Drava Landscape Park

Drava Landscape Park

Drava Landscape Park comprises an area along the river Drava, which runs between the cities of Maribor and Ptuj. It has been created over the centuries due to floods. Throughout history, since the Ice Age, the river has marked the landscape with enormous deposits of gravel. As Drava regularly flooded, a varied and interesting living space was created. Regular flooding has fertilized the surrounding forests and meadows and raised the level of the groundwater. The Drava Landscape Park is formed by river banks and terraces, a large number of gravel bays, flooded forests, and marshy meadows. Also valuable in this area are meadows, which are flooded during the rainy days. The farmers used to wash gold in the river, dealt with rafting and other crafts. The Ptuj Lake alone is a winter haven for up to 25,000 birds, which is why Drava is one of the ornithologically important areas. Many of these birds are rare and endangered. Due to its flora, fauna and animal environment, the landscape park area is classified in the European network of protected areas of Natura 2000, which aims to preserve the biodiversity by protecting the natural habitats of the endangered animals and plant species that are of relevance for the European Union.