species,often endangered not only on the European but alsoon the global level. The visitors get an opportunityto observe some of the species which are truly aglobal rarity.The special feature of the park are birds nestingin colonies and the black stork and the white-tailedeagle lead the endangered species list. In the mammaldepartment the leading role belongs to the otter,one of the most endangered European animals.The deer is also a familiar sight in this one of themost famous habitats of the old continent. Whenwe add entire flocks of geese, ducks and storks,herds of boars, deer, wild cats, pheasants and baggers,carp and pike to the entire picture, we beginto understand that this truly is a world scale phenomenon.The extremely interesting portrait of Kopački ritowes much to the ponds and other natural bodiesof water which make the entire area resemble adelta. It is even more interesting that the DanubeRiver creates something of an “interior delta”, anatural phenomenon unique to this area whichcan not be found anywhere else in Europe, withthe help of River Drava. In the opinion of expertsit is this valuable phenomenon that is going to bethe deciding factor for the final entry to the list ofthe World’s natural heritage. The plant and animaltreasure await that day impatiently.
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