Serbia: Difference between revisions

The climate of Serbia is under the influences of the landmass of Eurasia and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Mediterranean Sea]]. With mean January temperatures around {{convert|0|C|F}}, and mean July temperatures of {{convert|22|C|F}}, it can be classified as a [[humid continental climate|warm-humid continental]] or [[humid subtropical climate]].<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'' (1993). Times Books {{ISBN|0-7230-0492-7}}.</ref> In the north, the climate is more continental, with cold winters, and hot, humid summers along with well distributed rainfall patterns. In the south, summers and autumns are drier, and winters are relatively cold, with heavy inland snowfall in the mountains.

 

 

The average annual air temperature for the period 1961–1990 for the area with an altitude of up to {{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} is {{convert|10.9|°C}}. The areas with an altitude of {{convert|300|to|500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} have an average annual temperature of around {{convert|10.0|°C}}, and over {{convert|1000|m|0|abbr=on}} of altitude around {{convert|6.0|°C}}.<ref name="RHMZ">{{cite web|url=http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/klimatologija_srbije.php|title=Basic Climate Characteristics for the Territory of Serbia|publisher=Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia}}</ref> The lowest recorded temperature in Serbia was {{convert|-39.5|°C}} on 13 January 1985, [[Karajukića Bunari]] in Pešter, and the highest was {{convert|44.9|C|F|disp=or}}, on 24 July 2007, recorded in [[Smederevska Palanka]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/podaci/meteorologija/Temperaturni_rezim_u_Srbiji_eng.pdf|title=Past temperature extremes since the beginning of the measurement |accessdate=5 November 2010 |publisher=Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511041636/http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/podaci/meteorologija/Temperaturni_rezim_u_Srbiji_eng.pdf |archivedate=11 May 2011}}</ref>

Serbia is a country of rich ecosystem and species diversity – covering only 1.9% of the whole European territory Serbia is home to 39% of European vascular flora, 51% of European fish fauna, 40% of European reptile and amphibian fauna, 74% of European bird fauna, 67% European mammal fauna.<ref name="iucn.org">{{cite web|url=http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/?10618/Serbian-biodiversity |title=Serbian biodiversity |publisher=IUCN |date=7 August 2012}}</ref> Its abundance of mountains and rivers make it an ideal environment for a variety of animals, many of which are protected including wolves, lynx, bears, foxes and stags. There are 17 snake species living all over the country, 8 of them are venomous.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhmbeo.rs/upload/images/Glasnik/Bulletin%202014-04.pdf |title=Reptiles in Serbia |publisher=Glasnik |date=June 9, 2017}}</ref> Serbia is home to highly protected owl species. In the northernmost part of [[Vojvodina]] plain, in the city of [[Kikinda]], a number of endangered 145 [[long-eared owl]]s is noted, making this town the world's biggest settlement of these species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.serbia.com/kikinda-the-largest-winter-stationary-of-long-eared-owls-on-the-planet/ |title=The largest stationary of longeared owls |publisher=serbia.com |date=June 9, 2017}}</ref> Serbia is considerably rich with threatened species of bats and butterflies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthsendangered.com/search-regions3.asp |title=Earths's Endangered Species |publisher=earthsendangered |date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>

 

 

There are 377 [[List of protected natural resources in Serbia|protected areas of Serbia]], encompassing 4,947 square kilometers or 6.4% of the country. The "Spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia" states that the total protected area should be increased to 12% by 2021.<ref name="iucn.org"/> Those protected areas include 5 national parks ([[Đerdap National Park|Đerdap]], [[Tara (mountain)|Tara]], [[Kopaonik]], [[Fruška Gora]] and [[Šar Mountain]]), 15 [[nature park]]s, 15 "landscapes of outstanding features", 61 nature reserves, and 281 natural monuments.<ref name="pod2.stat.gov.rs"/>

There are currently 124 kilometers of motorways under construction: two sections 34&nbsp;km-long of the [[A1 motorway (Serbia)|A1 motorway]] (from south of [[Leskovac]] to [[Bujanovac]]), 67&nbsp;km-long segment of [[A2 motorway (Serbia)|A2]] (between [[Belgrade]] and [[Ljig]]), and 23 kilometers on the [[A4 motorway (Serbia)|A4]] (east of [[Niš]] to the Bulgarian border).<ref>http://www.koridor10.rs/en/project-south</ref><ref>http://www.koridor10.rs/en/belgrade-south-adriatic</ref><ref>http://www.koridor10.rs/en/project-east</ref> [[Coach (bus)|Coach]] transport is very extensive: almost every place in the country is connected by bus, from largest cities to the villages; in addition there are international routes (mainly to countries of Western Europe with large Serb diaspora). Routes, both domestic and international, are served by more than 100 bus companies, biggest of which are [[Lasta Beograd|Lasta]] and [[Niš-Ekspres]]. {{As of|2015}}, there were 1,833,215 registered passenger cars or 1 passenger car per 3.8 inhabitants.<ref>http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2016/pdf/G20162019.pdf</ref>

 

There are only two airports with regular passenger traffic: [[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport]] served almost 5 million passengers in 2016, and is a hub of flagship carrier [[Air Serbia]] which carried some 2.6 million passengers in 2016.<ref>http://www.beg.aero/en/strana/25531/2016-traffic-figures</ref><ref>http://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/02/air-serbia-posts-improved-2016-results.html#comment-form</ref> [[Niš Constantine the Great Airport]] is mainly catering [[low-cost airline]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exyuaviation.com/2015/07/nis-airport-to-expand.html |title=Niš Airport to expand |date=25 July 2015 |work=EX-YU Aviation News}}</ref>

 

{{Main article|Telecommunications in Serbia}}

 

 

===Tourism===

{{Main article|Tourism in Serbia}}

 

 

Tourism is mainly focused on the mountains and spas of the country, which are mostly visited by domestic tourists, as well as [[Belgrade]] and, to a lesser degree, [[Novi Sad]], which are preferred choices of foreign tourists (about two-thirds of all foreign visits are made to these two cities).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/destinations/destination/serbia/ |title=Serbia |publisher=au.totaltravel.yahoo.com |accessdate=20 March 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102021309/http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/destinations/destination/serbia/ |archivedate=2 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>http://www.stat.gov.rs/WebSite/repository/documents/00/02/64/14/16-Turizam.pdf</ref> The most famous mountain resorts are [[Kopaonik]], [[Balkan Mountains|Stara Planina]], and [[Zlatibor]]. There are also many [[spa]]s in Serbia, the biggest of which are [[Vrnjačka Banja]], [[Soko Banja]], and [[Banja Koviljača]]. City-break and conference tourism is developed in Belgrade and Novi Sad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/putovanja/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=02&dd=06&nav_id=808985|title=Putovanja – Porast broja turista u Beogradu u 2013. – B92 Putovanja|work=B92|accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref> Other touristic products that Serbia offer are natural wonders like [[Djavolja varos|Đavolja varoš]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serbia.travel/nature/natural-monuments/djavolja-varos/ |title=Đavolja varoš |accessdate=20 March 2013 |publisher=serbia.travel |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508104848/https://www.serbia.travel/nature/natural-monuments/djavolja-varos/ |archivedate=8 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Christian pilgrimage to the many [[List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries|Orthodox monasteries]] across the country<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/6508.html |title=Pilgrimage of Saint Sava |publisher=Info Hub |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018142724/http://infohub.com/vacation_packages/6508.html |archivedate=18 October 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and the river cruising along the [[Danube]]. There are several internationally popular music festivals held in Serbia, such as [[Exit (festival)|EXIT]] (with 25–30,000 foreign visitors coming from 60 different countries) and the [[Guča trumpet festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/kultura/vesti.php?nav_category=1087&yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=01&nav_id=522607 |title=Kultura – Vesti – Na Exitu oko 25 hiljada stranaca |publisher=B92 |date=}}</ref>