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Ormož lake and basins

Podravska region  >  Slovenia

Lake Ormož is one of the major water reservoirs in Slovenia, with an area of around 150 hectares .

Added* by Alen
Most recent update 25 veljače 2020

Description

Ormož lake was created by damming river Drava for hydroelectricity production purposes in neighbouring Croatia. The lake itself is cut in half by the border between the two countries. Ormož basins were previously used as storage tanks for wastewater from the sugar factory in Ormož. Large concentrations of nutrients led to an abundance of food – the abandoned pools therefore became an important location for many nesting and migratory endangered bird species.

Details

Access

You can get to the lake and basins either by train or intercity bus. Both stations are situated in Ormož and are fairly close. From the train station you head towards river Drava on the road in direction of the stream. After about a 10 minute walk you reach the embankment (on your right), from where you can observe the lake. If you want to reach the Ormož basins, you have to leave the embankment by crossing one of several footbridges. You continue your way on the dirt road, which turns left, leading to the basins. Here you have to be especially careful not to harass birds. On your visit therefore please stay on the dirt road. Do not walk among pools and on embankments! The visit of the lake and the lagoons will take you a whole day.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , River , Mud flats , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

All year round , Winter , Spring , Autumn

Best time to visit

Autumn migration , Spring migration

Route

Unpaved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

Lake Ormož and basins are a very important for birds. In winter you can observe the Lisasta Guska , Guska Glogovnjača and Siva Guska here. Many duck species, great flocks of Liska and Štekavac. Winter is also a time when the Patka Batoglavica and Bijeli ronac frequently occur. Reeds growing at the beginning of the lake are a nesting place for several species of warblers and Čapljica Voljak in the summer. Numerous species of gulls can be found on the lake. Occasionally rare gull species can be seen.

In spring, summer and autumn the Ormož basins are a place where you can observe different waders such as the Crvenonoga Prutka and Crna Prutka, and (even!) Dugonoga prutka, Krivokljuna Prutka, Crnorepa Muljača and Kulik Blatarić. In time of migration various species of waders and dabbling ducks are present in the area. Water pools are a nesting place for Crvenokljuna Čigra, Riječni Galeb and Vlastelica. The Patka Njorka, a species of global environmental concern, nests here as well. Singing of Kokošica can often be heard from the reeds in summer months, and with some luck we can also hear the Siva Štijoka and Riđa Štijoka. In the warm half of the year we can observe the Eja Močvarica (which also nests here) and in winter time the Eja Strnjarica often glides over the reeds.

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