Drava Landscape Park

The Drava Landscape Park encompasses the old riverbed of the Drava and the surrounding landscape between Maribor and Ptuj, covering the areas of the Municipality of Maribor, the Municipality of Duplek, the Municipality of Miklavž na Dravskem polju, and the Municipality of Starše. It stretches from the Malečnik Bridge to the border of the Municipality of Ptuj, including the old riverbed of the Drava with all the most valuable biotopes that have been preserved in this area, which extends over 2,337 hectares.

The most ecologically valuable parts of this area are the floodplains—flatlands directly along the river where floodwaters can spread without causing damage. Once the waters recede, these floodplains come alive with rich and diverse ecosystems.

The Drava Landscape Park is shaped by oxbow lakes and river terraces, numerous gravel banks, floodplain forests, and marshy meadows. Particularly valuable are the floodplain areas (loke), which are seasonally inundated during heavy rainfall.

Because of its plant and animal species and their habitats, the park is included in the Natura 2000 European ecological network. This network aims to preserve biodiversity by protecting natural habitats and endangered plant and animal species of importance to the European Union.