About Montenegro

Geography and population



Montenegro is located in the southern part of the Balkan peninsula. To the west, north and east it borders on Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Serbia and Kosovo, and to the south borders on Albania. Montenegro is a maritime country, with 200 km of the Adriatic coastline. One of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean is the Boka Kotorska (the Bay of Boka).
Montenegro's territory measures 13,812 square km. (about the size of Connecticut) and its population numbers about 620,000.

Most of the country is covered by high and extensive mountain massifs intersected by river gorges and deep valleys. Larger lowland areas are to be found in the south, near the coastline.

The Montenegrin seacoast is a narrow strip of land running from Herceg-Novi to the Bojana river on the frontier with Albania. It is famed for its sandy beaches and abundant sub-tropical vegetation.
The high Dinaric mountains of Orjen, Lovcen and Rumija rise steeply from the sea, forming a magnificent background to the coastal strip, but a great obstacle to communications between the coastal and inland parts of Montenegro.

The Zeta plain in the area of Lake Skadar, together with the valley of the Zeta and the Niksic Polje, comp North of this stretch the high limestone mountains of Durmitor, Komovi and Sinjajevina. The Moraca, Tara, Piva and Ceotina rivers and their tributaries have cut deep gorges through these mountains. rise the biggest lowland region of Montenegro and its most fertile area.

Population- over 650.000

Language Serbo-Croatian is the official language. In some municipalities with an Albanian majority (Ulcinj, Plav, Gusinje) and the Malesia district in Podgorica municipality, the Albanian language is commonly spoken. Slovene and Macedonian are also universally understood.

Cities:Capital--Podgorica. Other cities--Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Niksic, Pljevlja, Tivat, Ulcinj.


History



The history of Montenegro is very colourful. The turbulent life of Montenegro was spiced up by many people, but its permanent strive for freedom remained dominant throughout its history. Every part of Montenegro will tell the curious traveller many interesting stories from the various periods in time - from the grand Roman Empire to the modern times. Although its territory is rather small, this proud country has a lot to say when it comes to its history.

The name "Crna Gora" (Montenegro) is mentioned for the first time in the Charter of King Milutin, in 1276. It is believed that it got its name after the dense forests that covered Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area. The forests were so dark that the viewers got the impression of a "black" mountain.

During the Roman Empire, the territory of Montenegro was actually the territory of Duklja (Doclea). With the arrival of the Slovenes in the 7 th century, Christianity quickly gained primacy in this region.

The Turks took the rule over Montenegro in 1496 and join it to the Skadar province. Irrespective of that fact, Montenegro kept a high level of autonomy, and fully regained its independence in 1645.

Then the spiritual leaders, bishops take the rule in Montenegro and also take over the management of the country. At the time, the authorities in Montenegro were the All-Montenegrin Assembly and the Assembly of chiefs, while on the lower levels there were meetings of the chiefs. In 1697, the Montenegrin Assembly elevted Danilo I as the bishop. At that time the establishment of the Petrovic dynasty has started, as well as their fight for the unity of religion and politics.

The 20 th century represented a difficult period for Montenegro, as it lost its independence at the time and it disappeared from the political map of Europe. When the World War I broke out, Montenegro sided with Serbia and the allies. In 1916, after surrendering to Austro-Hungary, King Nikola went to exile. He spent a period of time in Italy, and then went to France. The attempts of the King and his Government to influence the events in Montenegro at the time were not successful. Serbia annexed Montenegro in 1918 and thus Montenegro lost everything that it gained through the centuries: its statehood, army and dynasty.

After World War II Montenegro improved its legal and state status and became one of the six equal republics of the Yugoslav federation..
After the turbulent years, in the end of the 20 th century, and after the disintegration of former Yugoslavia, Montenegro remained in the union with Serbia, thus these two republics formed the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Most citizens at referendum held on May 21, 2006 voted independence of Montenegro. Thus today Montenegro is an independent state internationally recognized. UN received Montenegro as 192nd country member on July 27, 2006.

Montenegrins are increasingly asserting full sovereignty of their country in domestic and international affairs. The Liberal Alliance, a political party oriented toward the European democratic tradition and the third largest party in parliament has been the key political force and the focal point of the Montenegro's drive for independence. The second largest party in parliament, the People's Party, also liberal in economic orientation, supports a greater degree of sovereignty for Montenegro than at present, but in the context of a strong federal association with Serbia. The smaller Social-Democratic party supports Montenegro's independence with a social-democratic orientation.

The Democratic Party of Socialists, the ruling party in Montenegro, supports a federation with Serbia.

The Montenegrin Constitution guarantees Montenegro's sovereignty and the right to independent representation in the U.N. and all international bodies. However, these provisions of Montenegro's constitution have been regularly ignored by the Government of Serbia, which fully controls the Federal Government.

Economics



During the era of communism Montenegro experienced a rapid period of urbanization and industrialization. An industrial sector based on electricity generation, steel, aluminium, coa mining, forestry and wood processing, textiles and tobacco manufacture were built up, with trade, overseas shipping, and particularly tourism, increasingly important by the late 1980s.

The loss of previously guaranteed markets and suppliers after the breakup of Yugoslavia left the Montenegrin industrial sector reeling as production was suspended and the privatization program, begun in 1989, was interrupted. The disintegration of the Yugoslav market, and the imposition of the UN sanctions in May 1992 were the causes of the greatest economic and financial crisis since World War II. During 1993, two thirds of the Montenegrin population lived below the poverty line, while frequent interruptions in relief supplies caused the health and environmental protection to drop below the minimum of international standards. The financial losses under the adverse effects of the UN sanctions on the overall economy of Montenegro are estimated to be approximately $6.39 billion. This period also experienced the second highest hyperinflation in history (3 million percent in January 1994) (The highest hyperinflation happened in Hungary after the end of World War II, when inflation there hit 4.19 x 1016 percent).

In 1997, Milo Đukanović took control over the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) and began severing ties with Milošević's Serbia. He blamed the policies of Slobodan Milošević for the overall decline of the Montenegrin economy, as well as Milošević's systematic persecution of non-Serbs. Montenegro introduced the German mark as response to again-growing inflation, and insisted on taking more control over its economic fate. This eventually resulted in creation of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose union in which Montenegro mostly took responsibility for its economic policies.

This was followed by implementation of faster and more efficient privatization, passing of reform laws, introduction of VAT and usage of Euro as Montenegro's legal tender.

Traditional holidays

1 January - New Year's Day.
7-8 January - Orthodox Christmas Day.
25 April - Orthodox Good Friday.
27 April - Statehood Day.
28 April - Orthodox Easter Monday.
1-2 May - Labour Days.
9 May - Victory Day.
29-30 November - Republic Day.

Coast

The coast of Montenegro has reputation as one of the most beautiful part of Adriatic coast. From the northern board with Croatia to southern board with Albania on the river Bojana, the length of the coastline is 293.5 km, of which 52 km are beaches. The Montenegro seaside is a very narrow strip of land (2-10 km wide), separated from the inland by high mountains of Rumija, Sutorman, Orjen, and Lovcen. The coast is very indented with numerous bays and caves. The largest, and most impressive is the Bay of Kotor, which is the world's southeren fjord.

On the coast of Montenegro is numerous sand and pebble beaches - 117 in total, 73 km in length of which sand beaches make 33 km. The fact that the air temperature over six months of the year is higher than 18C, together with the adequate water temperature and increased insulation, make the coast of Montenegro one of the warmest and sunniest tourist regions in Europe.
Some of the larger destinations on coast of Montenegro are: Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Milocer, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac, Sutomore, Bar and Ulcinj.

Herceg Novi is a town in southwestern Montenegro, located at the entrance to the Boka Kotorska and at the foot of the Orjen mountain (1892m).

The old town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Adriatic sea. The old town of Kotor, surrounded by an impressive city wall, is very well preserved and protected by UNESCO. In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists attracted by both the natural beauty of the Boka Kotorska and the old town of Kotor itself.
Tivat is a town in the bay of Boka Kotorska, the youngest town in the Boka area was established on the spacious plateau at the bottom of Vrmac.

Budva is town on the Montenegro coast 2500 years old. Especially attractive is the health-giving envitoment, unspoiled nature and the fragrant air made envigorating by the sea spume during strong southern winds and branching by mountain freshness during storms that blow from the north. Budva's splendid natural setting is enhanced by a diverse cultural and historical heritage.
Just like some grounded stone boat, Sveti Stefan “anchored” in the middle part of Budvanska Riviera. Petrovac is settled south from Sveti Stefan. It is the attractive tourist resort and part of Budvanska Riviera. Numerous cultural monuments are “planted” here, too.

Sutomore is a coastal town in a Serbia and Montenegro. It is one the main tourist destinations of east Adriatic Sea coast. It's very popular for its long sandy beach. During the summer months tourists slightly outnumber residents.

Bar it`s surroundings incorporate major tourist facilities. Sutomore is a near-by town of 3,000 residents. It is one of the main tourist destinations in Montenegro. It's very popular for its long sandy beach. In old town of Bar is the oldest Olive in the world. It's old about 2500 years.

Ulcinj is a mainly Albanian inhabited coastal town of the Republic of. Ulcinj is located near the border with Albania on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Ulcinj is a popular tourist destination with the Kosovar Albanians due to the fact that the majority of the population are Albanian and there is no language barriers.

Podgorica



Podgorica is the official commercial and cultural centre of Montenegro. The name originates in 1326 and it is built amongst five rivers, the Zeta, Moraca, Ribnica, Cijevna and Sitnica. Most of the city was destroyed during WW II, so Podgorica is relatively new, with modern buildings at every step of the way and green spaces as well as parks. Podgorica hosts a number of cultural events and there are many theatres, such as Crnogorsko Narodno, Gradsko and Dodest. Further cultural and historic monuments in and around Podgorica are Sahat-kula Adzi-pasa Osmanagica, the ruins of Nemanjica Grad, remnants of the city of Doclea, Stara Varos, and Vezirov. Podgorica has excellent transit connections with other centers.

At nine kilometers from the city is the International Airport, with railway and bus stations close to one another.

Mountain regions



Perhaps the most breath-taking aspect of Montenegro is its mountains. While the name means 'Black Mountain', it is a huge understatement! Over 60% of Montenegro is above 1,000 meters high – which means it is mostly mountains. It was only as recently as 1986 that a detailed hikers/mountaineers study was published on Durmitor and the Tara Canyon, which means this part of the world is largely undiscovered by tourism.

Temperatures and weather conditions can vary rapidly in the mountains and all visitors should ensure they have the correct equipment and an experienced guide. The Durmitor National Park, complete with ice caves and ski slopes, is a 'must see' location for winter visitors.

During the summer months the mountain regions offer a temperate climate, high mountain pastures and lakes, together with a wide variety of wildlife ranging from wild horses to bear, birds and even the worlds rarest wolf.

White water rafting or kayaking the Tara Canyon is the 'must do' for most summer visitors, the water is so clean you can drink it! Unlike the Grand Canyon, with its hugely powerful muddy waters and 5 to 9 meter rapids that claim tourist victims every year, the Tara is exciting – but safe! The rapids are only 1.5 meters, the water is crystal clear, the canyon walls are lush and the visitor becomes a friend, returning again and again.

The following tables are a rough guide to the climate conditions on the coast and mountain regions of Montenegro, bearing in mind that summer can reach 40°C.