Beljarica () is a wetland in the Danube valley in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Since 2013 it is in the process of becoming protected area. Due to the abundant wildlife and undisturbed nature, though being close to downtown Belgrade, it has been nicknamed "Belgrade's Amazonia". With Gornje Podunavlje and , both of which are already declared special nature reserves, Beljarica is among the largest flood zones in Serbia. Location Beljarica is located northwest of Belgrade, in the southwest corner of the Pančevački Rit marshland and, thus, of the Banat region. It begins from downtown and spawns along the left bank of the Danube, approximately from Danube's to . It belongs to the municipality of Palilula and, though inhabited, it is administratively divided between the settlements of Borča (southern), Kovilovo (central) and Padinska Skela (northern part). It begins north of the point where the Pupin Bridge crosses the Danube and stretches across several neighborhoods and settlements on the left, Syrmian bank: Nova Galenika, 13. Maj, Batajnica (in the municipality of Zemun) and Novi Banovci (in the municipality of Stara Pazova). Geography Beljarica occupies the marshland between the left bank of the Danube and the curved embankment which protects the drained and arable land in Pančevački Rit and is geographically known as the Pančevači Rit's Cassette). Northern section is known as the bog of Široka Bara. It covers an area of and is locally also known as "Crvenka" or "Balaton". As an elongated floodplain along the Danube, Beljarica is a typical green corridor. The area includes two sizable flood zones, Crvenka (main Beljarica proper) and Kožara. The marshland represents a mosaic of bogs, streams, islands, oxbows, meanders and lush forests and makes a natural riparian zone which receives the surplus of water during the high water level of the Danube, thus preventing the flooding downstream. It is not preventing flooding only of its direct hinterland (some Pančevački Rit), but also parts of Zemun, New Belgrade and even lowlands upstream the Sava river from its mouth into the Danube. Natural life Forest The belt between the inner and outer embankments, and the river, is planted with the forest trees. The forest acts as an obstacle for the high waters and strong winds, protecting this way the inland settlements (Borča, Kovilovo, Padinska Skela). It forms a sanitary and hygienic belt between the river and the human habitats, while the oxygen production is beneficial