Natura 2000 sites and landscape parks

The Maribor or Bresternica Lake, located above Maribor Island, was created by damming the Drava River due to the Maribor Island hydroelectric power plant. Today, it is protected as a landscape park. The lake is a very popular recreational spot for the people of Maribor and other visitors. Along the lake's shore, there are plenty of opportunities for active leisure: the lake offers possibilities for rowing, windsurfing, sailing, swimming in the pool, or simply enjoying a walk, cycling, or running.

Ptuj Lake, the largest artificial lake in Slovenia on the Drava River, impresses with its grandeur. The lake is part of the Natura 2000 network, as it is home to many nesting birds, including the common tern and the black-headed gull.

On the right bank of Ptuj Lake, there is a birdwatching observatory that allows visitors to observe the diverse bird species in the area. Artificial nesting islands have been built on the lake for the common tern, black-headed gull, and river gull. Around the lake, there is a 12-kilometer-long trail and an ornithological observatory providing all the key information about the local birdlife.

An artificial lake, considered one of the largest reservoir lakes in Slovenia, also serves as the border between Slovenia and Croatia. Together with the Ormož lagoons, it forms the largest Slovenian resting area for migratory water birds.

The lake's shore is home to extensive reed beds, grasslands, and swamp forests. Numerous water birds have found their habitat here, and the rare pygmy cormorant also overwinters on the lake.

Dravograd Lake, also known as Črneško Lake, is a reservoir created by the Dravograd Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Drava River. In addition to the natural left meander, the dam further slowed the river, causing it to deposit more sediment and transform into an almost stagnant inland water body, hence the name Dravograd Lake.

Over time, the flooded area turned into a marshland with islands and reed beds, embodying the characteristics of a sensitive and rich wetland ecosystem. This area is a valuable habitat for both common and rare species of plants and animals. Many water birds find refuge and breeding grounds here, with over 150 bird species recorded. These include resident birds that nest and overwinter here, as well as many migratory species that breed in the area but move to warmer regions during the winter.

The Ormož Lagoons are a 55-hectare wetland of anthropogenic origin, located within the river ecosystem of the Drava near Ptuj Lake. The area consists of shallow basins with reed beds and stands of cattails, surrounded by floodplain forest—a rare remnant of softwood floodplain meadows in Slovenia. The Ormož Lagoons are among the most important stopover sites for migratory birds in Slovenia. Among other animal groups, the regular presence of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and two endangered invertebrate species deserves special attention, as does the existence of several protected habitat types.

The Drava Landscape Park encompasses the area along the Drava River between the cities of Maribor and Ptuj. It has been shaped over centuries by flooding. Throughout history, dating back to the Ice Age, the river has left its mark on the landscape with massive deposits of gravel. Due to the regular flooding of the Drava, a diverse and fascinating habitat has developed.

The Landscape Park, spanning an area of 851 hectares, was designated as a protected area in 1992. It holds exceptional conservation value, primarily due to the preserved connection between aquatic and forest ecosystems. This is especially important for amphibians, as it provides suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The park extends across the municipalities of Pesnica, Duplek and Lenart v Slovenskih goricah.

The Šturmovci Landscape Park is located in northeastern Slovenia, on the Drava Plain, between the Slovenske Gorice hills to the north and the Haloze hills to the south. The park lies entirely within the municipality of Markovci, with the settlements of Spodnji and Zgornji Šturmovci situated in the municipality of Videm. The southern border of the landscape park is defined by the Dravinja River. Like other areas along the Drava River, Šturmovci is distinguished by its extraordinary biodiversity. A major impact on this environment occurred with the construction of Ptuj Lake in 1977 for the Formin Hydroelectric Power Plant. Recognizing the need to preserve the area's plant and animal diversity, the municipality of Ptuj protected part of Šturmovci by ordinance in 1979. In 2004, the area was included in the European network of important conservation sites, NATURA 2000.

Today, the Šturmovci Landscape Park is especially popular among bird enthusiasts and birdwatchers. Many bird species live, overwinter, or migrate through the area. Together with the Drava River corridor between Maribor and Zavrč, the park is listed as a European Important Bird Area.