People have survived off the land in Serbia for a long time, ever since the region was settled during the Neolithic Period 7,000 years ago. Caves are an important part of the landscape that helped early settlers shelter from the harsh winter weather. They also provided safety from wild animals, such as the brown bear and the gray wolf, which still live in Serbia today! We have one of the highest populations of bears and wolves in Europe. You can tour the caves today, and the longest is 9,000 meters!
Plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years, and many people in Serbia still treat their colds and coughs with natural remedies. People often forage in the fields and forests for plants such as yarrow, couch grass, onion, garlic, chamomile sage and willow. They turn these plants into a balm, lotion or tea to heal any kind of illness, from the common cold to headaches to stomach bugs to achey bones. Have you ever used a plant to treat a sickness or ache?
Even though Serbia has a stunning landscape filled with many different important features, pollution and species endangerment are major problems facing the country. Most cities and towns in Serbia use coal to power and heat their homes, which causes a lot of air pollution and smog. Sometimes, you can smell the coal burning and even see the smog in the air. This is bad for people's health, since breathing in coal particles can lead to lung disease and cancer. It also harms the species that are native to Serbia, such as birds and bears.
