Blederija
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Blederija | |
|---|---|
| (Serbian: Бледерија) | |
 Blederija waterfall | |
 Interactive map of Blederija | |
| Location | Reka, Kladovo  Serbia |
| Nearest city | Kladovo |
| Coordinates | 44°30′35″N 22°22′14″E / 44.509658°N 22.370667°E |
| Area | 398.86 ha (985.6 acres) |
| Established | December 2019 |
| Governing body | Kladovo Touristic Organization |
| tookladovo | |
The Blederija (Serbian Cyrillic: Бледерија) is a natural monument in eastern Serbia. It was placed under the state protection as the geological phenomenon and includes various geological formations (karstic springs, caves, waterfall) in the watershed of the Blederija river, on the Miroč mountain.[1]
Geography
The Blederija river springs from four karstic springs on the Miroč, at an altitude of 389 m (1,276 ft), under the Topla Bara peak. The springs are 5 m (16 ft) away from each other. Some are icy cold, while the others are sub-thermal - one has a water temperature around 8 °C (46 °F), the other has a constant 17 °C (63 °F).[2][3]
The river forms several cascades in the heavily forested area before forming the 8 m (26 ft) tall Blederija waterfall after the flow of 2 km (1.2 mi).[3] Water falls over the tufa bar in the curtain style, forming the plunge pool in the form of tufa tub. It holds small lake with turquoise water color.[4] Downstream there is another, even shallower lake. From there, after several cascades, the stream reaches the valley.[2]
There are several caves left of the waterfall and the scenic viewpoint on the location of former medieval town. The largest is the Sokolovica cave, from which the brook of the same name springs. It is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away from the waterfall, downstream of the former town. The cave is neither arranged nor opened for the visitors.[2] The spring in the cave is intermittent and in the form of a water well (vrelo).[5]
The Blederija continues in the southeast direction and receives rivers of Sokolovica (downstream from the Grad locality) and Suvaja. Rivers carved a small, picturesque limestone gorge, with several pronounced narrows and waterfalls.[5] Its total length is only 4.3 km (2.7 mi). After receiving the Ravna reka, it continues into the Danube under the name of Račka Reka or simply the Reka. The average discharge varies greatly and during the catastrophic 2014 Southeast Europe floods, the river heavily flooded its lower valley causing damage. However, during normal water levels, the river can be crossed on foot in some sections, though there are several small bridges across it.[2][3]
Wildlife
Lush forests include common beech, common hornbeam and various oak species: durmast oak, Hungarian oak, Austrian oak. There are 78 species of medicinal plants in the reserve.[2]
The valley of the river is known for quality honey production. Surrounding area is rich in animal life, especially deer and wild boar, and there are two protected hunting grounds in the vicinity, Vratna and Ploče.[3]
Human history
The area is today heavily forested and scarcely populated, but in the Roman period, the legionaries built a road through this valley, as a shortcut between the locations where the modern Danubian towns of Donji Milanovac and Brza Palanka are. It was used by the Roman army until the emperor Trajan cut the road through the Iron Gates gorge itself.[2][3]
The town was located on the river during the Middle Ages.[3] The locality is today known simply as "Grad" ("town").[2]
According to the folk mythology, the water fairies bath under the waterfall.[3]