Neretva River meets its end near the city of Ploče. Through the centuries this river made a whole valley and became the largest delta in Croatia. Today, Neretva delta is a protected area with more than 300 bird species making it second largest ornithological site in Europe. The Valley is famous for its mandarine plantations and it is often called Croatian California. In the past couple of years mouth of the river, Neretva has become one of the most popular kitesurfing spots in Europe. It is the only place in Croatia where you can walk for hundreds of meters in the sea due to its shallow sandbars. In the times of the Roman Empire, Neretva River was an important trading route connecting Narona, second largest Roman city on this side of the Adriatic with other parts of the Empire. Even today, Neretva sand still hides many of the sunken ancient treasures.