Croatia · Dalmatia

Kuti

Directions

Jezero Kuti

Kuti, also called Đuvelek, is a lake in the Neretva delta near Badžula, a shallow cryptodepression fed by springs on its eastern shore. The Crna rijeka and the Mislina link it to the Neretva, and the Adriatic tide reaches it, so its level rises and falls with the sea; in summer, when the water drops, a small islet appears in the middle.

Nature

In August 2020 the lake and the marshes around it were proclaimed a special ornithological reserve, for the marsh birds that nest here and the migrants that follow the Adriatic flyway. The Neretva delta, Croatia’s largest reed-bed complex, is a resting place for birds on their way to Africa and a wintering ground for birds from central and north-eastern Europe; ducks, herons, terns and eagles are among the many species seen regularly in the valley.

Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Badžula

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

Kuti is one of the places the Neretva boat safaris visit: guests glide through the marshes in the traditional lađa, and a Neretva house on the shore of the lake welcomes several thousand visitors a season. Local farmers offer figs, strawberries, cherries and mandarins in season, and lunch is often a brudet, the fish stew of the valley.

Birdwatching is best during the spring and autumn migrations and in winter. Kayaking, cycling and sport fishing are also on offer in the valley; as Kuti is a reserve, ask the boat operators where landing and fishing are allowed.