Nature of Serbia: salamanders, fogs and meteor showers

The fire salamander in the Grza River

A terrifying beast capable of destroying an entire nation, withstanding the heat of flames and putting them out with the cold of its body — or an innocent victim of slander.

Look who I met in the Grza river. It's a fire salamander. Before moving to Serbia I had never seen them, and now I come across them on almost every autumn and spring hike.

These amazing animals live in the forests and mountain areas of Serbia, preferring damp, dark places such as caves and streams. Their bright black-and-yellow coloring not only catches the eye but also warns predators that this little one is poisonous. This type of coloring is called aposematic, and it helps scare off potential enemies.

The venom salamanders produce has a characteristic smell of almonds or garlic. It has a neurotoxic effect, causing paralysis, arrhythmia and seizures in animals. For humans, however, this venom isn't dangerous, although contact with it can cause a burning sensation on mucous membranes.

The salamander is very lazy — this animal isn't known for being particularly active. Probably that's why there are so many salamander photos online) It moves slowly, swims poorly and can even drown in deep water

And did you know that salamanders can live up to 20 years!!!? In some cases they can even be found in cities. I remember that just recently city social media pages were writing that people had seen salamanders in Kalemegdan.
In nature they play an important role, helping maintain ecological balance by controlling the numbers of insects and other small animals. In Serbia they are protected, as their numbers are gradually declining due to the loss of natural habitats and water pollution. How they even survived after being actively
"studied" in the Middle Ages is a mystery.
All in all, meeting a salamander is always a joy)

In ancient times the fire salamander was considered the most terrible creature. Here is an excerpt from the famous «Natural History» by the ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder: «The most dreadful of all animals is the salamander. Others bite individuals and don't kill many at once, but the salamander can destroy an entire people without anyone noticing where the disaster came from. If a salamander climbs a tree, all the fruit on it becomes poisonous. If a salamander touches a table on which bread is baked, the bread becomes poisonous. If it falls into a well, it poisons the water. If it touches any part of the body, even the tip of a finger, all the hair on the body falls out…»

The fire salamander in the Grza River — photo 1

The fire salamander in the Grza River — photo 2

The fire salamander in the Grza River — photo 3

Published March 28, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗

Why Serbia gets such thick fog

🌫️ Why are the fogs in Serbia so thick they put "Silent Hill" to shame?
If you've ever driven out of town in the morning, you've surely seen these dense white clouds hiding trees, roads and entire villages.

Let's figure out why fog is such a frequent guest in Serbia:
🌄 First and foremost, it's about geography and terrain.
Serbia is a land of rivers and basins. At night, cold air "slides" downhill, gets stuck in the valleys, and a warm layer presses it down from above. Moisture condenses — and you get a real cloud soup.
💧 Humidity and calm air.
In winter and early in the morning the air is still, the sun is still dozing, and moisture settles quietly. That's why fog lingers until noon, and sometimes all day.
Smog + fog = Serbian "smogfog".
When smoke from wood stoves and exhaust fumes join the natural fog, you get a thick, stubborn haze. This type of fog is the one I didn't miss at all. Stock up on air purifiers and wait…
The foggiest months in Serbia:
November, December and January — the official champions of "can't see a thing".

Useful links:
Fog risk map "Fog risk Serbia" on WeatherOnline. weatheronline.co.uk
Interactive satellite map "Satellite Fog-Check, Serbia" on Meteologix. meteologix.com
General weather map with interactive layers (precipitation, clouds, wind) on Zoom Earth. Zoom Earth

Why Serbia gets such thick fog — photo 1

Why Serbia gets such thick fog — photo 2

Published November 5, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗

The Perseids: when and where to watch the meteor shower

Happy 1st of August, Balkan folks! And in August we have the Perseids! The best excuse to dash out of town with a tent and watch the «star shower».

🌠 The essentials about the Perseids 2025

The Perseids are a meteor shower that appears every August from the direction of the constellation Perseus. It occurs when the Earth passes through the trail of dust particles left by Comet Swift–Tuttle. Tiny particles, the size of a grain of sand, burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a "shower of stars".

Peak activity: August 11–13, 2025
Maximum: the night of August 12–13
Expected activity: up to 60–100 meteors per hour

🌕 In 2025 the full moon falls on 10 August, so moonlight will slightly reduce visibility — but bright «shooting stars» will still be easy to spot.

🔭 Where and how to watch?
The best visibility is after midnight and closer to dawn, when the radiant (the point the meteors "fly" from) is higher in the sky.

What you need:
* Get as far away from city lights as possible

*Lie down comfortably (you see more meteors lying down than standing)

*No telescopes or binoculars — the Perseids are best seen with the naked eye

*Warm clothes (August nights can be chilly, especially in the mountains)

📍 Where to watch in Serbia?
Fruška Gora

Ovčar-Kablar Gorge

Zlatar or Zlatibor

Rudnik or Goč

Pešter Plateau — one of the best places for dark skies

Or simply any field 10–20 km from the city. The main thing is to avoid light pollution. The darker, the more beautiful