fortress during the 1428 Siege of Golubac. The region is known for many myths which developed in time. Two of the most popular include the one about the devil face's midget with goat ears and legs, long white beard and the conical hat. He lives in the Danube's whirlpools and shows only at night. He ascends from the depths to drown people who swim in the river or fall off their boats. The other myth is about "beluga", a gigantic sturgeon which arises from the bottom to attack people. There are 27 settlements in the park territory with the total population of 35,000. Protection Apart from being a national park since 1974, Đerdap is also an Important Bird Area and Important Plant Area, and has been nominated for the European Geoparks Network. In 2020, Đerdap was declared both a European Geopark and the 11th Ramsar site in Serbia. The Ramsar protected area includes the entire area of the national park with the addition of Mala Vrbica, the Important Bird Area located outside of the park. The wetlands developed after the artificial lake was created, which elevated the underground waters also, causing frequent flooding of the surrounding area. Tourism Đerdap National Park has become one of the most visited tourist regions in Serbia especially after the construction of the dam and the formation of the large lake. The gorge and the hydroelectric power plant can be visited from Belgrade and other cities downstream from it. There are a number of tourist points in the park with hotel and other facilities, offering tourists rest and swimming and tours of the cultural and historical monuments and natural values. Though the Danube river is quite polluted by international standards, fishing is still very popular. Some large specimens of catfish have weighed in at over . References External links National park Djerdap Kladovo town website Djerdap national park on UNESCO National parks of Serbia Danube Protected areas established in 1974 Serbian Carpathians Protected areas of the Carpathians Ramsar sites in Serbia