ATLAS OF TOURISM POTENTIAL OF SERBIAN PROTECTED AREAS Dear reader, Serbia’s protected areas, the jewels of the country, contain nu- merous wonders of nature. A variety of rare, endangered animal and plant species can be observed in their natural habitat. Desi- gnating protected areas allows the provision of safe harbours for these species and ecosystems, which in many cases are unique. And promoting nature-respecting tourism and recreation in the- se areas not only allows visitors to explore these wonders, but also contributes to the livelihood of the people and communities who have lived in and shaped those landscapes over centuries. It is UNDP’s ambition, together with the authorities and people of Serbia, to support tourism and recreation in protected areas, so that you can explore their treasures. Hiking, bird watching, sport fishing, camping, but also adventurous activities, such as mountain biking, canyoning, paragliding or rafting, offer multiple opportunities for spending high quality time outdoors. Tourism infrastructure – like visitor centres, educational signalization, ob- servation towers and walking trails – are currently being built in all the protected areas to facilitate and guide visitors in exploring the nature, while enhancing the understanding and willingness to protect their unique character and inherent, rare species. I hope this “Atlas of Tourism Potential of Serbian Protected Are- as” will inspire you, guide you to remote corners of Serbia, and wake your curiosity to explore some of the most beautiful sides of this country. I would like to use the opportunity express my gratitude to the protected area managers for their valuable con- tribution in preparing it. I wish you a pleasant journey through this Atlas and, of course, through many of the protected areas in Serbia! Jürg Staudenmann UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Serbia 2 ATLAS OF TOURISM POTENTIAL OF SERBIAN PROTECTED AREAS 4 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVES 28 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE 48 LANDSCAPE OF LAKE LUDAš and DELIBLATO SANDS EXTRAORDINARY SELEVENJE HEATH CHARACTERISTICS LANDSCAPE OF EXTRAORDINARY 30 LANDSCAPE OF EXTRAORDINARY PčinjA VALLEY CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS SUBOTICA SANDS GREAT WAR ISLAND 50 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE NATURE PARK Trešnjica RIVER PALić 31 NATURAL MONUMENT GORGE RESAVA CAVE 8 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE 51 NATIONAL PARK GORNJE PODUNAVLJE 32 NATURAL MONUMENT TARA RISOVAča CAVE 10 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE 54 NATURE PARK GREAT BUSTARD PASTURES 33 NATIONAL PARK šARGAN - MOKRA ĐerdAP GORA 11 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE SLANO KOPOVO 36 NATURAL MONUMENT 56 LANDSCAPE OF VRATNA CANYON WITH EXTRAORDINARY 12 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE TWO GATES CHARACTERISTICS CARSKA BARA OVčar-KABLAR 37 NATURAL MONUMENT GORGE 14 NATURE PARK LAZAR'S CANYON JEGričkA 58 NATURE PARK 38 NATURE PARK GOLIJA 16 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE STARA PLANINA KOVILJ-PETROVARADIN FEN 60 NATURAL MONUMENT 40 NATIONAL PARK POTPeće CAVE 18 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE KOPAONIK BAGREMARA 61 NATURAL MONUMENT 43 NATURE PARK STOPić CAVE 19 NATIONAL PARK SićevO GORGE FruškA GORA 62 SPECIAL NATURE 44 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE RESERVE 22 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE JELAšnica GorGE UVAC ZASAVICA 45 NATURAL MONUMENT 64 REGIONAL NATURE PARK 24 SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE DEVIL’S TOWN MILeševkA RIVER OBEDSKA BARA GORGE 46 LANDSCAPE OF 26 LANDSCAPE OF EXTRAORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY 66 NATURAL MONUMENT CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS SOPOTNICA VršAC MOUNTAINS VLASINA FALLS TITLE: EDITOR, TRANSLATION AND DESIGN: ISBN: 978-86-7728-196-0 Atlas of Tourism Potential of Serbian alliance international media (aim), The information and views in this publication Protected Areas Belgrade, Serbia are those of the author and do not necessarily PUBLISHER: PRINT: represent views of the United Nations United Nation Development Programme Sapient Graphics, Belgrade, Serbia Development Programme (UNDP) or the (UNDP), Belgrade, Serbia PRINT RUN: 4000 Global Environment Facility (GEF). SPECIAL NATURE RESERVES LAKE LUDAš and SELEVENJE HEATH LANDSCAPE OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTERISTICS SUBOTICA SANDS Ludaš" – "Palić NATURE PARK Palić Photodocumentation: PE Lake Ludaš SpeciaL NATURE RESERVE de Bearded Reedling, Aquatic Warbler, Little Crake and Western Marsh-harrier. The plants The Lake Ludaš (Ludaško Jezero) Special that grow in the lake area are sea arrow-grass Nature Reserve is situated east of Subotica. and milk-vetch root. The lax-flowered orchid, This reserve comprises the lake and its sho- which has also found a home here, is an inter- reline beside the villages of Šupljak, Hajduko- nationally protected species. The area arou- vo and Nosa. nd Lake Ludaš is famous for its cultural and CONTACT historic monuments (the old Ludaš settle- Public enterprise “Palić – Ludaš“ DID YOU KNOW? ment and granges are excellent examples of 17a, Kanjiški Put , Palić traditional architecture). This region has been Tel: +381 (0)24 753 121 Lake Ludaš is the second biggest lake in North populated since the Stone Age and there are E-mail: [email protected] www.palic-ludas.rs Bačka District and one of the oldest reserves several archaeological sites near Nosa. in Serbia, as well as an area protected by the Ramsar Convention. The lake has a high diver- HOW TO GET THERE? sity of sand and steppe wetland ecosystem. It is the only shallow, semi-static lake in the The lake (Ludaš Visitor Centre in Hajduko- steppe area in Serbia, as well as a gathering vo) is 14km from Subotica. There is a pa- and resting point for all sorts of migratory ved road leading to Hajdukovo that is sui- birds. The name of the lake is derived from the table for all kinds of vehicles (cars, buses, Hungarian word lúd, meaning goose, which bicycles). Visitors can also take a train to reflects the abundant birdlife here – compri- Subotica and then a bus to Hajdukovo. sing some 230 species, including wild goose, The local Szeged-Subotica (via Đala) bi- mallard, heron and other swamp and marsh cycle path runs next to the southern part birds. The birds that inhabit this area inclu- of the lake. 4 ATLAS OF TOURISM POTENTIAL OF SERBIAN PROTECTED AREAS SELEVENJE HEATH 22km north-west of Kanjiža. It is connected to SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE the main road, as well as a summer dirt road suitable for cars and bicycles. The Selevenje Heath (Selevenjske Pustare) Special Nature Reserve is located close to the SUBOTICA SANDS LANDSCAPE national border with Hungary, east of Subotica OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTERISTICS and northwest of Kanjiža, between Bački Vino- gradi and Horgoš. The Subotica Sands (Subotička Peščara) Landscape of Extraordinary Characteristics DID YOU KNOW? is situated in the very north of Bačka, close to the national border with Hungary, in the regi- This reserve is known for its biodiversity of on known as the Subotica-Horgoš Sands. lowland habitats of mixed steppe, salt marsh, sand and swamp type, which are characteri- DID YOU KNOW? stic for this heathland area, and is home to ori- ginal and rich Pannonian flora and fauna. The Subotica Sands is known for its unique eco- close proximity of underground waters, which logical attributes of sandy terrain comprising create swamps and salt marshes on this un- undulating dunes and special underground The Lake Ludaš and Selevenje dulating terrain with extremely dry desert pla- waters, along with a characteristic mosaic of Heath Special Nature Reserves, ins nearby, adds to the area’s diversity. This ecosystems and diverse habitats. The most Subotica Sands Landscape of reserve is home to many attractive species of important of those are wetlands formed on Extraordinary Characteristics loose-flowered orchid and iris. In terms of fa- the lowland peat in the valley of the River Ki- and Palić Nature Park are all una, there are marsh frogs, sand lizards, bats reš. Well-preserved fragments of vegetation located in northern Vojvodina’s and nesting birds (like the European Roller), are a valuable testament to the Pannonian North Bačka District. which live in the salt marsh and Selevenje Fo- Plain’s ancient plantlife. The most significant rest. There is also the Templompart medieval plant species in the area are the spring mea- site and an old forest ranger’s shack. dow saffron, wild carnation and Siberian iris. The most important mammal here is lesser HOW TO GET THERE? mole rat. Of 170 bird species here, it is worth mentioning the Great Spotted Woodpecker, This heathland is 23km from Subotica and Hoopoe, Eurasian Hobby, Swallow, Song ATLAS OF TOURISM POTENTIAL OF SERBIAN PROTECTED AREAS 5 road suitable for all kinds of vehicles. There is also a regular bus line from the town of Palić to the protected area (to localities like the Great Park, the Men’s Beach and the Wee- kend Settlement). The local Szeged-Subotica (via Đala) bicycle route passes beside Palić. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD The Ludaš Visitor Centre has several rooms for guest researchers and lecturers who par- ticipate in eco-camps, seminars and works- hops. The Rokin Grange on Lake Ludaš is a Thrush, Southern Grey Shrike and numerous rustic facility with an interesting ethnological birds of prey. collection showcasing grange life in Vojvodina (www.etnolife.org). HOW TO GET THERE? The Sunjog Čarda in the Ludaš Reserve, Haj- dukovo, serves fish delicacies. It is surrounded Subotica Sands is 80km from Subotica (Hra- by untouched nature. This authentic thatched stovača locality) and 13km from the Treseti- house has an interesting monument erected in šte locality. There is a paved entrance from honour of the mosquito (www.palic.rs) in front. the direction of Subotica and a partially pa- There is the Wine Court, Gujaš Čarda and Resting ved, partially dirt summer road suitable for House near Ludaš (up to 3km from the lake), as cars and bicycles (Tresetište locality) well as the Flower Grange (Cvetni Salaš) and the Crown of Palić (Palićka Kruna) in Palić. Gue- PALić Nature PARK sts can also stay at hotels in Subotica and Palić. More information can be obtained from the tou- Palić Nature Park is also located east of Subo- rist organizations of Subotica (www.visitsuboti- tica (N 46˚04’32’’, E 19˚43’36’’).