Biogradska Gora

Biogradska Gora is a well known for his forest national park in Montenegro.

Geography

Biogradska Gora is located in the mountainous Bjelasica region in central Montenegro, around 100 kilometers north of the capital Podgorica. Most of it is drained for running in the West River Tara. In the east the valley of Lim is The National Park is located on the territory of the municipality borders the municipalities of Kolasin and Berane and Mojkovac.

The national park has an area of 56.5 km ². It consists mainly of pristine, ancient forests, vast mountains with altitudes of over 2000 meters in part, mountain streams and green mountain meadows and six glacial lakes. Five lakes are located at an altitude of 1820 m. The largest of the six lakes, Biograd Lake, located in the valley floor at 1094 m above sea level at the entrance to the park. The long lake is about one kilometer long and up to 261 m wide.

The protected region extends to a few neighboring areas essentially a ten kilometer long tributary of Tara with the Biogradsko Jezero in the lower third. Up to a height of 1600-1800 m it is forested. Furthermore, the slopes of the V- valley are much flatter; Mountain pastures extend over partially plateau-like slopes. The highest point of the park is the Crna Glava with 2139 m height.

The park is considered as a unique geomorphological region and is therefore often the subject of scientific investigation.

Nature

Although it is the smallest national park in Montenegro of the Biogradska Gora National Park offers a wide variety of flora and fauna. We distinguish 26 habitats of plants with 2000 different species and subspecies. Many of these are endemic. 150 species of birds, numerous species of reptiles and amphibians as well as ten species of mammals live in the park - including bears, bats and red deer. And in his forest, there are 86 species of trees and shrubs. Three trout species and 350 insect species could be detected.

Above all, the park is known for its 16 km ² large jungle with more than five hundred years old trees, which extends around the Biogradsko Jezero. He is considered one of the very few primeval forests in Europe. The largest trees are 45 meters high and have a diameter of 147 cm are the most common around the lake beech, sycamore and ash trees, found on the steep slopes of white fir.

History

At the time Kolasin 1878 exempted from the Ottoman rule, the people of Morača and Rovca leaving a part of the forest King Nikola I. This is known as Branik Krajla Nikole forest presented the king of protection - only 14 years after in the U.S., the first nature reserve in the world, the Yosemite Park, was created. 1952 Biogradska Gora was declared a National Park.

Infrastructure

A good road turns slightly north of Kolasin from the main road through the Tara Valley from the park. It leads to the shore of Biograd Jezero, where a hut park management with tourist information, restaurant, some wooden cabins are as accommodation and a boat dock. The houses and information boards were replaced with the help of the Austrian Development Agency. In addition, the Austrians made ​​a 21m high observation tower near a feeding point above the lake building, which was opened in 2009.

A well- constructed hiking trail leads around the lake. A forest road leads up to the pastures high above the valley and on to the height to Zekova Glava ( 2117 m ) at the end of the valley. While the lake only a footpath leads from the valley, can be found in the higher region around Zekova Glava and Crna Glava a spacious area for hiking.

For entry into the park for a small fee is payable. The park office is located in Kolasin.