Orjen
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Orjen | |
---|---|
Орјен | |
Veliki kabao (right) and Vučji zub (left) | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,895 m (6,217 ft) |
Coordinates | 42°34′08″N 18°32′56″E / 42.56889°N 18.54889°E |
Geography | |
Fold mountain | |
Type of rock | Glaciokarst |
Orjen (
Its highest peak is
The
Geography
Mount Orjen is a block mountain lifted up as a horst and thus towering above the lowered Bay of Kotor and the high karst plateaux surrounding the Mount Orjen horst. With 1895 m difference between the lowest and the highest point, relief energy has a great role in the extremely harsh
Orjen comprises transboundary area of about 400 km2 between
Several dry river valleys are found on Orjen. Only in decades they react as short-living rivers when heavy rain and snow-melt combine. Flooding can be a problem and several poljes are renowned for their long inundation periods.
Glacial traces
Mediterranean mountains bear no glaciers any more except small snow fields in some shaded cirques of the Taurus range. Even during the pleistocene snowlines were not much lower as in today's Alps. Glaciers were only of local significance in the Mediterranean enabling frost sensitive vegetation types to survive the climate changes of the Quaternary. Among the once glaciated Mediterranean mountains Orjen was outstanding for one of the biggest ice cap in the region. A 150 km2 covered 1/3 of the area. All part above 900 m were buried under a thick sheet of ice from where several glacial tongues descended to 500 m above sea level. Traces of glacial activity are evident in any part of Orjen as in the Bijela gora plateaux. No glacial lakes survive today as they were extinguished due to the porosity of the karstified landscape. Many
Karst
Mount Orjen is built up from pure Cretaceous limestone. As precipitation and temperatures are high and vegetation is abundant karstification processes are evolved. Lapies, sinkholes and caves resolve from the solution of the limestone. The solution process is the faster the more water is available for solution. Vegetation and soilformation play also a role in the process. A major disadvantage is that the water is
Karst is also a major tourist attraction as caves are frequent and peculiar geomorphological forms can be studied. Karst vegetation on the other hand is species rich and major karst areas are hot spots of biodiversity. The both famous Southeast Asian karst areas like the
Geology
Tectonically the area of the Southern Adriatic is very active as the frequency of
Along the internal belt of
Climate
Orjen is within the Mediterranean
Station | Height [m] | Type | Character | Precipitation [mm] | Snow |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Veliki kabao
|
1895 | Dfsc | perhumid Mediterranean snowclimate | about 6250 | ap. 140 days |
Crkvice | 940 | Cfsb | (fs= without summerdryness), perhumid Mediterranean mountain climate | 4926 | 70 days |
Risan | 0 | Csa | (s= double winter rain season), perhumid Mediterranean coast climate | 3500 | 2 days |
* classification scheme after Köppen
Two wind systems are noteworthy for their ecological significance:
Station | Period | Height [m] | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | I-XII [mm/m2a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herceg Novi | 1961–1984 | 40 | 230 | 221 | 183 | 135 | 130 | 73 | 28 | 45 | 160 | 181 | 326 | 262 | 1974 |
Risan | 1961–1984 | 40 | 405 | 342 | 340 | 235 | 153 | 101 | 66 | 123 | 188 | 295 | 423 | 434 | 3105 |
Grahovo | 1961–1984 | 710 | 351 | 324 | 305 | 251 | 142 | 94 | 55 | 103 | 202 | 416 | 508 | 473 | 3224 |
Podvrsnik | 1961–1984 | 630 | 407 | 398 | 367 | 305 | 151 | 101 | 77 | 132 | 238 | 465 | 593 | 586 | 3820 |
Vrbanj | 1961–1984 | 1010 | 472 | 390 | 388 | 321 | 181 | 104 | 70 | 122 | 224 | 369 | 565 | 536 | 3742 |
Knežlaz | 1961–1984 | 620 | 547 | 472 | 473 | 373 | 207 | 120 | 72 | 136 | 268 | 400 | 629 | 661 | 4358 |
Crkvice | 1961–1984 | 940 | 610 | 499 | 503 | 398 | 198 | 135 | 82 | 155 | 295 | 502 | 714 | 683 | 4774 |
Ivanova Korita | 1960–1984 | 1350 | 434 | 460 | 742 | 472 | 128 | 198 | 74 | 46 | 94 | 300 | 694 | 972 | 4614 |
Goli vrh | 1893–1913 | 1311 | 271 | 286 | 307 | 226 | 188 | 148 | 75 | 70 | 215 | 473 | 415 | 327 | 3129 |
Jankov vrh | 1890–1909 | 1017 | 424 | 386 | 389 | 346 | 212 | 124 | 55 | 58 | 202 | 484 | 579 | 501 | 3750 |
Cetinje | 1961–1984 | 655 | 434 | 357 | 367 | 288 | 164 | 92 | 72 | 118 | 209 | 306 | 489 | 498 | 3394 |
Grab-Zupci | 1934–1960 | 677 | 333 | 325 | 257 | 195 | 183 | 83 | 59 | 86 | 173 | 360 | 447 | 485 | 2985 |
Trebinje | 1931–1960 | 276 | 193 | 190 | 160 | 102 | 119 | 70 | 43 | 76 | 110 | 239 | 247 | 249 | 1762 |
Dubrovnik | 1931–1960 | 49 | 147 | 113 | 102 | 92 | 79 | 60 | 24 | 38 | 97 | 156 | 213 | 186 | 1307 |
* monthly and yearly precipitation ranges in Dalmatia, Herzegovina and Montenegro
Biology
Habitats
Mostly limestone rocks but also moraines and screes. Coastal cliffs are present at all parts of the Bay of Kotor. Many forest types can be seen of which Mediterranean deciduous evergreen don't play a significant role.
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Sinkhole on Mount Orjen
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Firs are sung in local songs
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Pasture Pirina poljana
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Glaciokarst features at Reovačka greda
Vegetation
Zone [m] | Type | Vegetation (Biotopes) |
---|---|---|
0- 400 | Mesomediterranean ME= Meridional (subtropic belt) | Rusco-carpinetum ( Nerium oleander )
|
400- 1,100 | Supramediterranean SME= Suprameridinal (subtropic belt) | Quercus trojana (Quercus trojana), Carpinus orientalis (Carpinus orientalis), Petterio-Quercetum confertae (Fuk.) Lov. (Petteria, Quercus conferta), Castaneo-Quercetum pubescentis (Anic) Lov. (Castanea sativa, Quercus pubescens), Seslerio-Ostryetum carpinifoliae Horv. (Sesleria sphaerocephala, Sesleria caerulea, Ostrya carpinifolia) |
1,100- 1,450 | Oromediterranean NE= Nemoral (temperate zone) | Seslerio autumnalis–Fagetum (Horv.) Wrab. (Sesleria autumnalis, Fagus sylvatica), Pinion heldreichii (Pinus heldreichii), Oreoherzogio-Abietetum illyricae Fuk. (basic soil, Abies alba), Seslerio autumnalis–Abietetum illyriacae (Horv.) Fuk. |
1,450- 1,700 | Altimediterranean BO= Boreal (taiga zone) | Fago-Pinetum heldrecihii Jank. (Fagus sylvatica, Pinus heldreichii), Seslerio robustae-Juniperetum hemisphaericae (Hor.) Kus. (Sesleria robusta, Juniperus communis ssp. Haemispherica), Lonicero-Rhamnion Fuk. (Lonicera nigra, Lonicera alpigena, Rhamnus), Amphoricarpion neumayerii (Horv.) Lak. (Amphoricarpos neumayerii) |
1,700- 1,900 | Cryomediterranean AL= Alpine (tundra zone) | Trifolio Polganetalia Quéz ( Trifolium), Narcisso-Gentianetum nivalis Lov. & Rac (Narcissus, Gentiana nivalis), Drabo-Androsacetalia Quéz (Draba hoppeanae, Androsace alpina ), Muscaro-Scillion nivalis Quéz
|
- Notes:
- The Vegetation profile on Mount Orjen shows the Mediterranean zones which vary from alpine mountain zones.
- The few plant names are just examples of the plants belonging to the Biotope communities.[1]
- An example of a complete biotope plant list (Oreoherzogio-Abietetum illyricae Fuk.): Dinaric calcareous block fir forest#Plant list
- Genus Sesleria, belongs to subfamily Pooideae, of the true grass family Poaceae.
Across Orjen vegetation varies with climate and altitude. While the sub-adriatic range exhibits
Flora
Flora is of Balkan type with many Illyrian and Balkan endemics. Notable is local endemism with 10 endemics restricted to Mount Orjen.
Gallery
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Saxifraga species
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Variety of Martagon lily
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Iris orjenii is endemic to altimediterrranean pastures on Orjen
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Variety F. gracilis is common in the altimediterranean lifezone
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Viburnum maculatum endemic snowball from Orjen
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Very rare Paeonia daurica
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Acer heldreichii subendemic Greek Maple
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A fir tree in the range
Conservation
A
History
The earliest historic confirmations are the Lipce rock paintings which are dated in the Bronze Age. The first historic significant events are connected with the
People
Only few traditional shepherds live today on Orjen. Mostly remain on the northern side of the Bijela gora. They have their local songs describing life on the remote mountain and every year in July a great feast takes place when all the shepherds from Bijela gora come together to sing dance and eat on a pasture at Ledenik.
Livestock is mostly sheep but also horses and few cattle are held. At Orjen saddle oxen graze. In former times nomadic migration took place between the poljes and the higher regions of Orjen. The traditional housing on Orjen is the so-called Koliba. Small limestone huts with roofs build of pine bark. Only few hamlets are inhabited, mostly close to the coast. The higher up the stronger the push factors acted to leave. Tribes on Orjen were once renowned for their wildness and still people from the coast have this notion towards the mountain tribes.
Activities
Glacial and karst features compose a unique landscape that is attracting visitors also from abroad. Backpacking and alpine recreation are important factors for the development of the Orjen region. Three mountain huts are established and enthusiasts keep winter sports alive.
Hiking
Trails are maintained by the PSD Subra mountaineering association from Herceg Novi. Most trails are around the huts at Vratlo (1160 m) and Orjen ridge (1594 m). 40 km of marked trails exist in the Mount Orjen region, leading to the most attractive destinations. Marked trails start at the city bus station at Herceg Novi (30 m) and lead to the Vratlo hut (1160 m). Hiking in other more remote parts is also possible but no marcation currently exists. Visitors of Bijela gora or Dobri can use several local forest roads. sometimes shepherds can offer night accommodation.
Water is only available at some places, shepherd villagers usually use rain collectors. Most hikers tend to visit Subra (1680 m) or Veliki kabao (1895 m). Both are well marked.
Brown bears appear in the Bijela gora and should not be disturbed as the population is critically endangered.
Every year around mid May a half marathon called Orjen marathon is organised by the PSD Subra alpine organization. Guests are welcomed to take part in the traditional manifestation
Climbing
Several interesting alpine like climbing possibilities like rock climbing exist. Most remarkable is the 500 m wall of the Subra amphitheatre. In last few years the alpine – speleo section (A.S.O.S.) of PSD Subra started to climb routes on Mount Orjen. Good climbing routes are only 10 minutes walk from the Vratlo mountain hut. Other good climbing routes are in Subra's Amphitheatre and Reovacka Greda rocks. Mount Orjen gives a lot opportunities for climbing unclimbed routes with various difficulties.
Peak | Height (m) | Character | Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|
Veliki kabao
|
1,894 | rock scramble, wall, scree | difficult north approach, alpine character, scree on east |
Velika Jastrebica | 1,865 | trail | easy trail |
Buganja greda | 1,849 | rock scramble, scree | basic rock scramble, difficult slippery scree on north side |
Visoki brijeg | 1,833 | rock scramble, scree, trail | basic rock scramble, scree on north |
Vučji zub | 1,805 | rock scramble scree, wall | scree on east, difficult rock crevices on north |
Borovik | 1,777 | rock scramble, scree | difficult scree on north, |
Međugorje | 1,769 | rock scramble, wall | difficult major wall from north, south and west |
Goliševac | 1,721 | rock scramble, scree | difficult scrre from north |
Markov kuk | 1,721 | rockscramble, trail, scree | basi scramble |
Pazua | 1,680 | rock scramble, wall | difficult rock scramble |
Subra | 1,679 | rock scramble, big wall | 500 m wall still unclimbed |
Summer activities
- Backpacking– Between late spring and early fall. All overnight trips into the back country require sufficient water supplies due to limited water sources available.
- Bicycling – Mountain biking is possible throughout Mount Orjen and local roads are well suited for cycling.
- Swimming – Orjen is located near the Bay of Kotor on the Adriatic coast.
- Veliki kabao(1895m) peaks.
Winter activities
Much of Mount Orjen is inaccessible due to heavy snow in winter. However, Orjen saddle 1594 m can be reached in winter from Vrbanj.
- Skiing – the only skiing area is around Orjen saddle opens in winter. No lifts and equipment are provided at the mountain hut.
- Hunting – Hunters are generally welcome official permits are required.
References
- ^ CORINE Biotopes Manual - Habitats of the European Community Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Pavle Cikovac: "Sociology and ecology of Silver Fir forest on Mt. Orjen – Montenegro". LMU Munich (2002), Department of Geography