Page Type:
|
Canyon |
|---|---|
Activities:
|
Hiking, Canyoneering |
|
Morača Canyon
Morača Canyon
Morača River
Morača River
Platije Canyon in Morača CanyonMorača ("Moracha") is one of most beautiful river canyon in Montenegro which separate MORAČKE PLANINE range from SINJAJEVINA range. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzača mountain. It generally flows southwards for some 113 km (70 mi), before emptying into Skadar Lake. In its northern part, the Morača is a fast mountain river, and has cut a canyon north of Podgorica. After merging with its largest tributary, Zeta, just north of Podgorica, the Morača enters the Zeta plain. It flows through this flat area of Montenegro until it empties into Skadar Lake.
The Morača River is the biggest tributary of Skadarsko Lake. Its source is at the height of 975 meters above sea level. In the Kolašin region, the Morača’s tributaries are the Koštanica, Sjevernica, Trnovačka Rijeka(i.e. River), Javorski Potok (i.e. Brook), and the Slatina, on the Mrtvica, Ibrištica, Ratnja, and the Slatina, on the left, and the Mrtvica, Ibrištica, Ratnja and the Požanjski Potok (i.e.Brook) on the right. Apart from the Morača’s Platije Canyon, its right-hand tributary the Mrtvica also flows, for the most part of its length, trough a lesser known high canyon of breathtaking beauty.
Morača Canyon
Platije Canyon
Platije CanyonThe region in the basin of the Morača River is featured by the steep slope of the terrain. It is intersected by deep gorges and canyons.The upper part of this river valley stretches to the entrance in the Platije Canyon, which consists of Gornja ( i.e. Upper) Morača, at an altitude ranging between 465m and 973m, and two more expansions. The Platija Canyon is 1000 meters deep on average and the mountainous Morača’s tributaries also flow through the canyons with the banks often as high as up to 1000 meters.
The Morača River basin is oriented to the Adriatic Sea while the Tara River basin pertains to the drainage system flowing into the Black Sea. The Crkvina saddle, situated between Morača and Kolašin monasteries., is the watershed of the two basins. On its southern side, waters flow towards the Adriatic Sea, and on its northeast side, the waters flow through the Tara, Drina, Sava and the Danube Rivers, reaching the Black Sea. The curiosity is that the waters split on the roof of a building on this saddle and flow into two different basins.
Beautiful Morača Canyon Morača Monastery
Morača Monastery and its surroundings
Morača Monastery
Morača RiverMorača is a Serbian Orthodox monastery taken from the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, located in the valley of the Morača river in central Montenegro, situated to the north part of the river's canyon. It is one of the most monumental orthodox Middle Age monuments in Montenegro. It was founded in 1252 by Stefan, son of Vukan Nemanjić, king of Zeta, the grandson of Stefan Nemanja in 1252. This is written above the western portal.
It consists of an assembly church, devoted to the Assumption of Mary, a small church, devoted to Saint Nicola, and a lodgings for travellers. The main door has a high wall which has two entrances. The assembly church is a big one-nave building in the style of Raška churches. It is different from the seaside churches. The main portal is in the romantic style.
Beside the architecture, its paintings are of special importance. There is one painting preserved from the 13th century with 11 compositions from the life of the prophet Elias. This painting is in much better condition than all the others from the 16th century. Other paintings were ruined in the first part of 16th century when the Ottomans occupied the monastery and devastated it. They also carried away the lead roof.
Beautiful Morača RiverGetting There
Morača River
Moraca River
Moraca RiverBy plane:
The closest airport is the one in Podgorica (70km away).
If you are planning to come via Serbia, you can use the Belgrade (Beograd) Airport in Beograd (Belgrade) city, capital of Serbia and Montenegro.
Information about flights and tickets on JAT Airways web page.
By train:
Beograd - Bar (Bar - Beograd) railway passes through Mojkovac and Kolasin.
By Bus:
From Beograd (Belgrade):
Beograd (Belgrade) - Cacak - Uzice - Zlatibor - Nova Varos - Prijepolje - Bijelo Polje - Mojkovac - Kolasin
For the bus tickets and informations about but lines see Belgrade Bus Station page.
From Podgorica:
Podgorica - Kolasin
By road:
From Beograd (Belgrade):
Beograd (Belgrade) - Cacak - Uzice - Zlatibor - Nova Varos - Prijepolje - Bijelo Polje - Mojkovac - Kolasin
From Podgorica:
Podgorica - Kolasin
You should drive along the central Montenegrin highway, which connects the seaside to the towns: Cetinje - Podgorica - Kolasin - Mojkovac - Bijelo Polje; and goes on to Serbia (Belgrade city). This road is passable during most part of the year. It is closed only in case of abundant snowing or great rockslides. The landscape along the highway is particularly picturesque in the segment of the Moraca River Canyon between Podgorica and Kolasin. This part of the canyon is called “Platije”. The highway is built along the edge of the narrow canyon. Thus, you can enjoy in observing the beautiful contrast between steep, dark cliffs and light, green river
The area of 897 square kilometers of the Kolašin Municipality is featured by major changes in altitude at small distances. The very town of Kolašin is at 954 meters above sea level; only five or so percent of territory is at a height below 500, and 24 percent below 1000 meters above sea level. The eastern part of the Kolašin region has specific climatic conditions, where Bjelasica Mount dominates, rich with water and thick woods. Due to the relative openness over the Crkvina saddle and the Morača valley, the winds from the Mediterranean region penetrate, which increases the precipitation. However, because the terrain is so rough and with deep river canyons and thick woods, there are many microclimatic conditions resulting in various climatic changes. As a result of all these factors, the climate in Kolašin and its environs contributes to the fact that the whole region is considered to be a health resort.
Morača RiverThe Adriatic highway leans on the "arteries" of the Kolašin region, the Tara and Morača River valleys. The highway connects Belgrade, Čačak, Užice, Prijepolje, Bijelo Polje and Mojkovac with the seaside, and Budva, Cetinje and Podgorica with the Montenegrin hinterland and Serbia.
The nearest airport, in Podgorica, is 75 kilometers away from Kolašin.
The distance from Kolašin to Belgrade is 388 km, 148 km to Budva, 120 km to Lovćen, 90 km to Žabljak, 75 km to Berane, 50 km to Bijelo Polje, and 21 km to Mojkovac. So the great outdoors of the Kolašin region are not far away for those who appreciate beauty; you can reach them wherever you go.