allaboutravelling.comIn the beginning it was just the mountain. Then the mountain past reputation and the national park that surrounds him. Today, the entire land of Durmitor is considered by all Montenegrins, neither more nor less than “national treasure”. Who is fortunate to visit will convince justice full appreciation of Montenegrins against one of the most important and valuable national parks in Europe.
MOUNT BAPTIZED BY PASTORS AROMANIANS
Certainly, on hearing the name of this mountain-Romanian resonances national park, many are amazed Romanian phonetic similarity of terms Durmitor-bedroom.
Not wrong at all, the most beautiful Montenegrin reserve was once, resting place for flocks Vlach-Aromanian shepherds who roamed the Balkans in eternal Romanian transhumance these brothers south of the Danube.
Because resting places and shelter offered Durmitorul its inception has been a favorite place of rest for Vlach shepherds. Surprising similarities do not stop there, in the former Yugoslavia and other toponyms there Aromanian origin, as evidence of the presence in the area of ??ethnic Vlachs. Meet, for example, Mount Visitor, ie dreamer, or Mount Cipitor, or nap in the same dialect Aromanian …
From geographically, National Park Durmitor mountain plateau of Durmitorului cover along the valley carved by the River Country, which gave a spectacular canyon.
Because of its geographical location and high altitude, the reserve is influenced by two distinct microclimate: Mediterranean and continental alpine.
From a strictly geological, Mount Durmitor and Tara Canyon was formed in the Mesozoic, specifically lower Triassic until the Upper Cretaceous, orogenesis containing tertiary and quaternary periods. Prevailing geological formations consist of limestone Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Due to the karstic relief particularly well represented, the reserve contains over 200 caves, most designed for tourists. The most famous is Ledina Pecina, located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, with its ice stalagmite height exceeding 3 meters.
Convinced of the beauty and originality of the whole area Yugoslav authorities after the Second World War, decided in 1952, to establish Durmitor National Park, which would include, besides the namesake mountain, and canyons carved by rivers Country , Susice and cute and Komarna plateau. In fact, the Yugoslav People’s Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro decided that on September 6, 1952 to raise simultaneously at the rank of Durmitorului land nature reserve and national park. Subsequently, spectacular scenery, unparalleled anywhere in the world, led to the inclusion in the World Heritage List Durmitorului since 1980.
TREASURES NATURE OF DURMITOR
National Park is truly a miracle, rescued by human invasion. Durmitorului entire region is the most important part of the Dinaric mountain chain, characterized by high mountains, abundant pine forests, breathtaking ravines and lakes. Tara river canyon, with its length of over 80 km and maximum depth of 1,300 meters, is the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Canyon Country (in Serbian dialect Montenegrin: Kanjon Loud) is bounded on both sides by more than 80 caves and was recently arranged for rafting. The stormy and difficult rafting route covers a distance of 18 km between points Brstnovica and Scepan Polje.
National Park includes the highest mountain peak in Montenegro, top Bobotov Kuk, which reaches a height of 2522 meters. Also in Durmitor are 18 glacier lakes can meet one more beautiful than the other, 5 canyons and smaller, 25 mountain peaks over 2,200 meters high, 748 drinking water sources, numerous fragments of virgin forest with trees that sometimes exceed age of 500 years and over 2,000 miles of trails and marked paths.
A seven areas of Durmitor received special reserve status, among them are virgin forests in the region Mlinski, Susice Canyon, Lake Barno, Zabojsko Lake, Canyon Country, and water mills on the River Country, the latter being objectives of immense historical and cultural value.
BIODIVERSITY AND TOURISM
Like other reserves in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora, Lovćen or Lake Skadar, Durmitorul has a very rich and varied flora. Botanists have identified so far a total of 1,325 plant species, classified in 484 genera and 129 families.
Durmitorul is covered by dense forests of fir and pine, and higher areas grow large thickets of juniper. Fauna is represented typical Dinaric northern ecosystem. The park has one of the last virgin forests of black pine in Europe, which grow on soils where ordinarily encountered beech forests.
Birds are represented by 163 species, some of which are sedentary, remaining throughout the year in Durmitor. In the course of rivers, and glacial lakes, meet different fish species, mostly salmonids family. Amphibians and reptiles are also well represented.
Durmitor is a true island of refuge for many species of mammals became extinct or very rare in the Balkans fauna landscape. You can still find bears, wolves, lynx, deer, otters, squirrels, martens, wild boars.
Access Durmitor is usually Belgrade highway to Plieva, through Mojkovac until it reaches Podgorica, capital of Montenegro. Podgorica can be reached by car in Žabljak (which sat at 1456 meters altitude, is the highest town in the Balkans) near the reserve. Podgorica there are two special bus lines for tourists who want to go to Durmitor. Buses leave you in Pljevlja and Zabljak. Belgrade and Bar, there is also the possibility of taking the train to Mojkovak.
Near Žabljak, there were numerous battles during World War II and the events were scored by eight Serbian monuments dedicated to heroes fallen in battle. Here took place the Battle of Sutjeska in 1943, when Serb partisans led by Tito faced with forces of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
A particular objective is Djurdjevic bridge over the river Tara. It was built between 1937-1940 by engineers and designers Isaac Mijat Trojanovice and Russian. When it was finished, it was the largest concrete bridge in Europe, with a length of 365 meters and staggering height of 172 meters above the waters of Tara.
In winter, skiing and more recently snowboarding have become favorite activities of tourists in Durmitor. Other attractions are very popular glacial lakes, the most famous among them being the incredible Black Lake. Note that access the reservation fee is 2 euros and a night camping costs 3 euros for a small tent and 5 euros for a tent for most people. Avid fishermen out of pocket to 20 euros per day for the opportunity to catch huge trout that swim in the waters here.
It seems that Montenegrins have understood perfectly that intact nature must be protected at all costs, and tourists who want to enjoy the beauties Durmitorului must pay for this privilege.