Due to its size, strength and capriciousness, it used to be very difficult to bridge the Drava River, i.e., to cross it when one needed to do it. In the past, there were several occupations which were closely related to the river and the people who practiced them almost constantly stayed by the water or on the water. They were millers, goldsmiths, fishermen and others. A special occupation related to water was also practiced by shipowners - people who operated ships (ferries) or boats and transported people from one bank of the Drava River to another. Such ships for crossing the river were placed in suitable places on the Drava River and there were several of them in this part of Podravina. In the case of crossing the river by vessels, many farmers and cattle breeders were exposed to the danger of drowning, as well as all those who for any reason needed to cross the Drava, most often due to tillage and care for livestock on the estates on both river sides. Because of that, people crossed the river over the frozen surface in winter and thus transported the crop.
In the area of the Đurđevec Regiment, there were four arranged crossings over the Drava River which owe their names to the settlements whose inhabitants used them: Novigrad, Molve, Virje and Brod crossings. Each of these crossings had its own peculiarities. Furthermore, these were places where many people gathered to cross the Drava River safely. The means of transport used were ships (ferries) and boats. The crossings over the Drava were regularly located behind large river bends, i.e., where the water flows the slowest.
The most important flood protections made by people were the embankments built in the second half of the 18th century. The old embankments followed the course of the Drava and their purpose was to retain water during the river overflow. Waters are also regulated by the construction of canals, especially in wetlands from where excess water was directed into the Drava riverbed.
Thanks to such interventions, people were able to live very close to the Drava River where the land is very fertile and suitable for growing crops. One of such villages is Brodić not far from the Drava embankment and the arranged river crossing where the ferry is located. The village developed from the former konaki, and the country border passes here as well. On one elevated place in 1926, the chapel of St. Vitus was built. Also, another special tourist attraction is the Ethno House owned by the Karlovčan family.
