GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE POŽEGA POŽEŠKO-SLAVONSKA COUNTY

GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE Požega is a city in western Slavonia, eastern Croatia, with a total population of 26,248 (census 2011). The city of Požega includes 31 village. It is the administrative center of the Požega-Slavonia County and the Diocese. Between 1921 and 1991, the town was known as Slavonska Požega. In German, the town is known as Poschegg, in Hungarian as Pozsega, in Turkish as Pojega, and in Latin as Incerum (-i, n.) and Possega.

GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE Požega (elevation: 152 m (499 ft)) is located in the south-western part of the Valley of Požega, or Požega basin, in Croatian: Požeška kotlina. This fertile valley has been important since the antiquity - its Roman name was Vallis Aurea, meaning "golden valley". The valley is formed by the Slavonian mountains of Požeška Gora, Psunj, Papuk, Krndij a and Dilj.

POŽEŠKA KOTLINA Požega Valley as well as slopes of Krndija and Papuk hills was recognized as a winegrowing land by the Illyrians, while the Cistercians, who arrived in the area in the beginning of the 13th century, founded a wine cellar in Kutjevo in 1232, the oldest wine cellar in Croatia today. In a distant past, Požega Valley was covered by the Pannonian Sea – slopes of the Krndija and Papuk hills and present locations of our vineyards were sand beaches, while the Pannonian Sea was teaming with sea creatures whose fossilized remains may now be found at numerous archaeological sites.

POŽEŠKA KOTLINA Ancient Romans also inhabited the Požega Valley and they called the valley “Golden Valley” (Vallis Aurea) as they recognized quality and abundance of the fertile Slavonian soil.

PAPUK NATURE PARK PAPUK IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST PARKS IN CROATIA. IT IS PROTECTED BECAUSE OF ITS VALUABLE BIOLOGICAL, GEOLOGICAL AND CULTUROLOGICALLY-HISTORICAL FEATURES. IT COVERS THE AREA OF MOUNTAIN PAPUK AND THE WESTERN PART OF MOUNTAIN KRNDIJA. THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SLAVONIAN MOUNTAIN IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS GEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY; PALEOZOIC AND QUATERNARY ROCKS, MINERALS, FOSSILS, DIFFERENT GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES AND KARTS FEATURES. NATURE PARK PAPUK IS A NATURAL HABITAT FOR MANY ANIMAL SPECIES, ESPECIALLY BIRDS AND BATS. DENSE PAPUK’S FORESTS PRESENT HABITAT FOR VENISON AND COLD AND FAST MOUNTAIN SPRINGS OF VELIČANKA AND DUBOČANKA ARE HABITATI OF SPECIFIC FISH SPECIES, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. IN SEPTEMBER 2007 NATURE PARK PAPUK BECAME THE FIRST GEOPARK IN CROATIA AND IT IS INCLUDED INTO UNESCO’S NETWORK OF GEOPARKS.

PAPUK - JANKOVAC

KRNDIJA Krndija is a mountain situated and connected to Papuk on the east side. It is south from Orahovica and Našice and north from Požega nad Kutjevo. Its western side is mountain pass between the peaks Češljakovački vis on Papuk and Kapovca on Krndija.The highest peak is Kapovac (790 m) which is covered in forest. Mountain Krndija, together with Papuk and Psunj, makes the oldest part of the so called Slavonian mountains and also the oldest rocks in Croatia. Krndija consists of rocks originated in different periods of geological past and the most common are metamorphic rocks that are over 300 million years old.

PSUNJ Psunj is a mountain in the southwestern Slavoni a region in eastern Croatia. It is the highest mountain of Slavonia, with the highest peak of Brezovo polje at 984 m.

DILJ Dilj is a mountain in south- central Slavonia, located in eastern Croatia. Of all the mountains in Slavonia, Dilj is the lowest-lying, at 471 meters. It is located north of Slavonski Brod and south of Krndija.