Boljetin River Canyon | Natural Heritage of Serbia

Đerdap - World Geopark

In early July 2019, Đerdap National Park was included in the UNESCO list of world geoparks, placing it in the prestigious company of about 160 of the most attractive areas in the world, as a unique representative of the Earth's geological heritage.

Stretching along the right bank of the Danube River between Golubac and Kladovo, covering an area of nearly 65,000 hectares and a length of about 100 kilometers, Đerdap is the largest and most diverse national park in the country in terms of its natural characteristics.

The composite valley of the Danube, wedged between the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, is known as the Đerdap Gorge. Besides being one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, it also represents the cradle of European civilization. It consists of a series of smaller basins and gorges, expansions and constrictions where the Danube reaches sea-like depths and widths.

The Danube River, the second-largest river in Europe, is certainly the first association and the main feature of Đerdap National Park. However, what makes it so unique in the wider area are the numerous natural attractions harmoniously integrated into the idyllic environment of the newest world geopark, also the only one of its kind in Serbia.

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Boljetin River Canyon - Geological Treasure

One of such attractions is the Boljetin River Canyon, skillfully hidden yet relatively easily accessible from the Đerdap Highway.

In comparison to the impressive Đerdap Gorge, the Boljetin River Canyon is not characterized by spectacular depth or length, let alone a large, powerful, or fast-flowing river. In fact, for most of the year, the Boljetin River resembles a stream, and in the warm summer months, it can even be on the verge of drying up.

So what makes it attractive then?!

What makes the Boljetin River Canyon unique in Europe are its valley sides. Cut into sedimentary rocks from various geological epochs, the canyon's cross-section allows for a clear reading of the geological history of this part of Europe, from the time when Đerdap was just a narrow strait between the Pannonian and Pontic seas, and a larger part of Serbia was under the sea, to the present day.

Namely, sedimentary rock layers, ranging in age from the Middle Jurassic period (about 140 million years ago) to the present day, can be clearly observed and examined along the entire length of the canyon. Thinner or thicker layers of rocks, different colors, shades, and chemical compositions, fossilized remains of ancient plants and animals, in natural symbiosis with the surrounding greenery and the murmur of the river, represent a scientific treat for geology enthusiasts and experts, while for laypeople, they can literally resemble a cake with countless layers.

Considering its easy accessibility from the main Golubac - Donji Milanovac road (turning towards the village of Boljetin) and a relatively short and easily walkable hiking trail about 1.5 kilometers long (one way), the Boljetin River Canyon is a warm recommendation for a visit to anyone who wants to mark this unique geological wonder of nature on their tourist maps.

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