Sava River

Temporal flood in the Sava River´s floodplain.
Temporal flood in the Sava River´s floodplain., © Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Natural flood prevention: floodplains work as a sponge and reduce downstream floods.
Natural flood prevention: floodplains work as a sponge and reduce downstream floods., © Boris Krstinić/Lonjsko polje Nature Park Archive
Alluvial forest along the Sava River.
Alluvial forest along the Sava River., © Goran Šafarek
Stork paradise in a traditional village along the Sava.
Stork paradise in a traditional village along the Sava., © Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) nesting in one of the last active colonies in South Eastern Europe - the Sava River oxbow Kraje Diol in Lonjsko Polje Nature Park.
Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) nesting in one of the last active colonies in South Eastern Europe - the Sava River oxbow Kraje Diol in Lonjsko Polje Nature Park., © Nenad Setina
Posavina horses in their natural habitat, the pastures along the Sava. They are perfectly adapted to flooding.
Posavina horses in their natural habitat, the pastures along the Sava. They are perfectly adapted to flooding., © Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Typical and very rare domestic animal breed, the Turopolje pig, feeding on floodplain pastures along the Sava.
Typical and very rare domestic animal breed, the Turopolje pig, feeding on floodplain pastures along the Sava., © Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Meander, alluvial forests, and floodplains are typical features of the middle reach of natural rivers. Along the Sava River, the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park exhibits such features.
Meander, alluvial forests, and floodplains are typical features of the middle reach of natural rivers. Along the Sava River, the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park exhibits such features., © Boris Krstinić/Lonjsko polje Nature Park Archive
Boris Krstinić/Lonjsko polje Nature Park Archive
In springtime, large parts of the meadows and alluvial forests along Sava River are flooded.
In springtime, large parts of the meadows and alluvial forests along Sava River are flooded., © Boris Krstinić/Lonjsko polje Nature Park Archive
Sava from above.
Sava from above., © Goran Šafarek
Sava's oxbows.
Sava's oxbows., © Goran Šafarek
Sava's oxbows.
Sava's oxbows., © Goran Šafarek
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park.
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park., © Goran Šafarek
Flood protection made by Sava: Because the water is not prevented from naturally flooding Sava’s banks at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, downstream flood waves are smaller and slower. The water is being retained naturally.
Flood protection made by Sava: Because the water is not prevented from naturally flooding Sava’s banks at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, downstream flood waves are smaller and slower. The water is being retained naturally., © Goran Šafarek
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park.
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park., © Goran Šafarek
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park.
Sava's natural floodplains at Lonjsko Polje Nature Park., © Goran Šafarek
The alluvial forests in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is known as stork paradise.
The alluvial forests in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is known as stork paradise., © Goran Šafarek
Odransko Polje along the Sava.
Odransko Polje along the Sava., © Goran Šafarek
Odransko Polje along the Sava.
Odransko Polje along the Sava., © Goran Šafarek
Odransko Polje along the Sava.
Odransko Polje along the Sava., © Goran Šafarek
The Brezice Dam on the Sava in Slovenia (close to the border with Croatian) is already under construction. The Sava has been diverted into an artificial, concrete canal while the new dam is being built across.
The Brezice Dam on the Sava in Slovenia (close to the border with Croatian) is already under construction. The Sava has been diverted into an artificial, concrete canal while the new dam is being built across., © Tibor Mikuska
Brezice Dam construction site.
Brezice Dam construction site., © Tibor Mikuska
From its source in the Slovenian mountains to its mouth into the Danube in Belgrade, the Sava River represents one of Europe´s ecologically and culturally most interesting lifelines. Along its total length of 944 km and total catchment area of 97,713 km2, the Sava River connects four countries and more than 8 million people who live in and from its catchment area. Large sections of the Sava River are still free flowing and extensive floodplains and alluvial forests have been preserved until the present day. Read about it here: Sava River - Europe’s prime source of natural flood prevention
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