Location and terrain |  Serbia is located in the central part of Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Hungary to the north, Croatia and Bosnia to the west, Macedonia and Albania to the south and Romania and Bulgaria to the east. | | | Other flatlands include the rim of the Panonian plain - Macva, the Sava valley, the Morava valley, Stig and the Negotin plain in Eastern Serbia, near the Romanian border. |  | The rest of the country consists mainly of hundreds of mountains covered with thick deciduous and coniferous forests. Most of the cities and towns are located in small valleys between the mountains, while the higher altitudes are populated by the scattered, mountain-type villages. An abundance of clear water streams can be seen in the mountains, as well as many small lakes and deep canyons and caves. | | | The highest peak of Serbia is Midzor on Stara Planina (in eastern Serbia) rising 2.169 meters above the sea level, followed by Pancicev Vrh (2.017 m) on Kopaonik (in the south). |  | The longest river in Serbia is Danube, and other big rivers are Sava (coming from Croatia and joining Danube in Belgrade), Morava (divides central and eastern Serbia, and then branches into Southern and Western Morava) and Tisa (coming from Hungary and joining Danube near Novi Sad). Many rivers, flowing between the mountains, form interesting canyons. The most famous are Djerdap canyon in eastern Serbia, Tara canyon in western and Uvac canyon in southwestern Serbia. | | | Climate | The climate of Serbia is temperate continental, with a gradual transition between the four seasons of the year. Summers in Vojvodina are very hot, with temperature sometimes rising into the 40°C. Winters are long and cold with temperatures falling below -20°C, with sweeping cold wind that comes from the north. In the mountains, the high altitude moderates summer temperatures thus making a very pleasant climate during the summer months. Winters come with low temperatures and heavy snowfalls, thus providing great possibilities for winter sports. The average July temperature in Belgrade is 21°C and the average January temperature is 0°C. |  | | | | Flora & Fauna |  | Serbia's plant and animal life is abundant and diverse. Most of the northern, flat part is covered with cultivated crops and sparse forests. As for the mountains, deciduous forests are present at lower altitudes, while the higher altitudes are covered with coniferous, or mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. The deciduous forests are predominantly oak and beech, but also include elm, maple, chestnut, poplar, walnut, ash, linden, and willow. The coniferous forests consist mainly of pine, fir and spruce. | | | Main animal species include deer, fox, bear, wolf, antelope, chamois, boars and many others. Wild ducks, geese, herons, and storks prevail in the marshes, and quail, pheasants, grouse, partridge, doves, and woodcock live in the plains. A large number of eagles and vultures can be seen in the high mountains, especially around rocky peaks and canyons. |  | |
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Serbia - basics 