national parks of monte negro

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NATIONAL PARKS OF

MONTENEGRO

Jan Husák

Palacky University Olomouc

Ljubljana 2011



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ContentsIntroduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1

National park Durmitor ........................................................................................................................... 3

National park Biogradska Gora................................................................................................................ 4

National park Lovćen ............................................................................................................................... 5

National park Skadar lake ........................................................................................................................ 6

National park Prokletije ........................................................................................................................... 8

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 9

References ............................................................................................................................................. 10

Introduction

I´ve decided to write about national parks in Montenegro because I travelled through this

beautiful country this spring during my sightseeing trip around the Balcans and I´ve realized its huge

turistic potential.1

Montenegro (Crna gora) is a small country situated in Southeastern Europe. With the area 13.812

km² is the smallest Slavic country in the world, but its natural and historical potencial is much morebigger. (Wikipedia.org-Montenegro, 2011)

Image 1: Montenegro localization (source: http://en.wikipedia.org)

1You can find all photos and experiences from Montenegro on:

http://www.ursus.cz/fotoalbum/rok_2011/rok_2011.html



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The visitor of Montenegro can find, that this piece of land has an enormous variety of landscape

which makes it really pitoresque. High peaks of Dinaric mountain ranges falling to the lowlands,

virgin forests with rare flowers and animal species, numerous karst phenomenas, magical mountain

lakes and also the biggest lake of southern Europe. The very rugged terrain of Montenegro ends in

the waters of Adriatic sea.

The most beautiful and the most valuable areas are protected among five national parks of

Montenegro: Durmitor, Biogradska Gora, Lovćen, Skadar Lake and Prokletije. Three of them have

mountain character (Lovćen, Durmitor and Prokletije), Biogradska Gora has characteristic of virgin

forest , while in area of the Skadar Lake, water and swamp ecosystems are dominant.

Image 2: National parks of Montenegro (source: http://www.destination-montenegro.com/,

edited by author)



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Thanks to its values, national parks have not only national, but also international significance.

National park Durmitor with Tara Canyon is the part of the UNESCO´s list of World natural and

cultural heritage since 1980. Tara river has the status of biosphere reserve (MAB) since 1977.

National park Skadar Lake is a significant ornithological area (IBA) since 1989 and from 1995 is added

on Worlds list of water habitats of international importance (RAMSAR). (Dubak, 2009)

National parks are managed by Public Enterprise for National parks of Montenegro, with

headquarters in capital Podgorica. It is responsible for the protection, maintenance and promotion of

protected areas. It was founded in 1993 in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Nature

Protection and the Law of National parks. (Dubak, 2009)

National park Durmitor

With the area of 39.000 ha Durmitor is the largest national park in Montenegro. It was founded in

1952. National park occupies the massif of Durmitor mountains (the highest peaks of Montenegro),

deep canons of Tara, Draga and Susica rivers and the highest parts of Komarnica canyon valley, above

which the numerous mountains peaks are raised. The highest peak of national park (and also of

Montenegro) is Bobotov Kuk (2.525 m a.s.l.), but also others 48 peaks have the altitude up to 2.000

meters a.s.l.

Durmitor mountains has been adorned with 18

glacial lakes called „Mountain eyes“. The biggest and

the most popular lake called Crno jezero (Black lake) is

situated 3km away from the turistic heart of the

national park- the village of Žabljak. It is situated on an

altitude of 1,416 m, has an area of 0,515 square km andit is 49,1m deep. The lake consists of two smaller

lakes, Veliko jezero and Malo jezero. The lakes are

connected with a narrow strait, which dries up during

the summer, thus creating two separate waterbodies.

(Wikipedia.org-Crno lake, 2011)

Image 3: Crno jezero (source: http://sites.etleboro.com/)

As said, the very center of the park is Žabljak, small town at the bottom of the southeastern part

of Durmitor. This settlement, which is located at the highest altitude of the Balkan Peninsula (around

1.450 m) is the biggest winter center in Montenegro, with considerable accommodation capacities,

both hotel and private, infrastructure for winter sports and services in the area of tourism and

mountaineering. Mountaineering paths are marked and there is an organized mountain climbing

guide service. (Montenegro Travel, 2011)

The Tara River Canyon, with the slopes of 1.600 m above the river level, is the highest in Europe

and one of the highest in the world. It occupies 1.500 floral and 170 bird species. The Canyon has

been proclaimed the world´s ecological reserve. There is a diversity of floral and animal world in

Durmitor, with numerous endemic and relic species. Animal world is almostly of mountainous type.

Out of 1.325 floral species typical for this region: 122 are endemits, 150 are herbs. You can find 40

types of eatable mashrooms here. (Dubak, 2009)



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The localities of cultural and historical heritage are also numerous: necropolises, churches,

monasteries, Greek and Roman graves, tombstones as well as traditional architecture.

Image 4: Central Durmitor peaks (source: author)

NP Durmitor with Tara Canyon belongs on the UNESCO biosphere reserve (A Man and Biosphere)

also UNESCO´s List of World natural and cultural heritage. There are 7 special protected park zones

(ICUM): Spruce and fir woods Crna poda, Skrcka lake´s flow with the narrower canyon bank of Susica

River, Barno Lake with the narrower surroundings, Mlinski potok and Tara Canyon. (Dubak, 2009)

National park Biogradska Gora

This area is one of the oldest protected areas in the world- in 1878 was donated to the then ruler

of Montenegro, duke Nikola and from then on it remained – as a "duke’s reserve" – under the state

protection (Montenegro Travel, 2011). But the national park was established here in 1952 on the

area of 5.650 ha. It is situated in the central part of mountain massif of Bjelasica, between Tara and

Lim river.

There are 26 distinctive plant comunities, with about 2.000 floral species, out of which 20% are

endemitic and about 90 wood species. The animal world is also various with 200 bird species. The

animal world is also very various: 200 bird species, 80 butterflies species, 350 insect species and

typical mammals (wolf, bear, fox, dormmouse etc.). (Dubak, 2009)



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Image 5: Biogradsko lake (source: http://www.theodora.com/)

In the very heart of the park, in altitude of 1.094m you can find famous Biogradsko jezero

(Biogradsko lake). It consists of two parts, with numerous vortexes and typical glacial coves with

unusual esthetic characteristics (Montenegro Travel, 2011). There are other three glacial lakes here:

Pešića, Ursulovačko and Šiško jezero. The largest part of the park is composed by virgin forest reserve

in the basen of Biogradska River and Jezerštica River. The age of some virgin forest trunks have been

estimated on over 400 years, some of these giants are 40m high. (Dubak, 2009)

Today, the area around Biogradsko Lake is a famous excursion site with developed parking space,

restaurant, bungalows, walking paths with lights and a camping space. The park headquarters are

situated in village Kolašin. Thanks to the climate conditions during summer months, it attracts a large

number of tourists, particularly transit tourist, which stop here on their way to the coast, seeking

refuge from high temperatures.

National park Lovćen

National park Lovćen is recongnisible for its natural and cultural-historical characteristics.

Founded in 1952, encompasses central and the highest part of Lovćen massif, covering the area of 6.220 ha. The highest peak Štirovnik (1.749 m) and other viewpoints, will offer you a magnificent

view from all sides leaves an unrepeatable and unforgettable visual impression.



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Image 6: Boka Kotoská bay from Mt. Lovćen (source: http://img1.worldpoi.info/)

National park is situated in the contact point of two climate zones, mediterranean and

continental, what affected the developement of the rich live world with numerous endems. Among

1300 plant species which makes 1/3 of total Montenegrin flora, also the animal species are really

numerous here. Except of mammals (wolf, bear, boar, fox, deer, eastern hedgehog, Montenegrin

snow vole,...), here are also 200 bird species, 11 reptile species, 5 amphibian species, 85 daily

butterflies, 100 ant types, 45 flower flies, 10 horseshoe bat and other. (Dubak, 2009)

The cultural heritage is characterized by memorial monuments, churches, traditional buildingsand old roads. The Mausoleum of Montenegrin ruler and poet Petar II Petrović Njegoš is situated on

the top of Lake´s Peak (1.657 m) (Wikipedia.org-Lovćen, 2010). Mausoleum is the most important

work of the great Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Lovćen serpentines are a part of an old caravan

road from Kotor to Njegusi. Most of the sacral objects and interesting ethnographic material in

Lovćen is concentrated in the area of Ivanova korita and village Njeguši, famous for fantastic ham and

cheese (Montenegro Travel, 2010).

Also an authentic national architecture can be seen in this region: katuns – summer settlements

of farmers and old stone houses with roofs made of sawn straw or laminar limestone, village guvna -

places where folk meetings were held, were people celebrated and enjoyed themselves. Around tenchurches with specific church towers “distaffs» (its form reminds of the distaff) round up Lovćen

landscape. (Montenegro Travel, 2010)

National park Skadar lake

The largest lake on Balkan peninsula, lake Skadar and also Scutari is a lake on the border of

Montenegro and Albania. About 2/3 of total lake area (370-530 km²- depending on the water level) is

in Montenegro. National park Skadar lake occupies an area about 40.000 ha, it was founded in 1983

and it is the only national park with dominant water and wetland ecosystems. (Wikipedia.org-Skadar

lake, 2011)



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Image 7: Skadar lake (source: author)

The north wetland bank (cca. 20.000 ha) offers ideal conditions for the bird life. Due to its

geographic position and sub Mediterranean climate, it is one of the most important habitats of swamp birds in Europe, right after the river Danube delta. There are around 280 bird species on the

lake, including the rare curly pelican, which became a trademark of the National Park. (Montenegro

Travel, 2010)

That´s why the Lake has the status of an Area of international importance for birds (IBA). It is also

on the World´s list of water habitats of international importance (RAMSAR). There are 48 fish

species, 50 mammal species (the only water representative in otter), numerous amphibians, reptiles

and insects in the Park. The floral world is various both in the vary lake and its surroundings, and in

the summer months the meadows of water lilies and water nuts used to spread over in kilometres.

Special nature reserves are Manastirska tapija, Pančeva oka and Crni žar reserve. (Dubak, 2009)

Image 8: estuary of river Morača (source: author)

Skadar lake has a very rich history and has numerous culture monuments. Old castles, middleage

monasteries placed on isles of the Lake, churces, fortresses, archaeological localities and traditional

architecture- all of this you can find here. On the shores of the lake there are two small towns–old

urban settlements, with specific architecture – Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića. Both settlements are



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nowadays famous for its restaurants that offer traditional specialties. Southern hinterland of the lake

(Crmnica) is famous for the best vine in Montenegro.

National park Prokletije

Founded in 2009 it is the youngest national park of Montenegro. However not the least

interesting- Montenegrin Prokletije is only a small part of this very special range of mountains

located between the Dinarides and Šarske mountains, whose largest part is lies in Albania. The

highest mountain peak of the mountain range Prokletije is Zla Kolata – 2,536 m. Area of the National

park Prokletije is 16.630 ha (JPNPCG, unknown date).

Image 9: Mountains of Prokletije (source: http://www.montenegro.travel)

The mountain range Prokletije, unlike the Dinarides, takes another direction, and in some way

they are a barrier to the coastal mountains. They rise in the direction Southwest – Northeast starting

from a margin of the Skadar-Zeta plain ending up with the complex of highest massifs of Bogicevica

all the way to the passes of Čakor and Rugova, about 70 km long, where the highest mountain peaks

rise. (Montenegro Travel, 2010)

Prokletije is interesting for its special relief and water wealth, and also for big flora and fauna

biodiversity. Flora of Montenegrin part of Prokletije, in big part has the character of central European

flora with significant participation of the Arkto-Alpine and sub-Mediterranean elements. Large

numbers are endemic, relict, rare and many species are medical. Animal world of Prokletije ischarakterised by wide biodiversity. There are registred about 60 endemic insect species and about

130 species of day butterflies. Fish fauna in the terms of richness and biodiversity is also very

interesting. (JPNPCG, unknown date)



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Conclusion

It´s obvious that a country with such enormous amount of natural and cultural heritage, like we

find in Montenegro, has a big potential for tourism. Montenegro used to be an important turistic

destination for last half-century and not any different is it today. Tourism creates 15% of

Montenegrin GDP and in following years an increase of tourism is expected. But the necessaryrequirements for touristic development are in better infrastructure (there are any highways in the

country), modernization of accomodation facilities and other services.

National parks together covers 12.812 km², what is 7,8% of total area. This number is quite high in

comparison with other European countries. For example in Slovenia national parks covers 4,30% and

in the Czech republic only 1,51% of the country. This is impact of low population density and

spectacular landscape variety.

I had a few chanes to observe the quality of environmental protection, educational function and

overall management of the Montenegrin national parks. A well-made infoboards in NP Durmitor and

Skadarsko jezero really have engaged me. Also the modern and well equipped infocentre in Virpazar,

the “capital” of NP Skadarsko jezero, is the good example. The visitor has a several chances to

discover wildlife, history, traditions, interesting tracks in the area, to get a knowledge from

educational movies and to buy many fine souvenirs. I´ve met some park rangers, and they were very

kind, helpful and talkative, despite their low knowledge of English language.

Image 10: Infocentre in Virpazar (source: author)

These experiences demonstrates, that Montenegro is developing country and despite certain

deficiencies, it is going to be one of popular turistic destinations with high standard of the

environmental protection in “European” measures.



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References

Dubak, Nela Vešović. 2009. Nacionalni parkovi Crne Gore. Podgorica : Javno preduzeće za

nacionalne parkove Crne Gore, 2009.

JPNPCG (Javno preduzeće Nacionalni parkovi Crne Gore). unknown date. Nature trail- national

parks of Montenegro. unknown date.

Montenegro Travel. [Online] 2010. [ 28. 5 2011.]

http://www.montenegro.travel/xxl/en/nationalparks/_id/930651/index.html.

Wikipedia.org-Crno lake. [Online] 2011. [28. 5 2011.] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crno_Lake.

Wikipedia.org-Lovćen. [Online] 2010. [28. 5 2011.] http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lov%C4%87en.

Wikipedia.org-Montenegro . [Online] 2011. [28. 5 2011.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro#Geography.

Wikipedia.org-Skadar lake. [Online] 2011. [28. 5 2011.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Skadar.

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