Tikvara Nature Park is located in the south of Backa in the municipality of Backa Palanka.
It spreads along the left bank of the Danube on an area of 508 ha. This protected area is a specific natural mosaic composed of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
It was placed under protection in 1997 due to the preservation of the complex of autochthonous swamp-swamp and forest ecosystems that represent a refuge for rare species of plants and animals.
Tikvara Nature Park is compact rit complex. The whole surface
of the protected area is filled with sand and silt that the Danube has accumulated during
spills and swellings. Within the natural good there are numerous ponds, lukewarm, old backwaters, wetlands, as well as smaller and more elevated beams that are only occasionally flooded. All forms of relief (erosive and accumulation) are subject to constant changes due to the dynamic properties of the Danube flow, which include frequent changes in its water level and flow, frequent outflow from the main bed and withdrawal, as well as different intensity of river erosion and accumulation.
In the Nature Park there is a sports and recreation center which contains:
1. Universal sports hall, which meets all standards for development
competitions in top sports. It has:
large hall with a capacity of 1200 seats with an official handball court, karate,
gymnastics, basketball and volleyball; a small hall without an auditorium, of official dimensions for volleyball, table tennis and basketball; four-lane automatic bowling alley; fitness center with gym; physiotherapeutic block; accompanying facilities (locker room, office annex of the administration, auxiliary rooms, energy part, buffet restaurant, etc.)
2. U open terrain complex are located:
Football field, There is a concrete athletics track around the football field. There is a runway and a long jump hole on the track. As well as a ditch for a hurdle race. In the complex of tennis courts, there are 4 courts for playing on clay. The concrete terrain is of the same dimensions as the terrain on clay and has been separated. Basketball courts (2 courts) are covered with a rubber base - tartan. Basketball courts are mainly used for recreational basketball. From the competition, school competitions are organized. The area of both fields is 840 m2. The volleyball courts - 2 courts - are covered with tartan. They play volleyball recreationally or are used by volleyball clubs for training in the summer. The area of both fields is 324 m2. In the center there are two courts where handball or indoor soccer is played. They are covered with tartan. The handball court is used for the training process in the summer period as well as for holding school competitions. Futsal is played recreationally and tournaments are held on it. The area of both fields is 1600 m2. The outdoor gym is also part of the Tikvara Nature Park, as well as tennis courts and an outdoor Olympic swimming pool.
The flora of the nature park represents the remnants of natural marsh forests and marshes
The Danube region, which due to anthropogenic influence has been reduced to narrow belts along the river. The main feature of the flora is the presence of black hawthorn (Crataegus nigra), which is a subendemic of the Danube and follows the course of the river. The presence of aquatic plant species - yellow and white water lilies (Numphar luteum and Nymphaea alba), which are protected as rarities, is also significant. Ecosystemically important is the presence of woody species that build forest stands of different communities such as: almond willow (Salix triandra), purple willow (Salix purpurea), white willow (Salix alba), white poplar (Populus alba), black poplar (Populus nigra) , field ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), embroidery (Ulmus laevis), elm (Ulmus minor) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). The Tikvara area is characterized by specific, diverse and preserved fauna. There is primarily a diverse ornithofauna consisting of about 150 species of birds, of which about 80 are nesting birds.
Over 100 specimens of Cygnus olor from Central Europe, numerous cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), crested ducks (Aythya fuligula), red-headed ducks (Aythia ferina) and crested grebe (Podiceps cristat) regularly gather here during the winter months. Forest habitats are rich in birds of the order Passeriformes and woodpeckers (Piciformes). Among woodpeckers, the rare black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), green woodpecker (Picus viridis) and small woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) attract special attention. There are also numerous birds of prey such as bute (Buteo buteo), hawk (Accipiter gentilis), very rare wasps (Pernis apivorus), black hawks (Milvus migrans) and others. Representatives of mammals, although not as numerous as birds, should not be neglected. Only some of them are: water vole (Arvicola terrestris), field vole (Microtus arvalis), hazel (Muscardinus avellanarius), fox (Vulpes vulpes), otter (Lutra lutra) and many others. In the area of Tikvara, there is an extremely rich world of insects, among which the dragonflies (Odonata) and butterflies (Lepidoptera) stand out. Tikvara is an important breeding ground for most Danube fish species, so it is of great importance for the preservation of the genetic fund of this group of animals. The fish fauna of the protected area consists of about 20 species within the families: pike (Esocidae), whitefish (Cyprinidae), catfish (Siluridae), perch (Percidae), terns (Cottidae) and molluscs
(Gadiidae).
There are no cultural assets within the boundaries of the Nature Park, but there are very interesting cultural and historical buildings in the immediate vicinity. These are primarily three churches in Backa Palanka (Serbian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and Slovak Evangelical Church), then the "City Museum" also in Backa Palanka and Dundjerski Castle in Celarevo.
Favorable geographical position, especially in relation to the main roads, the proximity of Backa Palanka, and especially the main natural values of the Park, which relate to the rich and diverse flora and fauna, great diversity and intertwining of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, make this area extremely attractive for tourism. Thanks to the significant areas under water, the area of this nature park provides exceptional benefits for users of sports and recreational tourism, ie sport fishing, water sports and the like.
The lake "Tikvara”Is the most attractive lake Together with the environment, it is protected as a natural asset. Lake Tikvara is the largest body of water in the nature park. It stretches between the Danube River and the 1 km long embankment. It is the only natural lake on the Danube created by moving the Danube riverbed. It was named after the boats - gourds in which fishermen kept their fish. It flourished after the flood of 1965, when the riverbed deepened and gained primacy for sport fishing.
The current function of this lake is bathing and fishing, while it is next to Belgrade's Ada
Gypsies are the only alternative for all kinds of water sports. Bačka Palanka is visited every year by the Danube Regatta, and the kayak school, which produced three Olympic champions, is also known here.