Prenj ( sr-cyrl, Прењ) is a
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher ...
range in the
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps (), also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herz ...
of southern
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
, located in eastern
Herzegovina
Herzegovina ( or ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Hercegovina, separator=" / ", Херцеговина, ) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia. It has never had strictly defined geogra ...
near
Mostar
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = Mostar (collage image).jpg
, image_caption = From top, left to right: A panoramic view of the heritage town site and the Neretva river from Lučki Bridge, Koski Mehmed Pasha ...
,
Jablanica and
Konjic
Konjic ( sr-Cyrl, Коњиц) is a city and municipality located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in northern Herzegovina, around southwest of Saraje ...
. The highest peak is ''Zelena glava'' at . Prenj massif has at least 11 peaks over 2000 m.
Geography
The name ''Prenj'' is derived from
Perun, supreme deity of
Slavic mythology. Geologically, the Prenj range is part of the Dinaric Alps and formed largely of secondary and tertiary sedimentary rock, mostly
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...
and
dolomite Dolomite may refer to:
*Dolomite (mineral), a carbonate mineral
*Dolomite (rock), also known as dolostone, a sedimentary carbonate rock
*Dolomite, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community
*Dolomite, California, United States, an unincor ...
with notable characteristics of a
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, Dolomite (rock), dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathe ...
landform. Due to subterranean drainage, Prenj is relatively dry with few water sources, just a few tiny lakes and some smaller streams that source from these mountains: the Baščica and the Bijela, tributaries of the
Neretva
The Neretva ( sr-cyrl, Неретва, ), also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four HE power-plants with large dams (higher than 150,5 metres) provide flood protection, power and water s ...
.
Notable peaks are Zelena Glava (2115 m), Lupoglav (2102 m), Otiš (2097 m), Herač (2046 m), Osobac (2030 m) and Velika Kapa (2007 m).
History
The Prenj mountains were part of the front line during the
1992–95 war in Bosnia and heavy combat took place in the mountains surrounding the eastern Bijela valley and the slopes above Konjic. Nowadays, Prenj falls almost entirely within the territory of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two entities within the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Republika Srpska. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of 10 autonomous cantons with their own gove ...
. Contamination with
land mines and
unexploded ordnance is a serious threat, especially east of a line that can be drawn from Čelebići to the summit of Zelena Glava and then to the village of Ravni. Former combat positions can be found as high up as the shoulders of Otiš at around 2000 meters. Nevertheless, Prenj is a very attractive destination for climbers and hikers. The peaks bear typical dolomitic features with vertical rock faces, soaring over green alpine valleys and dense mixed forests. Some mountain huts have re-opened (Bijele Vode, Hrasnica) and marked itineraries to the main peaks have been re-established.
[Matias Gomez: Forgotten Beauty, a hiker's guide to BiH's 2000 meter peaks, page 55 to 80, , Buybook, Sarajevo, 2005]
One of the peaks of Prenj, Windy Peak, was climbed for the first time in October 2003. It was probably one of Europe's last virgin 2000m peaks.
See also
*
Perun
References
External links
Prenj at SummitPost.orgListing of mountain huts at www.behremplaninar.com
Mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two-thousanders of Bosnia and Herzegovina
{{HerzegovinaNeretvaCanton-geo-stub