The 2009 World Canals Conference will take place in Novi Sad, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, and will include tours to the Djerdap (Iron Gate) section of the Danube (21-22 September) featuring the hydropower scheme at Djerdap I shared with Romania, and many important sites on the canal system of Vojvodina - Middle Danube (26-27 September).
Conference
September 23rd to 25th, VENUE: Novi Sad
The programme of a three - days Conference that will take place in Novi Sad, the capital city of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It will be an invaluable forum for waterway managers, users and enthusiasts with an interest in the canals, navigable rivers and inland waterway heritage of the Middle Danube Region.
The general theme of the Conference will be raising awareness and improving the economic performance of waterways, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia, two world regions which have not previously been covered by an annual event. East and West will meet.
Conference topics:- Built heritage in the world and in Serbia (Middle Danube Region)
- Water resources management and use
- Tourism and canals
- Inland water transport and boat industries
- Canal environmental reasearch
Bezdan Lock
Preliminary programme
Tuesday,
September 22nd
Participants of the WCC2009 arrive at Novi Sad, Opening of the registration desk, Visit to the host city, Welcome reception with the Exhibition
Wednesday,
September 23nd
Opening of the registration and information desk, Opening of the Exhibition, Plenary Opening Addresses, Welcome speach, First conference session presenting Serbian waterways, Second conference session presenting New and restored waterways - large and small
Thursday,
September 24th
Plenary session presenting Canal and waterway heritage, Visits to the DTD waterway network by coach: Bezdan lock and Mali Stapar, lock on the Danube, Field workshops on development of facilities for boats
Friday,
September 25th
First conference session presenting Canals and tourism, Canals and the boat industry, Second conference session presenting Water resources management and use, Canals and enviromental research, Lunchtime excursions to Sremski Karlovci, a historic town on the Danube and visit to Nikola Mirkov muesum, Gala dinner
Pre-conference Tour
Iron Gate Tour, September 21st to 22nd
SITE VISITS: Iron Gate, Djerdap I, archaeological sites of Lepenski Vir and Viminatium
Discover a spectacular section of the Danube - the Iron Gate, the longest, and the largest river gorge in Europe, which lies on a border between Serbia and Romania. The Iron Gate is well-known by its natural beauty, but also as the most historic section of an inland waterway in Europe and as the site of the largest dam on the Danube - Djerdap I.
A two-day pre-conference tour includes the boat trip through the Iron Gate with the visit to Djerdap I hydro-electric power plant and the lock and visits to the Lepenski Vir - one of the most important archaeological sites of prehistoric culture in Europe, and Viminatium - the remains of the Roman garrison.
Iron Gate
Preliminary programme
Sunday,
September 20nd
Arrival at the International Airport "Nikola Tesla", Belgrade, Transfer to Pozarevac for overnight stay in this historic town
Monday,
September 21nd
Visit to Viminatim, the remains of the Roman garrison town near Smederevo, Continuation of the journey to Golubac, a well-known historic castle ruins and lunch, Continuation of the journey to Donji Milanovac and Kladovo, Embarking on a boat trip to discover the Iron Gate, Evening meeting of The International Committee for the Conservation of Industrial Heritage (TICCIH), Meeting of the IWI Council
Tuesday,
September 22th
Visit Djerdap I hydro-electric power plant and lock, followed by the return trip up the Danube gorge via spectacular view-point above the archaeological site of Lepenski vir, Transfer to Novi Sad, Pre/registration for the Conefernce and welcome cocktail
Post-conference Tour
Canals of the Middle Danube Region, September 26th to 27th
SITE VISITS: Canals of the DTD Hydro-system
Enjoy in remarkable sites of the Danube-Tisa-Danube (DTD) Hydro-system canals and get to know this unique hydro-egineering system for flood control and hydro-technical, amelioration forestry, water supply, waste water evacuation, navigaton, tourism, fishing and hunting. The total length of canals of the DTD Hydro-system is 649 kilometres and 600 kilometres are navigable.
The two-day post-conference tour includes cruising of the canals of the DTD Hydro-system in Vojvodina and visits to structures of industrial heritage.
Bac Bridge
Preliminary programme
Saturday,
September 26nd
Visit to Zrenjanin, Klek Lock on the Bega River, a modern lock on the Tisa river and the old "Eiffel" Lock on the DTD Canal
Sunday,
September 27th
Transfer to Bac castle on the Danube, contuinuation of the journey to Sremski Karlovci, Return to Novi Sad or continuation of the journey to Belgrade to visit the future Muesum of Science and Technology, Optional dinner in Novi Sad or Belgrade, depending on delegates' preference