Neretva Delta

The Neretva reaches the sea in the only substantial delta on the eastern Adriatic, and most of it has been converted: drainage schemes through the twentieth century turned marsh into some of the most productive farmland in Croatia, growing mandarins, watermelons and vegetables in quantity. What survives of the wetland - lakes, reed beds and channels, several sections protected under the Ramsar convention - is still a major stopover on the Adriatic migration route, with over three hundred bird species recorded. Trips run in the flat-bottomed traditional boats, the trupice, and the local eel and frog dishes are a genuine regional cuisine rather than a tourist invention.

Background

The river crosses Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia before reaching the Adriatic, and the wetland continues upstream into Hutovo Blato in Herzegovina. Listed under the Ramsar Convention on 18 January 1993, the delta's alluvial area is put at around 19,000 ha, though it occupies roughly 11,490 ha today. Of that, 1,620 ha are protected: the ornithological reserves of Prud, Orepak and Podgredom, a reserve for birds and fish at the river mouth, and the protected landscape of lake Modro oko. Another 1200 ha of natural land has no protection. The State Institute for Nature Protection formally proposed in 2007 that the delta become a nature park.

Source: Wikipedia, "Neretva Delta"

The landscape

• The only large eastern Adriatic delta - mostly drained for farming.
• Ramsar-protected remnants - lakes, reeds and channels.
• Over three hundred bird species - on the migration route.
• Trips in trupice - the traditional flat-bottomed boats.

When to go

March to May and September to November for birds; summer for the fruit. A full day.

Before you go

Much of what you drive through is intensive agriculture, not wetland. Mosquitoes are severe. Boat trips are commercial and often include a meal. The remaining protected areas are scattered and need a plan.

Nearby

Narona museum is at Vid; Ston and Peljesac are south.

Key facts