Editing Slavonia (section)

===Physical geography===
{{see also|Geography of Croatia}}
[[File:Sava River Aerial.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sava]] River forms a natural border between the left Slavonian [[Sava]] bank in Croatia and the right bank of the Sava River in Bosnia and Herzegovina.]]

The boundaries of Slavonia, as a geographical region, do not necessarily coincide with the borders of the five counties, except in the south and east where the Sava and Danube rivers define them. The international borders of Croatia are boundaries common to both definitions of the region. In the north, the boundaries largely coincide because the Drava River is considered to be the northern border of Slavonia as a geographic region,<ref name="Kraljević-Razgraničenje-1947"/> but this excludes Baranya from the geographic region's definition even though this territory is part of a county otherwise associated with Slavonia.<ref name="Heritage-modern"/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|url=http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/137670/Default.aspx|title=Jakovčić predložio Hrvatsku u četiri regije – Slavonija i Baranja, Istra, Dalmacija i Zagreb|trans-title=Jakovčić proposes Croatia of four regions – Slavonija and Baranja, Istria, Dalmatia and Zagreb|date=12 May 2011|author=Silvana Fable|access-date=1 April 2012|language=hr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]]|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/turisticki_vodici/tv_slavonija/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715123656/http://www.jutarnji.hr/turisticki_vodici/tv_slavonija/|archive-date=15 July 2010|language=hr|title=Slavonija i Baranja – Riznica tradicije, ljepota prirode i burne povijesti|trans-title=Slavonia and Baranya – Treasuring tradition, natural heritage and tumultuous history|date=7 August 2010|access-date=1 April 2012}}</ref> The western boundary of the geographic region is not specifically defined and it was variously defined through history depending on the political divisions of Croatia.<ref name="Blagojević"/> The eastern Croatia, as a geographic term, largely overlaps most definitions of Slavonia. It is defined as the territory of the Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja, Požega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina and Vukovar-Syrmia counties, including Baranya.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Collected Papers of the Law Faculty of the University of Rijeka|publisher=Faculty of Law University of Rijeka|issn=1330-349X|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/40696?lang=en|volume=29|issue=2|date=December 2008|language=hr|title=Zemljopisno, povijesno, upravno i pravno određenje istočne Hrvatske – korijeni suvremenog regionalizma|trans-title=Geographic, historical, administrative and legal definition of the eastern Croatia - roots of contemporary regionalism|author=Anita Blagojević|page=1150}}</ref>

====Topography====
[[File:Orahovacko-jezero-(20100707)-2.jpg|thumb|left|Orahovac Lake]]
{{see also|Pannonian Basin}}
<div style="float:right; margin-left:10px">
{|class="wikitable"
|+Mountains of Slavonia<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/>
|-
! Mountain
! Peak
! Elevation
! Coordinates
|-align=center
| [[Psunj]] || Brezovo Polje || {{convert|984|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|45|24|N|17|19|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| [[Papuk]] || Papuk || {{convert|953|m|abbr=on}} || {{coord|45|32|N|17|39|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| [[Krndija]] || Kapovac || {{convert|792|m|abbr=on}} || {{coord|45|27|N|17|55|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| [[Požeška Gora]] || Kapavac || {{convert|618|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|45|17|N|17|35|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|}
</div>
[[File:State Stud Farm in Đakovo (Croatia), location Ivandvor, 2015-05-01 (1301).JPG|thumb|right|[[Đakovo Stud|State Stud Farm Đakovo]]]]
Slavonia is entirely located in the [[Pannonian Basin]], one of three major [[Geomorphology|geomorphological]] parts of Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Ministry of Construction and Spatial Planning (Croatia)]]|url=http://klima.mzopu.hr/UserDocsImages/Nacionalno_izv_KLIMA_23022007.pdf|title=Drugo, trece i cetvrto nacionalno izvješće Republike Hrvatske prema Okvirnoj konvenciji Ujedinjenih naroda o promjeni klime (UNFCCC)|trans-title=The second, third and fourth national report of the Republic of Croatia pursuant to the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC)|language=hr|date=November 2006|access-date=2 March 2012|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222083541/http://klima.mzopu.hr/UserDocsImages/Nacionalno_izv_KLIMA_23022007.pdf}}</ref> The Pannonian Basin took shape through [[Miocene|Miocenian]] thinning and [[subsidence]] of crust structures formed during Late [[Paleozoic]] [[Variscan orogeny]]. The Paleozoic and [[Mesozoic]] structures are visible in [[Papuk]], [[Psunj]] and other Slavonian mountains. The processes also led to the formation of a [[Stratovolcano|stratovolcanic]] chain in the basin 17&nbsp;– 12&nbsp;[[Mya (unit)|Mya]] (million years ago) and intensified subsidence observed until 5&nbsp;Mya as well as [[flood basalt]]s about 7.5&nbsp;Mya. Contemporary uplift of the [[Carpathian Mountains]] prevented water flowing to the [[Black Sea]], and the [[Pannonian Sea]] formed in the basin. Sediments were transported to the basin from uplifting Carpathian and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric mountains]], with particularly deep fluvial sediments being deposited in the [[Pleistocene]] during the uplift of the [[Transdanubian Mountains]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GClF-4rtvoIC|title=Recent Landform Evolution: The Carpatho-Balkan-Dinaric Region|isbn=978-94-007-2447-1|author=Milos Stankoviansky |author2=Adam Kotarba |publisher=Springer|year=2012|access-date=2 March 2012|pages=14–18}}</ref> Ultimately, up to {{convert|3000|m|abbr=off}} of the sediment was deposited in the basin, and the Pannonian sea eventually drained through the [[Iron Gate (Danube)|Iron Gate]] gorge.<ref>{{cite book|page=16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJNODA_0IOgC|title=The Nature Guide to the Hortobagy and Tisza River Floodplain, Hungary|author=Dirk Hilbers|publisher=[[Crossbill Guides Foundation]]|year=2008|isbn=978-90-5011-276-5|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref> In the southern Pannonian Basin, the [[Neogene]] to [[Quaternary]] sediment depth is normally lower, averaging {{convert|500|to|1500|m|abbr=off}}, except in central parts of depressions formed by [[subduction]]—around {{convert|4000|m|abbr=off}} in the Slavonia-Syrmia depression, {{convert|5500|m|abbr=off}} in the Sava depression and nearly {{convert|7000|m|abbr=off}} in the Drava depression, with the deepest sediment found between Virovitica and Slatina.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Geologia Croatica|publisher=Croatian Geological Institute|issn=1333-4875|volume=56|issue=1|date=June 2003|title=Tertiary Subsurface Facies, Source Rocks and Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the SW Part of the Pannonian Basin (Northern Croatia and South-Western Hungary)|pages=101–122|author=Bruno Saftić |author2=Josipa Velić |author3=Orsola Sztanó |author4=Györgyi Juhász |author5=Željko Ivković |doi=10.4154/232 |s2cid=34321638 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2003GeolC..56..101S }}</ref>

The results of those processes are large [[plain]]s in eastern Slavonia, Baranya and Syrmia, as well as in river valleys, especially along the Sava, Drava and [[Kupa]]. The plains are interspersed by the [[Horst (geology)|horst]] and [[graben]] structures, believed to have broken the Pannonian Sea surface as [[Pannonian island mountains|islands]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019|reason=removed citation to predatory publisher content}} The tallest among such landforms in Slavonia are {{convert|984|m|adj=on}} [[Psunj]], and {{convert|953|m|adj=on}} Papuk—flanking the [[Požega Valley]] from the west and the north.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/> These two and [[Krndija]], adjacent to Papuk, consist mostly of Paleozoic rocks which are 350&nbsp;– 300&nbsp;million years old. [[Požeška Gora]] and [[Dilj]], to the east of Psunj and enveloping the valley from the south, consist of much more recent Neogene rocks, but Požeška Gora also contains Upper [[Cretaceous]] sediments and [[igneous rocks]] forming the main, {{convert|30|km|adj=on}} [[ridge]] of the hill and representing the largest igneous landform in Croatia. A smaller igneous landform is also present on Papuk, near Voćin.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Papuk Geopark]]|url=http://www.papukgeopark.com/publikacije/geo_vodic1_30.pdf|title=Geološki vodič kroz park prirode Papuk|author1=Jakob Pamić |author2=Goran Radonić |author3=Goran Pavić |language=hr|trans-title=Geological guide to the Papuk Nature Park|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref> The two mountains, as well as [[Moslavačka gora]], west of Pakrac, are possible remnants of a [[volcanic arc]] related to [[Alpine orogeny]]—uplifting of the Dinaric Alps.<ref name="EGU">{{cite journal|journal=EGU Stephan Mueller Special Publication Series|publisher=[[Copernicus Publications]]|title=Evolution of the northern and western Dinarides: a tectonostratigraphic approach|author=Vlasta Tari-Kovačić|year=2002|volume=1 |pages=223–236|issn=1868-4556|access-date=3 March 2012|url=http://www.stephan-mueller-spec-publ-ser.net/1/223/2002/smsps-1-223-2002.pdf|issue=1|doi=10.5194/smsps-1-223-2002 |bibcode=2002SMSPS...1..223T |doi-access=free }}</ref> The Đakovo&nbsp;– Vukovar [[loess]] plain, extending eastward from Dilj and representing the watershed between the [[Vuka (river)|Vuka]] and [[Bosut (river)|Bosut]] rivers, gradually rises to the [[Fruška Gora]] south of Ilok.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Službeni glasnik Vukovarsko-srijemske županije|issn=1846-0925|issue=18|volume=14|date=27 December 2006|publisher=[[Vukovar-Syrmia County]]|url=http://www.vusz.hr/Cms_Data/Contents/VSZ/Folders/dokumenti/sluzbeni_vjesnik/~contents/ZMV2ASW7N9CZZU2F/2010-2-10-329363-vjesnik18-06.pdf|language=hr|title=Izviješće o stanju okoliša Vukovarsko-srijemske županije|trans-title=Report on environmental conditions in the Vukovar-Syrmia County|access-date=3 June 2012|pages=1–98|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040558/http://www.vusz.hr/Cms_Data/Contents/VSZ/Folders/dokumenti/sluzbeni_vjesnik/~contents/ZMV2ASW7N9CZZU2F/2010-2-10-329363-vjesnik18-06.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{wide image|Cornfield.jpg|1000px|{{Center|Plain near [[Đakovo]] after harvest}}}}
{{wide image|Slavonia (20303286292).jpg|800px|{{Center|Slavonia landscapes}}}}

====Hydrography and climate====
{{see|Lake Slavonia}}
The largest rivers in Slavonia are found along or near its borders—the Danube, Sava and Drava. The length of the Danube, flowing along the eastern border of Slavonia and through the cities of Vukovar and Ilok, is {{convert|188|km|abbr=off}}, and its main tributaries are the Drava {{convert|112|km|adj=on}} and the Vuka. The Drava discharges into the Danube near [[Aljmaš]], east of Osijek, while mouth of the Vuka is located in Vukovar. 
[[File:River Drava (29799981721).jpg|thumb|right|River [[Drava]] in [[Osijek]]]]
Major tributaries of the Sava, flowing along the southern border of Slavonia and through cities of Slavonski Brod and Županja are {{convert|89|km|adj=on}} the [[Orljava]] flowing through Požega, and the Bosut—whose {{convert|151|km|adj=on}} course in Slavonia takes it through Vinkovci. There are no large lakes in Slavonia. The largest ones are Lake Kopačevo whose surface area varies between {{convert|1.5|and|3.5|km2|abbr=off}}, and Borovik [[Reservoir]] covering {{convert|2.5|km2|abbr=off}}.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/> The Lake Kopačevo is connected to the Danube via Hulovski canal, situated within the [[Kopački Rit]] [[wetland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgipu.hr/doc/PPKopacki-rit-web/00-PPKopacki-rit-tekst.pdf|language=hr|title=Prostorni plan parka prirode "Kopački Rit"|trans-title=Kopački Rit Nature Park spatial plan|location=Osijek|date=February 2006|publisher=[[Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection (Croatia)]]|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702110335/http://www.mgipu.hr/doc/PPKopacki-rit-web/00-PPKopacki-rit-tekst.pdf|archive-date=2 July 2013}}</ref> while the Lake Borovik is an artificial lake created in 1978 in the upper course of the Vuka River.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Građevinar|url=http://www.casopis-gradjevinar.hr/dokumenti/201006/5.pdf|language=hr|title=Zgrada agencije za vodne putove i športske udruge Vukovara|trans-title=Waterways agency building and sport associations of the city of Vukovar|volume=62|issue=6|year=2010|pages=529–538|author=Branko Nadilo|access-date=14 June 2012|publisher=[[Croatian Association of Civil Engineers]]|issn=0350-2465}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Virgrad.jpg|thumb|left|Spačva forest, the largest complete common [[oak]] forest in [[Croatia]]]]

The entirety of Slavonia belongs to the [[Danube basin]] and the [[Black Sea]] catchment area, but it is divided in two sub-basins. One of those drains into the Sava—itself a Danube tributary—and the other into the Drava or directly into the Danube. The [[drainage divide]] between the two sub-basins runs along the Papuk and Krndija mountains, in effect tracing the southern boundary of the Virovitica-Podravina County and the northern boundary of Požega-Slavonia County, cuts through the Osijek-Podravina County north of Đakovo, and finally bisects the Vukovar-Syrmia County running between Vukovar and Vinkovci to reach Fruška Gora southwest of Ilok. All of Brod-Posavina County is located in the Sava sub-basin.<ref name="Divides-Ordinance">{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne Novine|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2010_08_97_2726.html|language=hr|title=Pravilnik o područjima podslivova, malih slivova i sektora|trans-title=Ordinance on areas of sub-catchments, minor catchments and sectors|date=11 August 2010|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

Most of Croatia, including Slavonia, has a moderately warm and rainy [[humid continental climate]] as defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]]. Mean annual temperature averages {{convert|10|to|12|°C|°F|lk=on}}, with the warmest month, July, averaging just below {{convert|22|°C|°F|lk=on}}. Temperature peaks are more pronounced in the continental areas—the lowest temperature of {{convert|-27.8|°C|°F|lk=on}} was recorded on 24 January 1963 in Slavonski Brod,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://klima.hr/razno.php?id=priopcenja&param=apsolutno_najniza|publisher=[[Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service]]|language=hr|title=Apsolutno najniža temperatura zraka u Hrvatskoj|trans-title=The absolute lowest air temperature in Croatia|date=3 February 2012|access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref> and the highest temperature of {{convert|40.5|°C|°F|lk=on}} was recorded on 5 July 1950 in Đakovo.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=INA Časopis|publisher=[[INA (company)|INA]]|year=2008|issue=40|volume=10|pages=88–92|url=http://www.ina.hr/UserDocsImages/list_pdf/Ina_casopis_40/index.html|title=Ljetne vrućine napadaju|trans-title=Hot summer weather pushes on|author=Milan Sijerković|access-date=13 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The lowest level of precipitation is recorded in the eastern parts of Slavonia at less than {{convert|700|mm|abbr=off}} per year, mostly during the [[growing season]]. The western parts of Slavonia receive {{convert|900|to|1000|mm|abbr=off}} precipitation. Low winter temperatures and the distribution of precipitation throughout the year normally result in snow cover, and freezing rivers—requiring use of [[icebreaker]]s, and in extreme cases explosives,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/vojska-sa-64-kilograma-eksploziva-razbila-led-dravi-kod-osijeka-clanak-377016|language=hr|title=Vojska sa 64 kilograma eksploziva razbila led na Dravi kod Osijeka|trans-title=Army breaks Drava River ice near Osijek using 64 kilograms of explosives|author=Ivana Barišić|date=14 February 2012|access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref> to maintain the flow of water and navigation.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision]]|url=http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=152791&cHash=cdf7d2eb90|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803222305/http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=152791&cHash=cdf7d2eb90|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|language=hr|title=Ledolomci na Dunavu i Dravi|trans-title=Icebreakers on Danube and Drava|date=13 February 2012|access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref> Slavonia receives more than 2,000&nbsp;hours of sunshine per year on average. Prevailing winds are light to moderate, northeasterly and southwesterly.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/>