Here are 10 Interesting Facts about Country Serbia!
1. You’d be amazed to know that the raspberries you love eating, are Serbian! Serbia has been topping the global raspberry export list for several years now. In 2012, almost 95% of the world’s raspberries came from Serbia!
2. In Serbia there is a river called “Year”. But, no, this river is not actually named “Godina” (Serbian for “year”). Its real name is Vrelo, but it got this nickname because of its unique length. Believe it or not, this river is precisely 365 meters long.
3. When people think about clocks, they think about the Swiss. They’re wrong! They should be thinking about Serbs. The Serbian clock-making industry is older than the world-famous Swiss one. The Serbs had their own clock at least 200 years before the Swiss did.
4. Did you know Serbia has a village made entirely out of stone? The stone village of Gostuša, located on the slopes of Mt. Stara Planina, is the most unusual village in Serbia with houses built exclusively out of stone, mud and natural materials. Time hasn’t damaged them so people still live in them.
5. Serbia has many impressive natural attractions such as the Prerasts of Vratna, Europe’s tallest stone gates. There are 3 of them – the Dry Prerast, the Big Prerast, and the Little Prerast which, being 34 meters high, 30 meters long, and 15 meters wide, is actually the tallest one.
6. You’d be surprised to heard about lakes on whose surface islands float? Well, Serbia has those too! The Vlasina and Semeteš lakes are home to this unusual phenomenon.
7. There’s also the mystery of the Povlen globes whose origin is still under debate. While some claim these huge stone globes scattered on the Povlen hillside are a wonder of nature and that they have healing and miraculous powers, others claim that they were created by aliens. The scientists say are a result of volcanic activity.
8. Did you know? “Vampir” is the most famous Serbian word that is accepted and used across the world. Furthermore, the first vampire wasn’t count Dracula but Petar Blagojević, whose vampirism was extensively written about in the Austrian press in 1725.
9. Have you ever seen an insect dance? Well, if you have never seen it, then visit Serbia in June. This dance occurs during a phenomenon called the Blooming of the Tisza River. The Palingenia longicauda, which is an insect performs a romantic and melancholic dance of life and death as spectators watch in amazement for 12 minutes.
10. Lifting 3 fingers (thumb and his neighbors – not some other three fingers) is a Serbian tradition. So if you want to show locals that you love Serbia, it is a good way to do it. And don`t be surprised when people do that while taking a picture with you, just go with it. It`s our local way of communication and it doesn`t offend anyone.
