Biogradska Gora

Infobox_protected_area | name = Biogradska Gora National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Montenegro
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 53
lat_seconds = 53
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 19
long_minutes = 36
long_seconds = 07
long_direction = E
area = 54 km²
established = 1952
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Biogradska Gora is a forest and a national park in Montenegro within Kolašin municipality.

Location

Biogradska Gora is located in the mountainous region of Bjelasica in the central part of Montenegro between the rivers Tara and Lim, and is surrounded by three municipalities: Kolašin, Berane and Mojkovac.

Biogradska Gora National Park

The National Park is 54 km² in area. Basic elements of the Park are: untouched forest, large mountain slopes and tops over 2000 meters high, six glacial lakes, five at altitude of 1820 meters and one easy accessible low land lake located at the very entrance to the park, Biogradsko Lake. Swift streams cut through scenery of Biogradska Gora, green pastures and clear lakes reflecting centennial forests. The Park is renowned as unique geomorphological region and as such very attractive for scientific research. The seat of the park is in Kolašin. The national park abounds in cultural and historic heritage consisting of sacral monuments national building and archeological localities. Numerous authentic buildings of traditional architecture at summer pastures and villages spread at limit of virgin forest reserve of mountain Bjelasica.

Ecology

Although it is the smallest of four National Parks in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora National Park contains great diversity of flora and fauna. There are 26 different habitats of plants with 220 different plants, 150 kinds of birds, and 10 kinds of mammals live in this Park and in its forest, there are 86 kinds of trees and shrubs. In the waters of the park exist three kinds of trout and 350 kinds of insects.

The thing that makes the national park unique is its virgin forest, Biogradska Gora (16 km²) with trees over five hundreds of years old. In the very heart of Biogradska's virgin forest is Biogradsko Lake, the largest glacier lake in this National park. The most common tree species around the lake include European Beech, Sycamore Maple and European Ash, and on the slopes Beech and Silver Fir.

History of the Park

When Kolašin liberated from Turkish rule in 1878, people from the Morača and Rovca presented a part of the forest to King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro. This forest was known as "Branik Kralja Nikole" and was protected. Biogradska Gora was proclaimed a National Park in 1952.

Historical events

In close vicinity of the National Park, there took place a battle between the Turks on one side and Montenegrins and Serbs on the other side. There were also important battles fought in the First Balkan War of 1912 and this region represented the center of activities of partisans in World War II. For years back, shepherds used rich pasture in this region for grazing sheep and other cattle. These slopes are even today used as pastures and visitors of park enjoy hospitality of shepherds in their summer houses.

See also

*Bjelasica Mountain
*Tourism in Montenegro

External links

* [http://www.nparkovi.cg.yu/NP%20Biogradska%20gora%20ENG.htm Official Website of Biogradska Gora National Park]