Park prirode Hutovo blato

Hutovo Blato is considered to be one of the largest bird winter ports in Europe. The area covers the territories of Čapljina and Stolacand incorporates terrain consisting of swamps, plains and hills, with altitude ranging between 1 and 432 meters above sea level.

This area is located around fifteen kilometers from the Adriatic Sea and is under a strong influence of the Mediterranean climate. Because of exceptional importance and beauty, Hutovo Blato was inaugurated as the Nature Park in 1995. Flowing into valleys and depressions, lost rivers and surface water currents form a large number of lakes, gorges, and river Krupa and ensure a high level of underground water. Such a high level of underground water causes the appearance of permanent and periodic wells and springs.

Lakes of Hutovo Blato represent true crypto depressions, because bottoms of some of them are below sea level (Jelim 18 m).

The largest lakes of Hutovo Blato are: Deransko, Jelim, Drijen, Orah, Škrka and Svitava.

Svitavsko lake is an artificial water accumulation, originating from construction of the Čapljina hydroelectric power station. All lakes in Hutovo Blato are interconnected with numerous canals and gorges.

River Krupa is the main water current of Hutovo Blato, which leads the waters from Gornje Blato and Svitavsko lake into river Neretva. Krupa does not have an actual spring, but is actually an arm of Deransko lake. The length of Krupa is 9 km with an average depth of 5 meters. This is a unique river in Europe, because the river flows both ways. It flows ‘normally’ from the ‘spring’ to the mouth and from the mouth to the ‘spring’. This happens when, due to high water level and large quantity of water, river Neretva pushes out the Krupa river.

Thanks to the vicinity and influence of the Adriatic Sea, abundance of water surrounded by karst and hilly terrain, the biological diversity of the Hutovo Blato vegetation is exceptionally valuable. There are only a few places in the world that harbor such a large number of species in such a small region.

The overall plant cover of the Nature Park can be split into four types of vegetation: water, swamp, meadow and forest.

Water areas of Hutovo Blato are covered mostly with laurustines (Nymphaea alba) and water lilies (Nuphar luteum). In addition, one finds thin leaved pondweed (Potamogeton sp.), buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), etc.

The largest part of the swamp area is overgrown by vast reed fields, dominated by: reed (Phragmites sp.), cattail (reed mace) (Typha sp.), yellow flags (Carex sp.) and rush (Juncus sp.).

Forestand meadow vegetation are represented through numerous typical species that completed the biological diversity of Hutovo Blato.

Significant species of these vegetation types are: European ash (Fraxinus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), butcher’s broom (Ruscus sp.), pomegranate (Punica sp.), blueberry (Juniperus sp.), willow (Salix sp.), elm (Ulmus sp.), alder (Alnus sp.), blackberry (Rubus sp.), mulberry (Morus sp.), nettle (Lamium sp.), clover (Trifolium sp.). Some floral communities are present only in some areas, while other are widespread and cover large surfaces.

· Flora

According to the latest research of the Life project, thanks to favorable environmental conditions and the influence of Mediterranean climate, more than 600 floral species were identified in the Nature Park . In the surrounding hills, one finds the maquis elements typical for sub-Mediterranean areas. Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) L. and European holly (Phylirea media) L. are distinctive by their dark green color, and are found in the largest numbers in Crno Brdo (the Black Hill), which is why the hill was given this name, given that from distance it appears to be black. In addition, in this are one will also find terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus) L., etc.

Only in one location, in a separated island in the swamp, one will find laurel grove (Laurus nobilis) L.

In the vegetation group surrounding Hutovo Blato, there are the following trees: black ash (Fraxinus ornus) L., eastern hornbeam (Ostria carpinipholia) Scop., hackberry (Celtis australis) L., etc., as well as the following bushes: pomegranate (Punica granatum) L. , bramble (Paliurus spina christi) Mill., tule (Petteria ramentacea) Presl., cornel (Cornus mas) L., etc. In terms of low shrubbery, one finds: sage (Salvia officinalis) L., immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) (Roth.) Mill. Corr. Guss., heath (Satureja montana) L., etc.

In terms of water vegetation, the most represented are water lily (Nuphar luteum) L , laurustine (Nymphaea alba) L., etc. Further on, there is the swamp vegetation: cattail (Typha angustifolia), then a perimeter of reed and sedge (Phragmites communis) Trin.; in somewhat higher areas, this perimeter is replaced with a perimeter of shallot (Cladium mariscus) (L.) Pohl., and further on of bush-type sedge (Carex elata) All.

In terms of tree-type species, depressions of Hutovo Blato host: osier (Salix purpurea) L., white willow (Salix alba) L., white mulberry (Morus alba) L., fig tree (Ficus carica) L., ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) L., etc.

Easily identifiable vegetation zoning, together with the indispensable influence of water, create ideal conditions, especially for the wide diversity of bird population. A variety of vegetation coloring and the blue color of water offer a particular feeling and landscape value. Another major feature of the vegetation in Hutovo Blato is that it there is a natural revitalization of the swamp ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) L., which is settling in its old native growing areas.

· Fauna

Among others, a particular wealth of Hutovo Blato are the birds.

Hutovo Blato is situated in one of four bird migration pathways from Northern and Central Europe to Asia and Africa. During the bird migration season, Hutovo Blato offers these birds, in addition to both non-biotic (climate, geographical position, water, soil, etc.) and biotic conditions (vegetation, micro and macro fauna, etc.), an abundance of food, quiet and peace for rest, which is why this area, since ancient times, was recognized as an important habitat of swamp birds. The largest number of birds is registered during autumn and spring migrations, however, there are also many species that inhabit the area to spend the winter or nest.

According to the latest research of the Life project, 163 species from 39 bird families were identified in Hutovo Blato. In terms of season status, the largest number of them, 53 species, are species that spend the winter in Hutovo Blato.

During the winter migration, sometimes there are as many as several tens of thousands of various birds in Hutovo Blato region. To see flocks of several thousands of birds in their movements over this area is quite impressive.

Because of favorable climate and abundance of food, some species remain in Hutovo Blato throughout the year, they nest here and raise their young. These include: Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) Pallas, Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Linnaeus, Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Linnaeus, Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Linnaeus, Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) Scopoli, Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Linnaeus, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Linnaeus, Heron, and others.

In terms of the rich bird population, we stress the following: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Linnaeus, Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) Guldenstadt, Wigeon (Anas penelope) Linnaeus, Garganey (Anas querquedula) Linnaeus, Coot (Fulica atra) Linnaeus, Great White Egret (Egretta alba) Linnaeus, Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Linnaeus, Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) Linnaeus, Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) Linnaeus, etc.; these species are represented during the winter.

Other species are also represented, such as: Common Crane (Grus grus) Linnaeus, Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Linnaeus, Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) Linnaeus, Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) Linnaeus, Herrning Gull (Larus argentatus) Pontoppidan, White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Linnaeus, Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Linnaeus, Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Linnaeus, and other species.

This wealth of airborne fauna must be protected and preserved zealously, to be given as legacy to the future generations to preserve and nourish such natural wealth.

· Water

Water currents of Hutovo Blato host 22 fish species from 12 families, among which endemic species are Chondrostoma kneri, Heckel, 1843., Salmo dentex, Heckel, 1854., Cobitis nerentana, Linnaesus, 1758 , Knipowitschia punctatisima croatica and Knipowitschia sp.

The most well known species are Cyprinus caprio, Linnaesus, 1758; Tinca tinca, Linnaeus, 1758; Scardinius scardafa, Bonaparte, 1837; Rutilus basak, Heckel, 1843; Ameiurus nebulosus, Lesueur 1819; and other.

Through rivers Krupa and Neretva, water currents of Hutovo Blato are connected to the Adriatic Sea, therefore some migratory species that inhabit salty waters also come to Hutovo Blato and adjust to plain water conditions, among which the most well known are Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus, 1758; Mugil cephalus, Linnaeus, 1758; etc.