Durmitor National Park

Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO-protected mountain region in northwestern Montenegro, featuring 23 peaks over 2300 meters, deep gorges like Europe’s largest Tara River Canyon, and diverse ecosystems with abundant flora and fauna.

Geography and Natural Features

The Park is located in a wide mountain region in northwestern Montenegro, surrounded by rivers Piva and Tara. It spans 39,000 acres with 23 mountain tops over 2300 meters of altitude. Moreover, it includes 82 kilometers of the Tara Canyon, which rises 1600 meters above river level.

Durmitor’s region is the most important part of the Dinara mountain range, characterized by high peaks, abundant forests, and deep gorges. Canyon of Tara is the largest in Europe and has over 1500 kinds of flora and 130 kinds of birds. There are 17 glacier lakes in the Park, and the highest top in Montenegro is Bobotov kuk (2522 m).

Tara River Panorama

Since 1980, Durmitor National Park and the Tara Canyon have been under UNESCO protection. In 1977, the canyon was proclaimed a world ecological reserve. Seven zones of the Park are among special protected areas (ICUM):

  • Uncut forest of fir
  • Black pine at Crna poda
  • Canyon of Susica
  • Region of lake Barno
  • Region of Lake Zaboljsko
  • Canyon of Tara
  • Milling stream

A large number of 314 protected animals in Montenegro, including 163 kinds of birds, live in Durmitor National Park‘s area.

History and Development

Historical Significance

Because of a large battle that took place in WWII in the vicinity of Žabljak, there are eight historic monuments. Other historic places and monuments are scattered at the southern and northern parts of the Park. Although not finished yet, archeological exploration is showing traces of the Mesolithic period.

Park Establishment

The Kingdom of Montenegro placed Black Lake and the Tara River under king’s protection. On September 06, 1952, the Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro proclaimed mountain Durmitor as a National Park. Consequently, the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro broadened Durmitor National Park with the Tara Canyon on February 03, 1978. A space plan of the Park was made in 1995.

Recreation and Access

Recreation has an important place among activities at Durmitor National Park. Indeed, tracking, mountaineering, Alpine and Nordic skiing, rafting on the Tara River, fishing, camping, and visits by bus or car are available to you at any time.

Scene in Durmitor mountains (Montenegro). Woman with backpack against Black Lake background.

Transport and Connection

The Park can be reached from Belgrade by highway to Pljevlja and then over the Tara River to Žabljak and Mojkovac. If you’re coming from Podgorica, it’s most likely that you’ll have to pass through the canyon of Moraca to Mojkovac and then to Zabljak. Considering that there is no functional airport nearby, you can’t get to Zabljak by plane. There is a bus line from Podgorica to Pljevlja and Zabljak. The railway Belgrade – Bar will connect you with Mojkovac.