The Republic of Montenegro (Serbian: Црна Гора, Crna Gora, meaning "black mountain") is a small, mountainous state in south-west Balkans, bordering Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania and the Adriatic Sea.
Terrain
That the observation of the Italian botanist Baldaci about "the poetic and the pathetic characteristics" of nature in Montenegro was not a lyrical overstatement is supported by the fact that Montenegro is both a seaside and continental, mountain country. There are four climatic types with a variety of microclimatic changes and variations. Being in the middle between the subtropical and subpolar regions, the air currents from Africa going north and the polar fronts moving towards the South replace each other over Montenegro.
There are 40 lakes in Montenegro, and eighty percent of the territory is comprised of forests, natural pasturelands and meadows. The 2.833 plant species and subspecies that grow on the mere 0,14 % of the total surface area of Europe which belongs to Montenegro, make almost a quarter of the European flora.
Montenegro is the country of natural rarities which is shown throughout the four clearly differentiated geographic regions within its small area.
The Coast
Coastal Montenegro presents a striking contrast to the other three regions, and makes the Mediterranean "facade" of Montenegro.
The width of the Adriatic Sea is greatest between Montenegro and Southern Italy (around 200 km), and that part of the Adriatic is at the same time the deepest (greatest depth is 1.330 m at the point 120 km south-west of the Bay of Kotor ).
The length of the coastline is 293,5 km, of which 52 km are beaches. The Montenegrin seaside is a very narrow strip of land (2-10 km wide), separated from the inland by high and steep limestone mountains of Rumija , Sutorman, Orjen and Lovcen The coast is very indented with numerous bays and coves. The largest, and most impressive is the Bay of Kotor, which is the world's southernmost fjord.
Rocky tablelands
A special geomorphologic region in Montenegro is the limestone area, that is in complete contrast to the Seaside, which it literally overhangs. Plants and animals are scarce here, and patches of fertile land can be found in karst depressions - polja - and crater-like hollows - vrtače.
Limestone easily drains, so even the heaviest annual rainfalls have little effect here. Even though the place is the most rainy in Europe, the pourous limestone prevents surface build up.
Situated in this region is Lovćen National Park.
Central Montenegrin depression
Lake Skadar , the fertile Zeta plain with the Zeta River valley, and the Niksic field (polje), comprise the third geomorphologic region of Montenegro. This is a lowland and the only plain area in Montenegro.
The average altitude of the Zeta plain is 40 m in its northern part, whereas the Nikšić plain, that in terms of space makes part of it, is 500 m higher.
The fertile lowlands along the river valleys are the ideal place for human settlements, so that the Zeta plain, the Zeta River valley, and the Nikšić field record the highest concentration of population in Montenegro. The two largest cities in the Republic - Podgorica and Nikšić - are situated here.
In this area, there is the Lake Skadar National Park.
High Mountains
The north of Montenegro is the area of high limestone mountains. From the tablelands and plateaus of 1.700 m in altitude, rise vast mountain ranges and ridges of over 2.000 m (Durmitor, Bjelasica , Komovi, Visitor ). These mountain ranges are rich in pasturelands, forests and numerous mountain lakes, of which there are 29 in Montenegro. The rivers Piva, Tara, Moraca, Ćehotina and their tributaries have cut deep narrow steep-sided channels in the limestone - the canyons, whose beauty and size are unique. In its size, the canyon of the Tara is the second largest in the world.
In this region there are two magnificent national parks - Biogradska Gora and Durmitor .
The Climate
The contrasts in the land (topography) are related to climate. While the Mediterranean climate prevails at the seaside, in the closest hinterland, only few air-distance kilometers away, the dominant climate is continental. The Dinaric range of mountains (Orjen, Lovćen and Rumija) rises steep above the coast, and just like a gigantic backdrop largely prevents the penetration of the Mediterranean climate into the inland. At the seaside region the average July temperatures are between 23,4ºC and 25,6ºC. Summers are usually long and dry, winters short and mild. Along the valley of the Bojana River, over the basin of Lake Skadar and upstream the Morača, waves of intense heat penetrate to Podgorica, making it the warmest city in Montenegro, and one of the warmest in the Balkans.
In central Montenegro, in the regions of Zetska and Bjelopavlićka plains, July temperatures are 26,4ºC (in Podgorica), and 25,4ºC (in Danilovgrad ). The absolute maximum can sometimes reach 40ºC. The average January temperatures are around 5ºC, with the absolute minimum of -10ºC.
In the region of high limestone mountains, the climate is typically sub alpine - with cold, snow-abundant winters and moderate summers. While along the Montenegrin seaside and in the basin of Lake Skadar snow is a rarity, on Mt. Durmitor it can fall up to five meters. In the northern parts of Montenegro, and particularly in the high mountains, due to low evaporation, the snow remains for several months and sometimes even over the whole year.
Regions of Montenegro
Montenegro is divided into 22 regions (click on each place below to access information about each place):
Major cities and towns in Montenegro
*The former royal capital and the seat of the throne is Cetinje.
Facts
- Geographic coordinates: 42°30′N 19°18′E
- Total area: 14.026 sq km
- Land area: 13.812 sq km
- Water area: 214 sq km
- Population: 620.145 (2003 census); 630.548 (2004 estimate )
- Length of the coast (coastline): 293,5 km
- Length of the international borders: 625 km (total)
- Land under cultivation: 517.153 ha
- Land use:
- arable land: 13,7%
- permanent crops: 1%
- other: 85,3%
- Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
- Points:
- Lowest point: Adriatic Sea - 0 m
- Highest point: Bobotov Kuk - 2.522 m (2.522 km)
*The source for this information is Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. Here is the link to this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Montenegro
| Beaches From Boka to Budva
The Adriatic coast of Montenegro is 293 kilometers long. Of this stretch 73 kilometers are beaches. Some are only a few meters long and accessible by boat. Others go as far as the eye can see, the longest at almost 13 kilometers. Some are only small concrete platforms. Others consist of coarse gravel and a few of fine sand. Most of the beaches are managed by the Budva based company “Morsko Dobro”. The blue and red signs point out even hidden beaches that are not easy to find.
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1. Njivice is the westernmost beach in Montenegro, only a few hundred metersfrom the Croatian border, below the Hotel Riva. The main part is reserved for nudists.
2. Igalo/Herceg Novi: The Riviera there is about 25 kilometers long. There are deserted gravel beaches as well as real “tourist grills”.
3. Perast has a small concrete platform a hundred meters outside of town. Quiet.
4. Tivat offers from small gravel stretches to concrete platforms, a total of 31,000 square meters of beaches.
5. Kalazdovo: The well maintained gravel beach is near the airport on the Prevlaka peninsula.
6. Mirista: From turquoise to deep blue, the water in the bay is a symphony of colors. For many Montenegrins this is the most beautiful beach in the country, but it’s not that easy to get to. From Tivat it’s a half hour drive. A must see is the Blue Cave, an up to 30 meter high hollow on the water.
7. Blue Horizon is the translated name of the bay on which there is also a major hotel complex. Cool pine forests offer shade, fine gravel, restaurants.
8. Trsteno is small and family friendly. The 200 meter long gravel beach runs vapidly into the water. The bay is well protected from wind and waves. Simple restaurant. |
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| Budva to Bar
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9. Jaz is one of the best known beaches in Montenegro, of sand and gravel. In the 800 meter stretch, 300 meters are reserved for nudists. On the western end are beach chairs, restaurants and cafes.
10. Mogren I and II: Legend says this beach was named after a Spanish sailor, Mogrinj, who was stranded here once with his ship.
11. Becici beach, almost two kilometers long, is one of the longest beaches on the Budvanska Riviera. To find a quiet spot during the high season is almost impossible.
12. Sveti Stefan: The western part is reserved for hotel guests, the eastern section is open to the public. A short walk in the direction of Budva brings you to the beaches of Milocer (King's Beach) and Przno. In between is the Queen's Beach.
13. Drobni Pijesak: This beach of gravel and sand is still sort of hidden.
14. Petrovac with its 600 meter long beach offers everything at once: sand, clear water, a fishing village, hotels, restaurants and shops. Everything is nearby.
15. Buljarica, the beach with the green hinterland, is still spared from giant hotel buildings. Only bungalows and camping grounds attract the tourists. But that doesn't mean that the 2200 meter long beach is quiet. Sometimes there is a problem with the landfill that is just a few kilometers above the beach.
16. Canj: The gravel on the sea bottom gave the beach the name "Pearl Beach". A rocky mountain nose divides the 1800 meter long stretch, which is calculated to fit 9000 people.
17. Sutormore: Three hundred years ago Venetian nobles enjoyed this beach. Today, several thousand seek it out every day for a refreshing time. This isn't a beach though for those who are looking for a quiet time.
18. Bar: Utjeha is the town beach and is easy to access. Accordingly it gets crowded. |
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| Bar to Ulcinj
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19 . Valdanos is probably the best protected beach on the Adriatic. The bay is normally used by the army and is open to the public only during the high season.
20. Small Beach or Town Beach: Some people say that it is impossible to see the water during the high season because of all the tourists. In the other months this 360 meter long stretch of sand is one of the most beautiful in the area.
21. "Velika Plaza" means "big beach" and it is. With its 12.5 kilometers it is the longest one along the Adriatic, but also one of the most popular. Private resorts like the Tropicana (sign on the main road) offer a comfortable oasis in the crowds.
22. Ada Bojana: In the 1970's it was the island in middle of the Bojana river on the border of Albania, and a favorite place for nudists. That is, at least during the main season, still the case, but the place is not that crowded anymore. |
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Source: http://www.access-montenegro.org/eng/strabokae.htm |