Livanjsko Polje, Nature reserve in Canton 10, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Livanjsko Polje is an expansive karst plateau covering about 45,000 hectares, containing seasonal marshes, year-round streams, springs, and the largest peatland on the Balkan peninsula. The terrain shifts between open flatlands and areas where water flows through underground channels, resurfacing at distant locations.
Human traces in this region date back to around 2000 BC, and later the Romans built roads across the plateau to link Dalmatian provinces together. These ancient routes show the area served as an important passage for centuries.
Local people here produce traditional cheese varieties named after the region, made from milk sourced at farms across the plateau. These handmade products are deeply tied to daily life in the area.
The area comes especially alive during spring and autumn months when migratory birds and raptors stop here to feed. Visiting during these seasons offers the best chance to observe this dynamic activity.
This plateau is one of the largest periodically flooded karst depressions in the entire Dinaric region, where water vanishes underground and reappears in completely unexpected places. This hidden water movement makes the area a geological puzzle that fascinates both visitors and scientists.
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