Popovo Polje ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Popovo polje, Попово поље, , is a ''

polje A polje, also called karst polje or karst field, is a large flat plain found in karstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually in the range of 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from the Slavic languages, ...

'' (

karstic field A polje, also called karst polje or karst field, is a large flat plain found in karstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually in the range of 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from the Slavic languages, ...

) in

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

, located in a southernmost region of the country, near the

Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

coast. Its size is . Popovo polje is one of the most famous ''polje'' (karstic plains) in

and the world, for its

karstic Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. There is some eviden ...

phenomenons and features, and particularly the

Trebišnjica The Trebišnjica ( sr-cyrl, Требишњица) is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the right tributary of the Neretva. Before it was utilized for hydro exploitation via various hydrotechnical interventions and systems with different purp ...

river, which flows through the polje as the largest

sinking river A losing stream, disappearing stream, influent stream or sinking river is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream. The water infiltrates into the ground recharging the local groundwater, because the water table is below the bo ...

(also ''losing stream'', or ''influent stream'') in the world, as well as the

Vjetrenica Vjetrenica ( sr-cyrl, Вјетреница, ; ) is the largest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the most biodiverse cave in the world. It is part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range, which is known for its karstic and speleological features. ...

cave system, located to the west/south-western parts of the valley.

History

The

Nikolić noble family Nikolić noble family was a Bosnian medieval noble family from Hum (later Herzegovina), today Bosnia and Herzegovina. The family's estate was in the western part of the ''Bosansko Primorje'' (), namely Popovo Polje and Neum. They were of major ...

and

Sanković noble family The Sanković family was a powerful Bosnian noble family active in the 14th and start of the 15th century in Herzegovina#History, Hum, serving the Serbian and Bosnian monarchies. Their seat was in Glavatičevo, where the family burial place is al ...

held Popovo polje in the late Middle Ages. The

Vojnović noble family The Vojnović family (Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, Serbian Cyrillic: Војновић, Vojnovići / Војновићи) or Vojinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Војиновић, Vojinovići / Војиновићи), was a Serbs, Serbian noble family ...

hailed from Popovo polje. The Zavala Monastery was first mentioned in the 16th century. At the end of Ottoman rule in Herzegovina, the Muslibegović family had properties in Popovo polje. The Zavala Monastery is located here.

Monuments

Zavala and Vjetrenica

Located in Popovo Polje in

Ravno Ravno ( sr-cyrl, Равно) is a village and municipality located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ravno was a separate municipality until 1963, when it became a part ...

municipality, village Zavala with its old architecture and stone masonry, together with Vjetrenica cave, constitute the natural and architectural ensemble which is in the process of being protected as ''National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina'', and it is already placed on UNESCO Tentative List. The cave has a rich variety of fauna, with a high rate of

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

. The cave garnered worldwide fame in geological, biological and environmental communities for its imperiled and uncertain future, caused by unprofessional management lacking any expertise, and uncertain status at state and especially local level. Despite setbacks, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, although creepingly slowly, nominated Vjeternica (with village Zavala) to UNESCO Tentative List clearly expressing intention to protect the cave and its biodiversity and eventually inscribe it with UNESCO.

Demographics

Some 300 people live in the villages located in the field.

References

Sources

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External links

Karst fields of Bosnia and Herzegovina Geology of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dinaric Alps Trebinje Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina Lower Horizons Hydroelectric Power Stations System Trebišnjica Trebišnjica river damming and regulation controversy {{BosniaHerzegovina-geo-stub