| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Designated | 28 March 1977 |
| Reference no. | 136[1] |
Obedska bara (Obedska pond or Obedska bog,Serbian Cyrillic: Обедска бара, pronounced[ɔ̂bɛdskaːbâra]) is a largeswamp-forest area andnatural reserve stretching along theSava River in Serbia, in Southern Syrmia (Srem/Szerémség), some 40 km west ofBelgrade.
The pond is anoxbow lake, a remnant of the meanders of the old Sava River, whose main stream presently flows more southward. Due to its shape the swampy bed of the pond, situated between the villages ofObrež andKupinovo, is called “The Horse-shoe” (potkovica). Higher grounds with cut-in depressions and oldoak forests are called “The Hoof” (kopito).
The pond is an authentic complex of stagnant tributaries, marshes, pits, marsh vegetation, damp meadows and forests. It is home to over 30 different water, swamp, forest and meadowbiocoenoses. Thefauna includes 220 species ofbirds, 50 species ofmammals, 13 ofamphibians, 11 ofreptiles and 16 offish, while theflora andfunga includes 500 species of plants, 180 species ofmushrooms and 50 species ofmoss. It is one of the richest and best preserved wildlife habitats in thePannonian plain.
Obedska pond is one of the world's oldest nature areas, first administrative protective measures having been introduced in 1874, when theHabsburg Empire protected it as hunting ground of the royal family. Presently, it has first-category legal protection status, denoting a natural asset of exceptional value. Its status has been verified by theRamsar Convention on swamps since 1977, and included in the List of areas of special significance for birds of Europe ofImportant Bird Area project, andUNESCO's list of world's most important wetland areas.
44°43′27″N19°52′47″E / 44.7242°N 19.8797°E /44.7242; 19.8797