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Uvac Special Nature Reserve lies in Serbia, on the River Uvac. The river winds through Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and is a refuge for numerous endangered bird species. The terrain consists of horseshoe bends, towering viewpoints, and lush forests. Of the 21 named mountains in Uvac, Prociјeљ is the highest at 1,322 m or 4,337 ft.
The Uvac Special Nature Reserve is within the Stara Vlaska area in southwestern Serbia. It encompasses a part of the Uvac River canyon and its tributaries, Veljusnica, Kladnica, and Tisovica. Designated as a natural asset of exceptional significance, it has been under state protection since 1971.
The river has cut through constricted meanders of heights reaching up to 100 m (328 ft). The central part of the reserve consists of the Uvac River canyon and its tributary valleys within the Starovlaško-Raška highland. The mountains of Zlatar, Čemernica, Javor, Murtenica, and Jadovnik surround it and cover an area of 7,543 ha (18.630 acres). The reserve's minimum altitude is 760 m (2,493 ft), and the maximum is 1,322 m (4,337 ft). About 2/3 of the park is within the municipality of Nova Varoš, while the other 1/3 is within the municipality of Sjenica.
The reserve's minimum altitude is 760 m (2,493 ft), and the maximum is 1,322 m (4,337 ft), making it a unique air spa.
The canyon valleys with high, steep limestone cliffs surround the Uvac River's waters. It is the longest tributary of the Lim River, approximately 120 km (74 mi) long. Engineers have exploited its hydroelectric potential as a mountain river by constructing three dams and, consequently, three artificial lakes. The canyon contains three lakes - Uvačko (the most beautiful and famous), Zlatarsko, and Radoinjsko Lake.
It’s possible to reach the lake from both Nova Varoš and Sjenica. I recommend that you visit from the direction of Sjenica, via the road to Kušiće - after 8 km (5 mi), you will reach the campsite near the lake. Along the way, you can enjoy the wild beauty of the Pešter plateau and buy celebrated Sjenica cheese. Uvac is about 230 km (142 mi) away from Belgrade, 151 km (93 mi) from Kragujevac, and 250 km (155 mi) from Niš.
The Special Nature Reserve Uvac is rich in karst, featuring numerous forms such as karst surfaces, valleys, sinkholes, gorges, caves, and pits. The canyons are deeply incised into limestone walls with high, sheer cliffs. The average depth of the valley is between 200 and 350 m (656 and 1,149 ft).
One can see the meanders of Uvac in three places within the canyon. The most stunning formations are upstream of the Veljušnica River, called Lopiža meaders. They have become a symbol of Serbia's natural beauty. These meandering parts are of particular value due to their distinctive and recognizable nature. They formed when the canyon flooded in 1979 for the needs of the Uvac hydroelectric power plant.
The riverbed used to be at a higher elevation than present. Due to accelerated vertical erosion, it began to descend. Inconsistencies within the limestone caused the river to take its windy path; the water could only erode the softest parts of the rock while the harder layers remained, forming extremely deep meanders.
On both sides of the canyon, there are several viewpoints of the meanders. On the right bank are several scattered small villages and Molitva Hill, one of the best viewpoints. Maiden Rock, another lookout, is a tall rock formation with an enduring legend of a broken-hearted girl who took the final plunge.
The Uvac features one of the most interesting speleological areas in Serbia and represents one of the fundamental values of the reserve. The system consists of two caves and one pit whose channels are interconnected and have a total length of 6,185 m (20,291 ft). The most significant cave is the Ušačka. It has two entrances, one in the village of Gornje Lopiže and the other in the Uvac riverbed.
Slightly shorter is the Ledena cave. It runs parallel to the main channel of the Ušačka cave at a distance of about 100 m (326 ft). Other caves include the Tubića, Baždarska, and Javorska.
The Javorska cave is in the village of Bukovik. The Kalipoljska River flows underground through the cave systems into the Zlatarsko Lake. Deposits from mineral-rich drip water, such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and draperies, are abundant throughout these caves.
This nature reserve is characterized by exceptional biodiversity. This ecosystem is protected because of this diversity of pristine habitats and numerous plant and animal species.
The park’s critical mammals include the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), otter (Lutra lutra), and bats. The rock-dwelling insect species of Remyella and Duvalius genera and the centipede Haasea lacusnigri microcorna are endemic to the Uvac caves. Another natural asset of the canyon is its clean waters, which are the habitat of 24 fish species, including the grayling, brook trout, lake trout, chub, pike, and common nase.
The reserve has registered the presence of 219 different plant taxa, including several protected species and more than 50 with medicinal properties.
Up to present, 104 bird species have been recorded in this area, including the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), goosander (Mergus merganser), and corn crake (Crex crex). However, the most significant bird species in the reserve is the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), one of the two remaining species of vultures that nest in Serbia today.
Gyps fulvus is a large scavenging eagle species with a wingspan of up to 3 m (10 ft). The Uvac and the Trešnjica River Canyon are their only habitat in Serbia. The 300 individuals in the reserve have a special diet of solely the carcasses of dead animals.
The vultures have managed to survive in the refugial habitats of the canyon and gorge parts of the Uvac River and its tributaries. The average weight of the bird is 8-9 kg (17 - 19 lbs), while some individuals can weigh up to 11 kg (22 lbs). The female carries only one egg, which both parents incubate for eight weeks, usually on limestone cliffs. Breeding occurs in groups, forming colonies, and rarely in isolated pairs. The hatched chick stays in the nest for about four months before its first flight.
Its role in the ecosystem's food chain is irreplaceable, as it exclusively feeds on dead animals, thus preventing the spread of diseases and enabling "natural recycling." Since 1994, this bird has been protected by law, and its colony has become the largest in the Balkans and one of the largest in Europe. Two other vulture species, the black vulture and the white-tailed eagle, have also returned to the reserve in recent years.
Twenty years ago, Gyps fulvus was on the brink of extinction. In 1990, only seven vultures were left in the Uvac Lakes area. In 1994, the "Beloglavi sup" Bird of Prey Protection Fund was established, and the Manastirina feeding site opened, continuously providing slaughterhouse waste. Over 50 tons of food is deposited annually at the "restaurant" for vultures, facilitating the increase of nesting pairs to 67.
There are many magnificent Serbian Orthodox monasteries surrounding the Uvac River. Restoration has saved some buildings while others have crumbled. Among the recently restored sites are the Uvac and Dubrava Monasteries.
The Uvac Monastery lies between Priboj and Čajetina in the village of Stublo. It was rebuilt several times in the late twentieth century. It was most likely built in the fifteenth century; conservators have preserved several significant frescoes of Saint Simeon and Saint Archangel Michael.
Many historians believe that the Uvac Monastery, or Vuvac, is on the site of the former Church of Janja, an essential saint among the Serbian people. According to folklore, Janja was the sister of the great župan Stefan Nemanja. Her brothers built a monastery for her in a distant place where she would become a nun and spend the rest of her life. Other legends say Saint Janja protected the weak and helpless, and the Uvac Monastery may have been a women's monastery.
The Dubrava Monastery is another restored site. The church is on a steep slope above the Uvac River canyon, but you can still reach it by paved road. The hill has an incredible view of the Uvac River meanders. No records of this monastery's history exist, but historians believe it was built in the thirteenth century.
Right above Sjenica Lake lies Jerinin Grad. These are the remains of a fifteenth-century fortress in the village of Družinići, of which only walls remain. The fortress’s origin is often associated with "Cursed Jerina." This is probably Jerina Branković, the wife of Despot Đurđe Branković. Jerina's rule was extremely harsh. Many fortresses in Serbia are named "Jerinin Grad," even though they existed long before her.
The Pavlovića Brod section of the Uvac became protected in 1971 as a Special Nature Reserve covering 267 ha (659 acres). The protection area expanded in 1995 to cover 2,717 ha (6,713 ar); in 2006, the reserve extended to its current size of 7,543 ha (14,191 ar). The "Beloglavi Sup" Bird of Prey Protection Fund based in Nova Varoš manages the reserve.
The Molitva overlook offers one of the most beautiful views in Serbia, sweeping over the Uvac Canyon and meanders. Molitva reaches 1,247 m (4,091 ft), towering over the river. A suspension bridge allows for an exciting pedestrian crossing to the other side of the canyon.
The walking trail starts from the Krstac Village and follows the right bank of the Uvac or Sjenica Lake to the Molitva viewpoint, offering a spectacular view of the Uvac canyon. The trail length is around 6 km in one direction (about 12 km or 7 mi round trip) and is not overly strenuous.
This trail also starts in Krstac Village and follows the right bank of the Uvac or Sjenica Lake to Druznice. The path crosses a suspension bridge in Druzinice. It continues along the edge of the lake, through a pine forest (left bank of the Uvac), to the Ravni Krs overlook, offering a beautiful view of the Uvac Canyon. The total length is about 12 km (7 mi). From Ravni Krs, it is possible to continue walking along the edge of the lake to the Veliki Vrh viewpoint, 1 km (0.6 mi) away.
A walking trail starts from the Pavlovic bridge locality (about 8 km or 5 mi from Nova Varos, accessible by off-road vehicle via the old Nova Varos - Bozetici road). The trail goes to the Stevanetic viewpoint and follows the right bank of the Zlatarsko Lake to the Celina viewpoint. It’s about 5 km (3 mi) in one direction and is moderately difficult.
These are the most significant cities near Special Nature Reserve Uvac:
Nova Varoš is a small town in southwestern Serbia, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. With a population of around 9,000, it lies at an altitude of 880 m (2900 ft) above sea level.
Several accommodation options are available in Nova Varoš, including hotels, guesthouses, and apartments. The town has options to fit every budget, from affordable guesthouses to more luxurious hotels. It is a popular destination for outdoor lovers as it offers hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and skiing.
Novi Pazar is in southwestern Serbia, near the border with Montenegro. It is the administrative center of the Raška District and has a population of around 71,000.
The city has a rich cultural heritage, influenced by the Ottoman and Serbian cultures. The historic center of Novi Pazar is characterized by narrow streets and traditional bazaars, a testament to the city's Ottoman past. Regarding accommodation, Novi Pazar offers hotels, guesthouses, and apartments, with many located in or near the city center.
It is also known for its natural beauty, with several parks and natural areas in and around the city. The nearby Golija Mountain is a popular destination for hiking and skiing, while the Novi Pazar Spa offers visitors a chance to relax in natural hot springs.
Niš is located in southeast Serbia, with a population of around 185,000. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Belgrade and Novi Sad. The city is situated in a valley at the crossroads of important Balkan and European routes dating back to Roman times.
Accommodation options in Niš include hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and apartments, with prices ranging from budget-friendly to more upscale options. Niš is a lively and culturally rich city, offering visitors a unique blend of history, tradition, and modern amenities.
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