Biogradska Gora (Montenegrin: Биоградска Гора, pronounced [bîoɡradskaː ɡǒra]) is a forest and a national park in Montenegro. It is located in the Kolašin municipality and is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The area has mountain ridges, glacial lakes, and temperate forests.
Location
Biogradska Gora is located in the mountainous region of Bjelasica in the central area of Montenegro, between the Tara and Lim rivers. It is surrounded by three areas: Kolašin, Berane, and Mojkovac. It is the northeasternmost of the five national parks in Montenegro.
Biogradska Gora National Park
The National Park covers an area of 54 square kilometers. Important parts of the park include untouched forests, large mountain slopes and peaks higher than 2,000 meters, and six glacial lakes. Five of these lakes are located at an altitude of 1,820 meters, and one is a low-lying lake (Šiško, Mali Šiško, Ursulovačko, Pešica, and Ševarina) near the park’s entrance, called Biogradsko Lake.
Fast-moving streams flow through the scenery of Biogradska Gora, green meadows, and clear lakes that reflect the old forests. The park is known for its unique landform features, making it a place of interest for scientific study. The park’s headquarters is in Kolašin. The area has many cultural and historical sites, including religious monuments, national buildings, and archaeological locations. Traditional-style buildings can be found in villages and pastures near the untouched forest reserve on Bjelasica Mountain.
The park is located between Mojkovac and Kolašin and can be reached by car via Highway E65 or by bus from Podgorica or Bijelo Polje. The park has facilities for visitors, such as a visitor center, hiking trails, campsites, and a restaurant. Visitors can enjoy activities like hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, and exploring parts of the park in off-road vehicles. An open-air train runs along a 3.5-kilometer track from the park entrance to Lake Biograd, where rowboats and bicycles are available for rent. The visitor center is nearby and includes traditional furniture from the region, a restaurant, and a viewing area. Three additional viewing areas are located at higher elevations within the park: Crna Glava, Zekova Glava, and Bendovac. Wooden cottages, called "katuns," once used as summer homes by shepherds, can be rented for overnight stays. These cottages offer traditional food and lifestyle experiences. Overnight camping is also permitted in the park.
Ecology
Biogradska Gora National Park is the smallest of the five national parks in Montenegro. However, it has a wide variety of plants and animals. There are 26 different plant habitats with 220 types of plants, 150 kinds of birds, and 10 species of mammals living in the park. In the forests, there are 86 types of trees and shrubs. In the park's water areas, there are three species of trout and 350 types of insects. The area receives very high rainfall, averaging up to 100 inches each year, which supports the growth of a temperate rainforest. A special feature of the park is its virgin forest, Biogradska Gora (16 km²), where trees are more than 500 years old. In the center of this forest is Biogradsko Lake, the largest glacier lake in the park. The most common trees near the lake are European beech, sycamore maple, and European ash. On the forest slopes, beech and silver fir are found.
This national park is recognized by UNESCO as an Important Plant Area, an Important Fungus Area, and an Important Bird Area.
History of the Park
When Kolašin was freed from Turkish rule in 1878, people from the Morača and Rovca areas gave a part of the forest to King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro. This forest was called "Branik Kralja Nikole" and was kept safe.
Biogradska Gora was named a National Park in 1952. In 1977, it received international protection through UNESCO as part of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
Visitors can enter the area for a small fee. It is a popular summer destination for tourists looking for cooler weather than the coast.
Historical events
Near the National Park, a battle took place in 1858 when soldiers from the Ottoman Empire fought against Montenegrins in the Battle of Kolašin. Important battles also happened in this area during the First Balkan War in 1912. In World War II, this region was the main place for activities by partisans. For many years, shepherds used the area's rich grasslands to raise sheep and cattle.