Discover Montenegro: Top 9 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew!
1. Europe's Deepest Canyon
Hold on to your paddles, folks, and get ready to dive into the deep end of Europe's most spectacular aquatic playground: Montenegro's Durmitor National Park is home to the Tara River Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe at over 1,300 meters deep, which can only be accessed by rafting and offers thrilling activities like zip-lining, canyoneering, and jeep safaris amidst stunning glacial lakes and ancient black pine forests as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Source => arrigogroup.com.mt
2. Resilient Stari Bar
Have your stone-cold heart, ancient hearts, or historical hearts ever longed for a charming, centuries-old town – the kind that keeps coming back to life no matter how many times it crumbles? Montenegro has got you covered: Stari Bar, dating back to the 9th century, has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, the latest being post the 1979 earthquake, now serving as a proud emblem of the nation's resilience and a treasured tourist hotspot.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
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3. Kotor's Saintly Festivities
When the saints go marching in, Kotor knows how to throw a party: The Feast of St. Tryphon dates back to the 9th century and celebrates the patron saint of Kotor and its Diocese, featuring a Pontifical Mass, grand procession through the Old Town streets, and the Boka Navy dutifully guarding the relics of St. Tryphon.
Source => total-montenegro-news.com
4. Tara River Canyon: Not Just Deep
If canyons could talk, Montenegro's Tara River Canyon would undoubtedly be bragging about its depth at every geology party: This breathtaking natural wonder is not only Europe's second deepest river canyon, but also the site of the longest river in Montenegro – the Tara River. Stretching for 78 kilometers and reaching a staggering height of over 1300 meters, this UNESCO World Heritage gem is chock-full of stunning waterfalls, cascades, caves, and even some adrenaline-pumping white water rafting opportunities!
Source => panacomp.net
5. Montenegro's Printing Fame
Before it was "in with the old and out with the new," Montenegro was hopping on the literary bandwagon and going viral in 1493: Montenegro, home to the first printing press in the Balkans, was set up by Đurađ Crnojević in Cetinje and printed the "Oktoih," which became their claim to fame and the first-ever printed book in the Balkans, just a year after the good ole U.S. of A was discovered.
Source => hotelkomovi.com
6. Secret Submarine Tunnels
In Montenegro, you can dive into history with a splash: hidden beneath unassuming and sneaky faux rocks are centuries-old submarine tunnels built by the Yugoslav Army near the village of Rose. These secret underwater passages extend 100 meters in length and dive 10 meters deep, offering daring explorers the chance to plunge headfirst into the nation's longest-kept secret!
Source => kotorspeedboattours.com
7. Love at Trnovačko Lake
If love had a summer vacation spot, it might look a little something like this: Montenegro's Trnovačko Lake! Sitting at a lofty altitude of 1,517 meters above sea level, this heart-shaped glacier beauty is quite literally the flirtatious wink of Mother Nature. But hold your horses, Instagrammers – it's still a hidden gem untouched by the swarming selfie-stick brigade: Nestled beneath the slopes of Maglić Mountain, Trnovačko Lake's romantic allure and mesmerizing scenery remain relatively unknown among tourists, acting as an enigmatic secret for those in the know to enjoy.
Source => tripadvisor.com
8. Faux Fjord of Kotor
You may "fjord-get" about your geography knowledge for a moment, because Montenegro's Bay of Kotor is here to play tricks on your mind by masquerading as a fjord: In reality, this majestic landscape is Europe's southernmost ria, a submerged river valley consisting of four strikingly beautiful interconnected bays. Though it's not a true fjord, it has claimed its crown as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earning the admiration of those who traverse its rocky coastline and marvel at its towering peaks.
Source => ontheluce.com
9. Montenegro's Thirsty Future
While Montenegro's residents might not be chanting "water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink" anytime soon, climate change isn't exactly giving them a day at the beach either: the uneven distribution of water resources across Europe and predicted seasonal flow changes are impacting the nation, which currently lacks a formal strategy for fresh water resource management, though the EU is considering measures such as improved land-use planning and water-saving initiatives for the future.
Source => climatechangepost.com