Nature Parks - Lonjsko Polje
by Natasa Lujic
The Sava River begins to meander in this area creating typical wet areas that greatly determine its flow and the appearance of the surrounding region. With a total surface of 50 650 ha, the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is one of the largest wetland area in the entire Danubian basin. The most significant ecological element in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is flooding which can appear any time of the year, because of the extraordinary constellation of the Sava River and its tributaries. Water waves are often so huge and Lonjsko Polje Nature Park has a very important role as a flood control system. In addition to this specific water regime, the micro relief plays an important role in creating the great diversity of habitats. Accordingly, a mosaic of diverse habitats typical for flooded areas has been created, resulting in the rich variety of different biocenosis. These include various types of wet forests, grasslands, meadows various types of marshy and water habitats but also of ditches and canals as a result of longstanding human impact. In the area of the Park, approximately 12 000 ha of pastures are used by cattle livestock of all inhabitans. They are the last examples of a cultural landscape that once extended throughout Central Europe all the way up to the end of the 19th century. With the highest concentration of indigenous breeds (horses, pigs, cattle) in Croatia, they represent a unique way of managing pasturelands and are, at the same time, one of the most important habitats for a large number of rare and endangered plant and animal species. Contact Natasa Lujic for more info
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