Durmitor ( Montenegrin: Дурмитор, or ) is a

massif A massif () is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central). In mountaineering literature, ''massif'' is frequently used to denote the main mass of an ...

located in northwestern

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

. It is part of the

Dinaric Alps The Dinaric Alps (), also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern Europe, Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia ...

. Its highest peak, Bobotov Kuk, reaches a height of . The massif is limited by the Tara River Canyon on the north, the Piva River Canyon on the west, and by the Komarnica River Canyon on the south. To the east, the Durmitor opens to a high

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...

, called ''Jezerska površ'' (Plateau of Lakes). Mount Sinjavina is located to the east of the ''Jezerska površ'' plateau. The Durmitor is for the most part located in the

Žabljak Žabljak (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Жабљак, ) is a small town in Montenegro in the Northern Montenegro, northern region. It has a population of 1,723. Žabljak is the seat of Žabljak Municipality (2011 population: 3,569). The town is in ...

municipality. The massif gives its name to the

national park A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

that comprises it. Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952, and designated as a

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

in 1980.

Peaks

The massif has 48 peaks above . Highest peaks are: * Bobotov kuk * Bezimeni vrh (Nameless Peak) * Šljeme * Istočni vrh Šljemena (East Peak of Sljeme) * Soa / Đevojka * Milošev tok * Bandijerna * Rbatina * Lučin vrh * Prutaš * Minin bogaz * Planinica * Kobilja glava * Savin Kuk * Šupljika

Lakes

Durmitor features 18 glacial lakes, scattered over mountain massif and ''Jezerska Površ'' plateau. The lakes add significantly to the beauty of the mountain, and have been nicknamed ''Gorske Oči'', or "mountain eyes". * Black Lake * Veliko Škrčko Lake * Malo Škrčko Lake * Zeleni Vir * Jablan Lake * Valovito Lake * Vir u Lokvicama * Srablje Lake * Modro Lake * Suva Lokva * Zminje Lake * Barno Lake * Pošćensko Lake * Zabojsko Lake * Vražje Lake * Riblje Lake * Zminčko Lake * Sušičko Lake

Name

One theory of the name ''Durmitor'' is that it is derived from Romanian, meaning 'sleeping place' (cognate with English '' dormitory'') and was given by Romanian settlers in the middle age. There are similarly named mountains, such as

Visitor A visitor, in English and Welsh law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous ecclesiastical or eleemosynary institution, often a charitable institution set up for the perpetual distribution of the founder's alms and bounty, who can interve ...

(cf. ''visător'' 'dreamer') and Cipitor (cf. ''ațipitor'' 'sleeper') across the former Yugoslavia. Another theory is that the name was given by the Celts, and the meaning would be anything from 'water from the mountain' to 'ridged mountain'. Considering the duration of time that the ancient Celts spent around these part and the Tara River (Tara is a Celtic goddess, as well), its name being of Celtic origin, it is very possible that ''Durmitor'' is a name of similar origin. Zeta river also has a Celtic origin name ("Loved one").

National park

Durmitor National Park, created in 1952, includes the massif of Durmitor, the canyons of Tara, Sušica and Draga rivers and the higher part of the canyon plateau Komarnica, covering an area of . It is the largest protected area in Montenegro, and it was inscribed on the list of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage Sites World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...

in 1980. At long and deep, the Tara River Canyon in Durmitor National Park is the deepest

gorge A canyon (; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tend ...

in Europe.

Tourism

Durmitor mountain is the centre of Montenegrin mountain tourism. The tourist facilities are concentrated around the town of

. In winter, the main activities on Durmitor are

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

and

snowboarding Snowboarding is a recreational and competitive activity that involves descending a snow-covered surface while standing on a snowboard that is almost always attached to a rider's feet. It features in the Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralym ...

. In summer, the activities shift to

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

mountaineering Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas that have become mounta ...

and recreational tourism.

Water sports Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms ...

are also practiced in the area. Some of the most prominent attractions of Durmitor mountain are 18

glacial lake A glacial lake is a body of water with origins from glacier activity. They are formed when a glacier erodes the land and then melts, filling the depression created by the glacier. Formation Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,0 ...

s, the best known of which is the Black Lake and the mountain peak Stožina.

Gallery

File:Durmitor national park in 2018 2.jpg, Durmitor national park File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора2.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора3.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора4.jpg File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора5.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора6.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Дурмитора7.jpg,

References

Bibliography

Alpinism

Biology

External links

Official National Park Site

UNESCO World Heritage Site profile

UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Site datasheet

SummitPost: Useful information (Camping, routes, weather etc.)

Tourist guide for Durmitor national park
{{Authority control Dinaric Mountains mixed forests Mountains of Montenegro National parks of Montenegro Protected areas established in 1952 Two-thousanders of Montenegro World Heritage Sites in Montenegro