The Sutjeska National Park is a national park located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Established in 1962, it is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s oldest national park. It includes the highest peak of Maglić at over 2,386 metres (7,828 ft), on the border with Montenegro. The Montenegrin part of Maglić massif in the park has also formed the Trnovačko Jezero (Trnovačko Lake). The Strict Nature Reserve “Perućica”, one of the last two remaining primeval forests in Europe, is part of the park. The park is also famous as being the location of the Battle of the Sutjeska in 1943 during World War II. It is an affiliated member of EUROPARC Federation.
Perućica
Perućica Forest Reserve, located within the park, is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long, 1–3 kilometres (0.62–1.86 mi) wide, and has an area of 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres). It is a UNESCO recognized site. The forest has many trees that are 300 years old, and the primeval forest’s vintage is stated to be 20,000 years. In some stretches the forest growth is almost impenetrable.
Skakavac waterfall
Skakavac waterfall is formed on the Perućica, a small river, or more precisely mountain creek, located deep within Perućica primeval forest, which is regulated in form of Strict Nature Reserve as part of the Sutjeska National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, about 75 metres (246 ft) plus in height, and it is hidden deep within Perućica primeval forest and its massive blanket of green trees of beech and spruce that engulf entire valley.Skakavac Waterfall
Perućica primeval forest is situated underneath of the highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maglić (2386 m), and separated from the Zelengora mountain with the Sutjeska river and its impressive, deep and rugged canyon.
The Perućica creek cut through the Perućica forest, and down and between two steep Maglić slopes. Somewhere at the middle of its course stream cascade from upper hanging valley to the lower valley, falling across large karstic limestone ridge to a precipice 75 meters deep, after which the Perućica creek reach the confluence with the Sutjeska river at the valley of Tjentište.
Rivers and lakes
Rivers
The Piva and Drina rivers are largest rivers in the park, and they forming its north-western border. The Sutjeska River could be considered main river basin largely located within park itself. The Sutjeska divides Zelengora Mountain from Maglić, Volujak and Bioč mountains, and has carved impressive canyon 3,936 feet (1,200 m) deep, and Tjentište valley through the middle of the park. Other rivers are all tributaries of the Sutjeska. Left tributaries are Klobučarica Creek, Jabučnica Creek, and Hrčavka River. Right tributaries are Suški Creek (also called Suha River or Creek Sušica), Prijevor Creek and Perućica Creek.
Lakes
The Zelengora mountain hide in its forests and wide and grassy plateaus, 9 glacial lakes, also known as “Gorske oči” (literally translated in Eng.= “Eyes of the Mountain”). These lakes are: Crno Lake, Bijelo Lake, Orlovačko Lake, Gornje Bare Lake, Donje Bare Lake, Štirinsko Lake, Kotlaničko Lake, Kladopoljsko Lake, and Jugovo Lake (also called Borilovačko Lake).
Climate
The park’s climatic condition is a transitory zone. Moderate continental climate dominates from the north while the influence of a southern Mediterranean climate is less pronounced. The typical mountain climate is also largely moderated by the Adriatic Sea.
