Nature Park & Reserve Hutovo Blato
Hutovo Blato is a nature reserve and bird reserve located in Bosnia & Herzegovina. It is primarily composed of marshlands that were created by the underground aquifer system of the Krupa River. It is fed from the limestone massif of Ostrvo that divides the Deransko Lake and Svitavsko Lake.
The reserve encompasses an area of over 7,400 hectares and represents one of the richest wetland reserves in Europe.
The reserve is on the list of BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas. It is the largest reserve of its kind in the region, in terms of both the size and diversity. It is home to over 240 types of migratory birds and dozens that make their permanent home in the sub-Mediterranean wetlands surrounding Deransko Lake.
Historical site, Old Fortress Hutovo Blato, is located in the area of Nature Park. Visitors can enjoy relaxation, recreational activities in nature, sport-fishing, cycling and main tourist attraction – photo safari. There is also an educational path providing information of park and for rising environmental awareness and need for preservation of natural heritage in Nature park “Hutovo Blato”.
The Krupa river is a unique river in Europe because the river flows both ways. It normally flows from Hutovo Blato to the confluence with Neretva river. However, it occasionally reverses due to high water level in Neretva that pushes the Krupa river in opposite direction.
In October of 2017 an environmental disaster struck the nature park – Hutovo Blato wetland suffered severe damage when wildfire broke out.
The Krupa river that feeds Hutovo Blato is a unique river in Europe because the river flows both ways…