Basic info
Skadar lake is located at about 30 kilometres from Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, in Zeta-Skadar Valley. As the largest freshwater area in Southeastern Europe (of 370 square kilometres), the lake has its blue from Rijeka Crnojevica to town Skadar, that is, from the Bay Licheni and Hotit to the island Beska. It is covered by (limited to) the Skadar plain, the branches of Lovcen and Prokletije slopes and the Sutorman, Rumi and Tarabos mountains. It belongs to two countries: Montenegro (2/3 of the lake area) and Albania (the rest of 1/3 of the total area). According to the synchlinal line, the following spatial units are distinguished in the lake: Veliko blato (Large mud), Malo blato (Small mud), Vucko blato and submerged area of Rijeka Crnojevica… More
National park
National Park Skadar Lake represents one of four national parks in Montenegro. In order to preserve the natural beauty and revitalize numerous cultural and historical monuments, on November 27, 1983, with the area of 40 000 ha, the Montenegrin part of the Skadar Lake was declared a national park (IUCN II category of protection – Protected natural good of great importance) of which 25 400 ha is a water surface, 14 600 ha peripheral land and swamp. Since 2005, the Albanian part of the Skadar Lake is also protected by the category “managed nature reserve” (IUCN category IV).As a place of great natural value, in 1989, the lake received an IBA (Important Bord Areas) or an area of international importance for the stay of birds on all 40,000 ha, and in 1996 a part of the lake with an area of 20,000 ha was declared Ramsar area (World list of wetlands of international importance). Also, the lake has received the IPA status (Important Plant Areas) and the International Significant Plant Plant… More
Flora and fauna
Montenegro abounds with a very rich animal and vegetable world, and as the richest Montenegrin animal and plant habitat, the National Park Skadar Lake stands out. The most important part of the flora and fauna in this important habitat and ecological area are the following species: birds, fish and plants. The biggest attraction of the Skadar Lake, which is always recognizable for the diversity of the flora and fauna, are birds. Skadar Lake as an area with very favorable natural conditions, represents one of the richest habitats for birds in Europe, that is, it is the most important habitat for birdworms in Europe. Of economic significance, that is, for commercial hunting, the most important thing: the carp, carp, brush, yellow and eel, and besides them are also important: clown, cupola, small cube, jumper, levrek, plavić, kinez and grgeč. When the plants are dominated by wetland vegetation, they are dominated by: mowing, kasaronya, white and yellow duck, reed, rush, sarcasm, zucchini, sash or brnist, and others… More
History and culture
Numerous cultural and historical monuments, such as archaeological finds, monasteries and fortifications, scattered in the wide range of the Skadar Lake basin, and numerous islands, say that in the XIV and XV century this area was a significant cultural center. The cultural and historical importance of the island on Skadar Lake is enormous. On these islands there are many monasteries, churches and sacral monuments. Numerous fortifications on the islands, built by the Turks, and later by the Montenegrins, are witnesses of the frequent fighting that led between these nations. Lesendro’s fortress is an example of the struggle for the struggle of Montenegrins for independence, dates from the 15th century and is known as the capital of Zeta. Also on Skadar Lake there is a Grmozur, where King Nikola built a prison for political non-minded people, known for a long time as Montenegrin Alkatraz. Then there are Starcevo, Beska, Kom, Moracnik and many others from the island… More