Danube-Drava National Park, National park in Baranya County, Hungary.
Danube-Drava National Park is a protected area in Baranya County that stretches along both rivers and includes wide wetlands, dense floodplain forests and open riverbanks. The landscape consists of flat flood zones with winding channels, reed belts and tall poplars where bird species such as herons and kingfishers live.
The protected area was officially created in 1996 to preserve the floodplain landscapes that had formed over centuries through the interaction of both rivers. Since then, the riverbanks and wetlands have been restored to a more natural state after past interventions altered the water balance.
The name links the two rivers that have long shaped life in this region, their banks still lined with small villages today. In some settlements, old fishing cottages remain, where residents once made their living from the water and now guide visitors through nearby floodplain woods.
Several visitor centers are spread across the entire area and offer maps as well as information on individual sections. It is best to plan your visit according to the season, as some riverside paths are not passable during high water.
European beavers live in the area and have spread successfully since their return, creating small ponds and wet zones with their dams. Black storks breed here in remote forest patches where they are rarely disturbed and build their large nests in treetops.
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