Geography of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Southeastern Europe, in the western Balkans. It has a 932 km border with Croatia to the north and southwest, a 357 km border with Serbia to the east, and a 249 km border with Montenegro to the southeast. It borders the Adriatic Sea along its 20 km (12.42 mi) coastline.

The most striking features of the local terrain are valleys and mountains which measure up to 2386 m in height. The country is mostly mountainous, encompassing the central Dinaric Alps. The northeastern parts reach into the Pannonian basin, while in the south it borders the Adriatic sea.

The country's natural resources include: coal, iron ore, bauxite, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber and hydropower.

Regions

The country's name comes from the two regions Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have a very vaguely defined border between them. Bosnia occupies the northern areas which are roughly four fifths of the entire country, while Herzegovina occupies the rest in the southern part of the country.

The major cities are the capital Sarajevo, Banja Luka in the northwest region known as Bosanska Krajina, Bijeljina and Tuzla in the northeast, Zenica and Doboj in the central part of Bosnia and Mostar, the capital of Herzegovina.

The south part of Bosnia has Mediterranean climate and a great deal of agriculture. Central Bosnia is the most mountainous part of Bosnia featuring prominent mountains Vlašić, Čvrsnica, and Prenj. Eastern Bosnia also features mountains like Trebević, Jahorina, Igman, Bjelašnica and Treskavica. It was here that the 1984 Winter Olympics were held.

Eastern Bosnia is heavily forested along the river Drina, and overall close to 50% of Bosnia and Herzegovina is forested. Most forest areas are in Central, Eastern and Western parts of Bosnia. Northern Bosnia contains very fertile agricultural land along the river Sava and the corresponding area is heavily farmed. This farmland is a part of the Parapannonian Plain stretching into neighbouring Croatia and Serbia. The river Sava and corresponding Posavina river basin hold the cities of Brčko, Bosanski Šamac, Bosanski Brod and Bosanska Gradiška.

The northwest part of Bosnia is called Bosanska Krajina and holds the cities of Banja Luka, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Jajce, Cazin, Velika Kladuša and Bihać. Kozara National Park and Mrakovica World War II monument is located in this region.

The country has only 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) of coastline, around the town of Neum in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, although surrounded by Croatian peninsulas it is possible to get to the middle of the Adriatic from Neum. By United Nations law, Bosnia has a right of passage to the outer sea. Neum has many hotels and is an important tourism destination.

Rivers

There are seven major rivers in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

The Una in the northwest part of Bosnia flows along the northern and western border of Bosnia and Croatia and through the Bosnian city of Bihać. It is a very beautiful river and popular for rafting and adventure sports.

The Sana flows through the city of Sanski Most and Prijedor and is a tributary of the river Una in the north.

The Vrbas flows through the cities of Gornji Vakuf – Uskoplje, Bugojno, Jajce, Banja Luka, Srbac and reaches the river Sava in the north. The Vrbas flows through the central part of Bosnia and flows outwards to the North.

The River Bosna is the longest river in Bosnia and is fully contained within the country as it stretches from its source near Sarajevo to the river Sava in the north. It gave its name to the country.

The Drina flows through the eastern part of Bosnia, at many places in the border between Bosnia and Serbia. The Drina flows through the cities of Foča, Goražde Višegrad and Zvornik.

The Neretva river is a large river in Central and Southern Bosnia, flowing from Jablanica south to the Adriatic Sea. The river is famous as it flows through the famous city of Mostar.

The Sava river is the largest river in Bosnia and Herzegovina but not the largest river that is flowing through Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Sava river flows through Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Sava is used as a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and towns like Brčko, Bosanski Šamac, Bosanska Gradiška lies on the river.

Climate

The southern parts of the country have a Mediterranean climate. The Western and the Central parts experience hot and arid summers reaching up to 40 °C while in the winter, temperatures are below freezing with lots of snow. The north-eastern region has a typical continental climate.

The Boracko lake

          The lake Boračko jezero is located on the northeastern side of the mountain Prenj, at the altitude of 405 meters. It is about 21 kilometers away from the main road. That is the larges mountain lake in BiH. It has an elliptic shape. It is about 786 meters long. It is one of the most beautiful natural lakes in BiH. A brook called Borački potok pours into the lake, and a little river called Šištica pours out. There is a waterfall on this river and it is over 30 meters high. The area is full of evergreen and broadleaf trees.

           There are fish like carps and brook, lake and Californian trout. The lake has also been famous for the river crabs. According to the legend, the lake has been formed after a great storm that lasted for a couple of days. The brook stream fills the water with oxygen, which makes the lake convenient for the life of many different organisms. The waves do not rise above 0,7 meters because the lake is not very long. That offers the conditions foe swimming and other water sports on calm water.

            Due to the average monthly temperatures of the water, it is possible to swim in the lake in June, July, August and even September at the temperature of 18 degrees. By the sedimentation of very tiny particles, at the bottom of the lake, a very thick mud has been formed and it represents danger for divers. Boračko jezero is surrounded by ------forests and there are broadleaf woods nearby, perfect places where one can relax in the fresh air. 

             The treetops of the pines that have been shaped by the nature make the woods around the lake very interesting and attractive. There are several boarding houses near the lake, and several spots for camping.

               This place is an ideal place for a vacation or the preparations of athletes. It is a real heaven for the anglers.

Postcards from Bosnia and Herzegovina - STOLAC

Una National Park (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Una National Park (Bosnian: Nacionalni park Una) was established in 2008 (29/05/08) around the Upper Una River and the Unac River. It is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most recently established national park. The main purpose of the park is to protect the unspoiled Una and Unac rivers which run through it.

Protection zone of the National Park stretches on the western side from the source of the Krka creek and its course to the confluence with the Una on the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia from where park border follows the Una and state border to the town of Martin Brod and confluence with the Unac. On the eastern side border of the park goes from the entrance of the Unac River into its canyon, few kilometers downstream from town of Drvar, and follows the Unac and its canyon all the way to the confluence with the Una in town of Martin Brod. From there park border follows the Una on the right and state border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on the left, until it reach a small town of Ripac, few kilometers upstream from town of Bihac.

The Una’s waterfalls and white water rapids highlight the park. The most famous waterfalls are those at Martion Brod, where the popular "International Una Regatta" kayaking competition begins, and Strbacki Buk further downstream. Throughout the park, visitors can enjoy prime conditions for rafting, fishing, cycling, hiking, and camping. Jumping from the city bridges in Bihac and Bosanska Krupa is also popular. Largest waterfall on the Una river is Strbacki Buk, and is one of the main feature in the Park.

Una National Park is also noted for its biodiversity, with 30 fish species, 130 bird species, and other animals, including lynx, fox, wolf, bear and chamois.

Area of the park has rich cultural-historic heritage and numerous archaeological sites, many dating from the prehistoric period. Significant historical and cultural heritage of the area within and outside the park zone are the Roman fort Milanceva Kula, Rmanj, Rmanj Monastery, medieval fortress Ostrovica above Kulen Vakuf, as well as outside the park zone Sokolacka Kula fortress in Sokolac village near Bihac and Ostrozac Castle between Bihać and Bosanska Krupa.

Proximity to Pljesevica mountain virgin forest, which stretches between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, and Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park makes Una National Park a top destination for visitors. More importantly, all of the facts about these two National Parks, their proximity, natural, cultural and historical richness, brings out the possibility and makes viable idea of joint management and promotion.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park has been inhabited by strong conquerors that lived centuries ago, including Celts, Romans or Ottomans. Nowadays, the park, which occupies nearly 297 square kilometers, is protected by law and for good reason.

While there is a large number of sightseeing objectives in this area, most tourists come to watch the 16 interconnected lakes linked to one another by a series of rivers and spectacular waterfalls. Ever since the 19th century, when locals began building hotels here, tourists were given the chance of walking over rivers and woods on specially designed bridges.

One of the most beautiful objectives here, Veliki Slap, is the tallest waterfall in Croatia; as tourists admit, watching the water coming from the Plitvice stream and falling down on the 78 meters high rocks covered in plants is, indeed, a unique experience.

http://nationalpark-una.ba/en/

Old bridge Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina