Geography of Montenegro

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Map of Montenegro

romanized: Crna Gora; lit. "Black Mountain") is a small, mountainous country in Southeast Europe. It borders Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and the Adriatic Sea. While being a small country at 13,812 km2 (5,333 sq mi), it is very diverse regarding the terrain configuration.[1]
Montenegro has 50 peaks of over 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in altitude.

Terrain

Durmitor, northern region of Montenegro
Lovćen, southern region of Montenegro

Terrain in Montenegro ranges from high mountains in the northern part of the country, through

Gulf of Kotor. The coastal region is noted for active seismicity.[2]

Montenegro's section of the karst lies generally at elevations of 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above sea level-although some areas rise to 1,800 m (5,906 ft). The lowest segment is in the

Zeta River, which flows at an elevation ranging from 650 m (2,133 ft) to 45 m (148 ft). The river occupies the centre of Nikšić field, a flat-floored, elongated depression typical of karstic regions. The underlying rock is predominantly limestone, which dissolves to form sinkholes and caves. The longest cave in Montenegro is Vražji firovi - 10,5 km long cave north-east from Berane, and the deepest sinkhole is Željezna jama -1027 m on mount Maganik.[3]

The Zeta River Valley, or

Lake Scutari at elevation of 40 m (131 ft). The two plains are today the most densely populated areas of Montenegro, housing the two biggest Montenegrin cities, Podgorica and Nikšić.[4]

The high mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in

The Coast

Bay of Kotor region

The coast of Montenegro is 294 km (183 mi) long. Unlike its northern neighbour Croatia, Montenegro has no large inhabited islands along the coast. A notable feature of the Montenegrin coast is Bay of Kotor, a fjord-like gulf, which is in fact a submerged river canyon. The Bay of Kotor is surrounded by mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high, which plunge almost vertically into the sea.[2]

To the south of the Bay of Kotor, there is a narrow coastal plain, no more than 4 km wide, which is guarded from the north by high mountains. The plain provided space for numerous small coastal settlements.[5]

Hydrology

Lake Skadar in Montenegro

Montenegro's

Drina River of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In southern Montenegro, streams flow toward the Adriatic Sea. Much of the drainage of the karstic region is not on the surface but travels in underground channels.[6]

The largest lake in Montenegro and the Balkans is

Lake Scutari. Known in Montenegro as Skadarsko Jezero, it lies near the coast and extends across the international border into northern Albania. It is 50 km (31 mi) long and 16 km (9.9 mi) wide, with a total surface area of 370 km2 (142.9 sq mi). Some 60 percent lies within Montenegrin territory. The water body occupies a karstic polje depression that has a floor lying below sea level.[6]

Montenegro's mountainous regions are noted for their numerous lakes.[6]

Statistics

Geographic coordinates: 42°30′N 19°18′E / 42.500°N 19.300°E / 42.500; 19.300[7]

Area - comparative: similar in size to The

Bahamas[7]

Area

Total: 13,812 km2 (5,332 sq mi)[7]

Land: 13,452 km2 (5,193 sq mi)[7]

Water: 360 km2 (138 sq mi)[7]

Population: 620,029 (2011 census);[8] 653,474 (2013 estimate [1])

Length of the coast (coastline): 293.5 km (182 mi)[7]

Length of the international borders: 625 km (388 mi) (all)[7]

Land under cultivation: 517,153 ha

Land use:

  • arable land: 12.45%
  • permanent crops: 1.16%
  • other: 86.39%

Irrigated land: 24.12 km2

Maritime claims: 12 nm[7]

Points

Extreme temperatures in Montenegro

Climate data for Montenegro
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.2
(70.2)
27.2
(81.0)
27.4
(81.3)
33.8
(92.8)
35.4
(95.7)
40.5
(104.9)
43.3
(109.9)
44.8
(112.6)
39.6
(103.3)
32.6
(90.7)
28.4
(83.1)
22.6
(72.7)
44.8
(112.6)
Record low °C (°F) −29.8
(−21.6)
−26.3
(−15.3)
−25.3
(−13.5)
−14.6
(5.7)
−10.0
(14.0)
−4.0
(24.8)
0.4
(32.7)
−0.2
(31.6)
−6.4
(20.5)
−11.3
(11.7)
−23.4
(−10.1)
−27.0
(−16.6)
−29.8
(−21.6)
Source: Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ KÄ, Klaus; Nationsonline.Org, Stle - (1992-10-12). "Crna Gora - Country Profile". Montenegro. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  2. ^ a b c "Geography & Maps". Goway Travel. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  3. ^ "Montenegro". Carta. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  4. ^ "Zeta plain". Discover Montenegro. 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  5. ^ "Kotor". BLU European Festival. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  6. ^ a b c "Montenegro - History, Population, Capital, Flag, Language, Map, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "CIA". The World Factbook -- Montenegro. 2004-01-01. Archived from the original on 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  8. ^ "Statistical Office of Montenegro". MONSTAT. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  9. ^ The World Factbook[dead link], CIA, 2008.
  10. ^ Statistical Yearbook of Croatia, State Institute of Statistics, section Geographical data, Zagreb, 2008.
  11. ^ "Dnevni prosjeci i ekstremi" (in Montenegrin). Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

External links