Fruska Gora National Park
Former island of Pannonean Sea, naled in Latin Alma Mons, nowadays Fruška Gora Mountain spreads along the 80 km of ranges between the Danube and Sava Rivers, over the southern part of Srem in Vojvodina, with the highest peak Crveni Cot (539 m). For its exceptional flora and fauna, rare nature spots and cultural-historical monuments, Fruška Gora is declared the National Park of Serbia. Large areas are covered by woods ( linden-trees, oak trees, beech, willows...) and vineyards and fruitful gardens and orchards, where delicious and tasty vegetables and fruits, and grapes and natural honey and benefiting royal jelly are grown and produced..... The National Park Fruška Gora is considered as a site of a very special natural beauties and cultural-historical monuments. The area of 25.000 hectars within the Fruska Gora National Park is a real treasury of flora and fauna. Due to its geographical position, there can be found orchids and conifers, as well as variety of animal species: roe deers, rabbits, wild boars, eagles etc. Thanks to tectonic movements in the whole region of the Pannonian plain, at its southern part, the Danube River modified Fruška Gora Mountain determining its position. Northern part of Fruška Gora was omitted by the Danube flow due to non-tectonic movements. Two river beds were formed then : together they could constitute todays Danube course. Western part lies between towns of Sarengrad and Sid and it represents the leveled rising grounds with the elevations of 200 meters high. Due to the fact that Vojvodina is covered with less, the most spreading soil types are mold and saline. Mold soils range about 60% and are extremely fertile. It is mostly used for growing wheat, maize, sugar beet, sunflower, soya and other industrial crops as well as the major plants for cattle-breeding. Over Fruška Gora slopes there are rich linden and oak forests. At lower sides of Fruška Gora Mountain, forests are mostly rooted up and now there are pastures, vineyards, meadows and orchards. Fertile soil, plenty of waters - about 200 streams and mild climate contribute to very extensive wine-production in Fruška Gora. On the southern slopes of Fruška Gora Mountain there are numerous artificial lakes of outstanding beauty, mostly used for sports and recreation : Sot, Bruje, Moharač, Čalma, Vrnješ, Bešenovačko Lake, Međeš, Dobrodolsko, Pavlovačko, Hopovačko, Petkovičko, Ljukovo, Kapavica, Testera, Vranješ, Kameničko, Mutaljsko, Parloško. The famous Wine Festival starting with grape harvesting is held in Sremski Karlovci every September. Gentle slopes, ancient natural sights and landmarks with living fossils, plenty of waters within forests that cover about 90% of the Fruska Gora National Park, rich vineyards and old monasteries, draw attention of many visitors, nature-lovers and scientists. There are more than 1400 relict floral species in Fruska Gora, as well as numerous species of fauna /more than 200 bird species and rare mammal species/. All along this beautiful mountainous area of Fruška Gora National Park there are 17 Medieval Orthodox Monasteries from the 15th and the 16th centuries settled. That is why Fruška Gora is usualy called "The Holy Mountain". In the Western part of Fruška Gora there are the following Monasteries : Monasteries of Privina Glava, Divsa, Petkovica, Kuvezdin, Sišatovac, while those looking for the spiritual relief can reach the other Fruška Gora Monasteries taking the regular road along the mountainous range : Bešenovo, Mala and Velika Remeta, Jazak, Vrdnik-Ravanica, Beocin, Rakovac, Staro and Novo Hopovo, Grgeteg, Krušedol, ending in Sremski Karlovci, Serbian cultural, educational and spiritual center.
