In Kalemegdan Park (Belgrade). Photo: RGS press service
A scientific and educational program for young geographers organized by the Russian Geographical Society and the RGS Center in Serbia was held in the Republic of Serbia from June 29 to July 6. Seven Russian experts in the fields of archaeology, geography, ecology, economics, urbanism, and environmental management participated in the project.
The program started in Belgrade. Its participants got acquainted with the history and culture of the Serbian capital. They visited the heart of the city: the Belgrade Fortress with Kalemegdan Park, the Nikola Tesla Museum, as well as the Orthodox Church of St. Sava, the largest in the Balkans. Young Russians were particularly impressed by Avala Mountain, a key geomorphological site that also has great cultural and historical significance. The group visited the municipality of Grocka, and in order to understand riverine settlement and agriculture, they made observations near the Danube River, a key waterway in the region.
The acquaintance with the history of the country continued with a visit to the Karađorđević family mausoleum in Oplenac, the Cele Kula Tower in Niš, and the archaeological complex Mediana — the ancient Roman residence of Emperor Constantine. Of great significance was the meeting with the co-chairman of the society of Serbian-Russian friendship and Russian compatriots «Naissus», during which the participants were presented with copies of the Russian-language newspaper «Slovo Yuga».
The country’s natural resources have been studied in several key locations. In Kopaonik National Park, the group climbed Pančić's Peak, the highest point of the mountain range, named after the Serbian botanist and the first president of the Serbian Royal Academy, Josif Pančić. Then the route passed through the UNESCO Golija Biosphere Reserve and the picturesque valley of the Ibar River, where the peculiarities of the formation of river landscapes were studied.
«The most memorable part of the program for me was the visit to the Kopaonik Mountain Range. As a geoscientist and geographer, it helped me to look at the physical and geographical features of the region and compare them with Russia,» said Aleksandr Antipov, a graduate student at Kazan Federal University.
Of particular scientific interest were the unique natural sites of Serbia: the Jošanička Banja thermal complex, demonstrating the rational use of geothermal resources, and the tectonic lake Semeteško with its floating islands, a rare natural phenomenon. Another stop of the program was a visit to the Svilajnac Nature Museum, where young specialists systematized their knowledge about the country’s biodiversity.
The participants of the project got acquainted with the spiritual heritage of Serbia in medieval monasteries. Among them were the UNESCO World Heritage Site Studenica, the largest and richest of the Orthodox monasteries in the country; as well as the monasteries of Sopoćani, Đurđevi Stupovi, and St. Roman in the vicinity of the city of Novi Pazar.
«Serbia surprises with its rich cultural heritage. Dozens of temples, architectural monuments, and memorials are located on its territory, significant for both Serbian and Russian history. The cities, plains, and mountains of Serbia remain a wide field for geographers, ecologists, and historians to study,» said Artemiy Pryamitsyn, a graduate student at the MSU’s Faculty of Geography and an activist of the RGS Youth Club.
The Russian delegation also visited important sites related to the Russian and Soviet heritage of the 19th and 20th centuries: the monument to Soviet war veterans, the monument to Red Army soldiers in Krushevets, the Holy Trinity Church in Gornji Adrovac, etc.
The scientific and educational program allowed young specialists to gain valuable practical experience, deepened their knowledge of the natural and cultural landscapes of Serbia, and laid a solid foundation for future Russian-Serbian cooperation.