Vranjina () is a settlement, island, and a hill in

Lake Skadar Lake Skadar or Lake Scutari (, ; cnr-Cyrl-Latn, Скадарско језеро, Skadarsko jezero, )also called Lake Shkodra (and ''Lake Shkodër'')lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern Europe. It is n ...

, in the new

Zeta Municipality Zeta Municipality ( cnr-Latn-Cyrl, Opština Zeta, Општина Зета) is one of the municipalities of Montenegro. The seat of the municipality is the town of Golubovci. Created in 2022, it is the newest municipality in Montenegro. City Ass ...

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 ...

. Until 2022, it was part of

Podgorica Municipality Podgorica Capital City (Serbo-Croatian: Glavni grad Podgorica / Главни град Подгорица) is one of the territorial subdivisions of Montenegro. The seat of municipality is the city of Podgorica. Podgorica municipality covers 10.4 ...

. Until the first half of the 18th century, Vranjina like other islands of Skadar lake, was one of the hills in the Zeta–Skadar lowlands.

Geography

Created by a

delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

of the

Morača River The Morača ( cnr-Cyrl, Морача, ) is a major river in Montenegro that originates in the northern region in Kolašin Municipality under Mount Rzača. It meanders southwards for before emptying into Lake Skadar. Its drainage basin covers ...

, the island is in the northern part of the lake. It has an area of 4.6 km² and its highest point is at 296 meters, making it the highest island in Montenegro. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, towards

Podgorica Podgorica ( cnr-Cyrl, Подгорица; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. Histor ...

, and a

causeway A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet T ...

, across the lake towards

Bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar ** Chocolate bar * Protein bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a laye ...

History

Vranjina Monastery is a well-known feature of the island. According to the legend, the island had different name before the monastery has been built. When Ilarion Šišojević, the first

metropolitan bishop In Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite), is held by the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a Metropolis (reli ...

of the

Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church () is the largest eparchy (diocese) of the Serbian Orthodox Church in modern Montenegro. Founded in 1219 by Saint Sava as the Eparchy of Zeta, it has continued to ex ...

, started the construction of the monastery he decided that the island will be named against the first bird he would notice. It was a

crow A crow is a bird of the genus ''Corvus'', or more broadly, a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not linked scientifically to any certain trait but is rathe ...

().

Town

Vranjina town, on the shores of the Skadar lake, is called the ''Montenegrin

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

'' because of its natural setting. It is a popular

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

spot. Several fish restaurants located on the island include ''

Plantaže Plantaže (, ; MNSEPLAP is a Montenegrin wine and grape brandy producer. Company 13.jul Plantaže is the owner of the biggest vineyard in one piece in Europe - vineyard Ćemovsko polje, which has more than 2,000 ha. They are the most awarded w ...

restaurant''. Notable local landmarks include the so-called "house of

Oso Kuka Osman Bejtullah Agë Kuka, also known as Oso Kuka (c. 1812/1820–1862), was an Albanian border guard on the Ottoman-Montenegrin border. Surrounded by Montenegrin soldiers in a tower on the island of Vranjina, he blew it up, killing himself ...

", named after an Ottoman border guard of

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

descent who died on the island in a fight against Montenegrin forces in 1862. This was known as the

Battle of Vranina The Battle of Vranina also known as the Vranina War was an armed conflict between Albanian irregulars and the Principality of Montenegro in the region of Vranina (modern-day Vranjina) near the Ottoman-Montenegrin border in the year of 1862 which o ...

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, its population was 209.

References

External links

* Islands of Montenegro Islands of Lake Skadar Hills of Montenegro Geography of Podgorica Populated places in Zeta Municipality {{Montenegro-geo-stub