Europe: Đerdap National Park, Serbia

44.2658° N, 21.0653° E

Location and Introduction:

Djerdap National Park is located on the Danube River, bordering Romania in eastern Serbia. Djerdap National Park covers 64,000 hectares.The park runs along the Danube River from Golubacki Grad to the dam at the Sip. Administrative offices of the park are in Donji Milanovac. [1] Tourists can use three main entrance to visit Djerdap National Park, two of them are located on Djerdap main road, and another one lies on R 106 local road. This park welcomes global tourists all year around, and travelers enjoy themselves by riding cruise, biking, and hiking on mountain trails.

"Djerdap National Park." Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

Darkopopovic. YouTube. YouTube, 15 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

Distribution of precipitation:

The mean of annual precipitation in Đerdap National Park is around 784 mm, which is higher than the other places in Serbia. Rain is fairly often in this park from April to June. On the other side, starting from July to October, Đerdap National Park welcomes its driest season. Average days with snow in Đerdap National Park is 44.6 days and the average snow depth here is 1 cm. [4] In addition, the average days with precipitation in Đerdap National Park is 135 days.

N.d. Information for visitors and hikers! web. 7 Mar. 2017. <http://www.turizam.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=110&lang=en>.

http://www.panacomp.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/put-preko-omana-500x375.jpg?x23386 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7476456

http://www.npdjerdap.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/veliki_strbac_en-480x360.jpg https://franks-travelbox.com/serbien/derdap-nationalpark-bilder.html

Humidity Ranges:

In Đerdap National Park, the highest relative humidity, which is around 80 %, often occurs in January, February, November, and December. The lowest relative humidity, which is around 60%, always shows in July and August. [9] The average humidity ranges in Đerdap National Park is 20%.

"About Geopark." Geopark Đerdap u osnivanju. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

The incidence of fog:

The occurrence of fog is quite common in Derdap National Park. The weather is on the cooler side in Serbia, therefore fog incidence will occur usually in large patches. [11]

"Belgrade, Serbia | 45° | Light Rain." Weather Underground. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

Wind Patterns:

For a majority of the year, winds blow in a northwest direction. This primarily occurs during the winter months, but from March to around August wind direction can range from east to southeast. These yearly patterns are influenced by global prevailing westerlies. [12]

https://www.icpdr.org/main/publications/djerdap-national-park-standing-banks-history

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/0c/1d/23/djerdap-national-park.jpg

Weather Systems and Severe Weather:

Colder fronts typically occur during the cooler months of the year, i.e. December-March. Whereas during the warmer months, warm fronts move in. If warmer fronts move in, there are chances that there will be dry weather changes, such as droughts and other heat related weather changes.[14] Typically these changes would happen during the warmer months of the year due to a decrease in precipitation. With the location of the park and Serbia being around 44° N, there isn’t a dramatic fluctuation of severe weather changes.

Weather Online. Weather Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/39/3d/9f/393d9f504ebb07ee3ab3250c778d4a75.jpg

Annual Temperature Range:

The annual temperature range in Đerdap National Park is large. From the chart below, we can see the highest temperature around the year in Đerdap National Park is 45 ℉ in average, and the lowest temperature is 0 ℉ in average. [15]

Djerdap National Park – Iron Gate. 2015. Rana Comp, Đerdap National Park.

average minimum and maximum temperature over the year. Digital image. AVERAGE MONTHLY WEATHER IN BELGRADE, SERBIA. World Weather & Climate Information, n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

Temperature and Precipitation Regimes:

The climate type in Đerdap National Park is Highland, so this place has a cool summer and cold winter. Temperatures in the park range from 0-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation occurs is quite common in Đerdap National Park as it rains about half of the year, on average. [16]

"The World Factbook: SERBIA." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

Climate Type and its Characteristics:

The climate of Djerdap National Park, Serbia is considered Highland, though areas in the north have a continental climate and other parts are continental and Mediterranean. The northern part of the country experiences cold winters with hot and humid summers, and the south and southeastern portions have cooler winters with considerable amounts of snowfall and summers that are hot and dry. The diversity of these climates is a result of the differences in elevation, latitude, and wind exposure throughout the country. [17]

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall. Digital image. Weather in Serbia. Globaltrade.net, Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

http://parksdinarides.org/content/big_579b3b615ee2a.jpg

How climate affects the plants and animals:

Djerdap National Park experiences hot summers and cold winters. There are over 1,000 species that are currently inhabited there. This national park consists mostly of forests and limited arable land. Recently, oak trees have been dying from a series of droughts occurring in the nearby region, which creates a bare ground floor that is easily assessable to hogs and smaller species living in Djerdap. Meanwhile, animals with a larger build such as deer and roebucks have experienced a significant decrease in numbers. [19]

In order to adapt to the cold winter in Serbia, animals such as wolves and bears develop thick fur to resist the frozen wind. The other animals, who did not have warm and thick furs will migrate to warmer places than Djerdap National Park. Other plant species in the areas are hardy enough to withstand the colder temperatures of winter, avoiding complete damage from the cold. These plants are lilacs, yarrows, and golden ferns. [20]

"Mammals." Mammals | Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

"Relict plant species." Relict plant species | Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. http://www.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=576&lang=en

Biome & Ecoregions:

Ecoregions: Balkan mixed forests: a terrestrial ecoregion covering much of Serbia with heavy rainfall; Dinaric mountains mixed forests: a terrestrial ecoregion in Europe that’s extremely humid and wet. [21]

Biomes: Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

"Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

How topography influences the distribution of plants and animals in Djerdap:

Topography influences the distribution of plants and animals in a few different ways in the mountains of the Djerdap National Park. Certain plants that grow in this park only grow in mountainous areas. These plants include the Hellebore, the Bellflower, and the lilac. [22] The topography also impacts which animals live in the Djerdap National Park. The wolf and several different types of deer life in the mountains of the Djerdap National Park. The lynx, which is a type of mountain lion, also inhabits the Djerdap National Park.

"Djerdap National Park." Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

https://dncache-mauganscorp.netdna-ssl.com/thumbseg/1103/1103094-bigthumbnail.jpg

Which factors influence vegetation and wildlife:

Factors that can influence vegetation and wildlife in Serbia besides climate change is an increase in the number and distribution of species, increase in the number of diseases and loss of existing habitats. Another factor that is influencing vegetation and wildlife in Serbia is a loss of natural habitat due to expanding agriculture. [23]

"Biodiversity in Serbia." Climatechangepost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

Environmental threats:

Water pollution is a major problem, coming from upstream industrial sites dumped into the Danube River, which flows through a majority of the park. [24] One invasive species that poses a threat to the wildlife of the park is Ailanthus altissima or Tree of Heaven. An extremely competitive and aggressive plant originally from China, its ability to overrun original plants through its dense thickets and rapid reproduction threatens the biodiversity of the park. [25]

"Serbia Environment - Current Issues." Serbia Environment - Current Issues - Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

"EPPO Global Database." EPPO Global Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

https://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@texas/documents/media/prd_027159.jpg

What rock types are common in your location? How does the geologic history of the area affect this?

Rock types that are common in Djerdap National Park are calcareous rocks, which are sedimentary rocks and contain calcium carbonate with high pH. The Danube river has shaped the geologic history of Djerdap by constantly carving in rock and producing sediment through river flow. [27] The history of the river’s constant flow through the park affects the rock types because rivers produce sediment, and in turn, sedimentary rocks.

http://www.lichens.ie/view-lichens-by/ http://www.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=131&lang=en http://www.motionelements.com/

lichens-arranged-by-substrate

/calcareous-rocks-such-limestone-and-chalk/

What internal processes (plate tectonics) are responsible for the landforms in your location? This should include current processes (if any) and past events.

The most commonly seen landforms in Djerdap National Park are hills, mountains, valleys, and rivers. [31] The creation of these landforms developed from the convergent plate boundaries near Serbia.

“Convergent Boundaries near Serbia.” 44°33′28.52″ N and 6°15′30.55″W.Google Earth. May 3, 2017.

From the top view of this picture, it is clear that Serbia is near the boundaries between Eurasian Plate and African Plate. Locating near an oceanic plate and a continental plate makes some earthquakes happen in Serbia, which forms the mountains and hills landform. [33]

Also, Djerdap National Park locates on the Eurasian-Indonesian belt, which sometimes causes earthquakes and volcanoes’ eruptions. [34] This fact can also explain the landforms in Djerdap National Park.

Is your location near any plate boundaries? How does this affect the geology and landforms in the area?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiHfYWhDmo

A major landmark and characteristic of the area is the Iron Gates, a gorge that forms a part of the border between Serbia and Romania, and that lies at the end of the national park. The longest and largest water breakthrough in all of Europe, historically it has been utilized for transportation of goods and travel, though challenges in these areas led to the building of dams in 1970 to create hydroelectric plants for the area and navigation locks for shipping. [43]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtxSxrBx70k

How have glaciers impacted the landforms in your location? (if at all)

Glaciers have the ability to carve out and significantly shape the landform of a certain region as they are able to transport substance and “carve out the land beneath them.” In Djerdap, glaciers are able to move rocks and soil by carving out the mountain sides and creating deep valleys. The walls of these valleys are fairly vertical as the mountains have been reshaped by the impact of the glaciers eroding and removing material (rocks, soil). [45]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-24/iceberg-tennis.jpg/5113456

What other processes (not yet discussed) have shaped the landforms in your area? (wind, waves, etc?)

No, water is the only significant process that has been documented to shape landforms in Djerdap National park.

http://wonderfulserbia.com/destination/eastern-serbia/djerdap-national-park/ http://www.panacomp.net/djerdap-national-park-and-the-iron-gate-adventure/

Sources：

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[2]. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/%C4%90erdap_National_park.jpg

[3]. Darkopopovic. YouTube. YouTube, 15 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

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[5]. http://www.npdjerdap.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/veliki_strbac_en-480x360.jpg

[6]. http://www.panacomp.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/put-preko-omana-500x375.jpg?x23386

[7]. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7476456

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[9]. "Belgrade, Serbia | 45° | Light Rain." Weather Underground. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

[10]. Windfinder.com. "Wind and weather statistic Belgrade-Surčin." Windfinder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

[11]. Beccario, Cameron. "Earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions." Earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

[12]. Serbia. RHMSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017. http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/klimatologija_srbije.php

[13]. https://www.icpdr.org/main/publications/djerdap-national-park-standing-banks-history

[14]. https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/0c/1d/23/djerdap-national-park.jpg

[15]. AVERAGE MONTHLY WEATHER IN BELGRADE, SERBIA. World Weather & Climate Information , n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

[16]. "The World Factbook: SERBIA." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

[17]. Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall. Digital image. Weather in Serbia. Globaltrade.net, Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

[18]. http://parksdinarides.org/content/big_579b3b615ee2a.jpg

[19]. "Relict plant species." Relict plant species | Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. http://www.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=576&lang=en

[20]. "Mammals." Mammals | Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017

[21]. "Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

[22]. "Djerdap National Park." Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

[23]. "Biodiversity in Serbia." Climatechangepost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

[24]. "Serbia Environment - Current Issues." Serbia Environment - Current Issues - Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

[25]. "EPPO Global Database." EPPO Global Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

[26]. https://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@texas/documents/media/prd_027159.jpg

[27]. "Vegetation of rock crevices." Vegetation of rock crevices | Национални парк Ђердап. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. http://www.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=609&lang=en

[28 ]. http://www.lichens.ie/lichen-descriptions/crustose-placodiod-leprose/lecidea-lithophila-ach-ach-1814/640_4020755-lecidea-lithophylla/?lang=en

[29]. http://www.npdjerdap.org/?page_id=131&lang=en

[30]. http://www.motionelements.com/

[31]. Robert J. Twiss; Eldridge M. Moores (1992). "Plate tectonic models of orogenic core zones". Structural Geology (2nd ed.). Macmillan. p. 493. ISBN 0-7167-2252-6.

[32]. “Convergent Boundaries near Serbia.” 44°33′28.52″ N and 6°15′30.55″W.Google Earth. May 3, 2017.

[33]. "Convergent Plate Boundaries." Geology. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. http://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml

[34]. Strahler, Alan H. Introducing physical geography. 6th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2013. Print.

[35]. “Plate Boundaries.” 44.2658° N and 21.0653° E. Google Earth. December 13, 2015. May 1, 2017.

[36]. http://www.curriki.org/oer/Lesson-14-The-Lithosphere-and-Plate-Tectonics-24439/

[37]. "Iron Gate -." Djerdap National Park. N.p., 26 Dec. 2016. Web. 03 May 2017. http://www.panacomp.net/djerdap-national-park-iron-gate/

[38]. "Miroc Mountain -." Home. N.p., 04 Jan. 2016. Web. 03 May 2017. http://www.panacomp.net/miroc-mountain/

[39]. http://wild-wonders.photoshelter.com/image/I0000kS16NFvjIVk

[40]. http://www.panacomp.net/miroc-mountain/

[41]. KG, Www.webartists.at WebArtists G. Temel. "Where the Danube River breaks through the Carpathians." DANUBEPARKS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. http://www.danubeparks.org/?story=50

[42]. Serbia. YouTube. YouTube, 04 Dec. 2015. Web. 03 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiHfYWhDmo

[43]. "Djerdap National Park: standing at the banks of history." Djerdap National Park: standing at the banks of history | ICPDR - International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. https://www.icpdr.org/main/publications/djerdap-national-park-standing-banks-history

[44]. VantageWorldTravel. YouTube. YouTube, 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 03 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtxSxrBx70k

[45]. How do glaciers affect land? | National Snow and Ice Data Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/land.html

[46]. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-24/iceberg-tennis.jpg/5113456

[47]. http://wonderfulserbia.com/destination/eastern-serbia/djerdap-national-park/

[48]. http://www.panacomp.net/djerdap-national-park-and-the-iron-gate-adventure/