Blidinje plateau explained

Blidinje plateau
Map:Bosnia#Dinaric Alps
Elevation:NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet)
Coordinates:43.62°N 17.61°W
Length Km:22
Length Orientation:South-North
Width Km:17
Width Orientation:East-West
Area:513.45km2
Nickname:Bosnianherzegovinian Tibet
Native Name:-->
Country Type:State
Country:Bosnia and Herzegovina
Region Type:Region
Region:Herzegovina
District Type:Canton
Part Type:Municipality
Settlement Type:Town
Range:Dinaric Alps
Formed By:Thrust faulting
Orogeny:Alpine orogeny[1]
Age:Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic (Paleogene)
Type:sedimentation of limestone deposit
Geology:carbonate limestone

Blidinje plateau is a karst plateau in Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated at the heart of Dinaric Alps, between major mountains of the range, Čvrsnica, Čabulja and Vran, with characteristic karstic features such as Dugo Polje field, Blidinje Lake, Grabovica and Drežnica valleys, and others.[2] It represents important natural, hydrogeological reservation in karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with significant cultural and historical heritage, and Dinarides in general.[3]

Geography and hydrology

The melting glaciers from Čvrsnica during the two past ice ages created this open and barren valley.[4] A spacious plateau, 15–25 km long, is situated at an elevation of 1.150-1.300 meters a.s.l., between Čvrsnica and Vran mountains with a total area of 513 km2. Although geomorphologically one whole, plateau is divided in two geographically and topographic distinct features, first in lower southern part, areal around the lake Blidinje, and another in northern higher part of the plateau where a flat plain Dugopolje is situated, as well as administratively between four municipalities: Jablanica, Prozor-Rama, Posušje, Tomislavgrad, and Mostar.[5] The closest town to the Blidinje Nature Park is Jablanica, which is 24.9 km away.[6]

Doljani valley

Doljani valley is the longest valley and a northern border of the Čvrsnica-Vran-Čabulja complex, with the Doljanka river running through.

Dugo Polje

Going from the north and the Doljanka river, plateau opens with a flat plain of Dugo Polje at the higher end and lead toward south longitudinally between Vran at the north-northwestern side, with its highest peak on 2.074 meters a.s.l., and on the south-southeastern Čvrsnica mountain, with its highest peak Pločno at 2.228 meters a.s.l. On the opposite south-southeastern end of the plateau, beyond Blidinje lake, is Čabulja mountain with its highest peak at 1.786 meters a.s.l. further toward east beyond Čvrsnica is Grabovica valley that stretches all the way to the Neretva river and its canyon.[7]

Svinjača Polje

Grabovica valley

Grabovica valley with small Grabovica creek is a special reserve within park, squeezed deep into Čvrsnica, and form a deep canyon between steep and rugged cliffs of the mountain. Within the valley are two small villages Gornja Grabovica (Jablanica) and Donja Grabovica (Jablanica). The legend of Diva Grabovčeva tells the story about legendary daughter of a local shepherd who, as story goes, was killed by local nobleman whom she rejected, so that she would not marry another.

Drežnica valley

Further downstream much larger vale appears again, this time between Čvrsnica and Čabulja mountains, called Drežnica Valley. The stream of Drežanka runs between large and steep slopes of the valley, with two eponymous villages, Donja Drežnica (Lower Drežnica) and Gornja Drežnica (Upper Drežnica) being situated on its banks.

Blidinje lake

The most important hydrogeological phenomena in the park is alpine lake, Blidinje Lake, largest of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Blidinje lake is the direct result of a glacial retreat, but according to the Poklečani Parishes office documents, lake is, also, a product of anthropogenic intervention and activities of human inhabitants. According to these documents, the lake is artificial and it was created at the end of the 19th century. In order to keep the water that is lost through the subterranean passage, local residents and cattle breeders sealed sinkholes with branches and clay, so that water could not find its way underground. Therefore, the lake was formed. Its surface area varies between 2,5 and 6 km2, while its average depth is 1.9 m, with altitude of 1,184 m above sea level.[8] [9]

Other lakes and lokvas

Beside Blidinje, plateau hosts few other, smaller lakes and lokvas, such as Crepulja and Crvenjak. The Crvenjak Lake is a small glacial lake located in the Čvrsnica massive. The lake is oval-shaped, approximately 70 meters long and 50 meters wide. It has a depth of approximately 9 meters.[10]

Flora and fauna

Accompanying some of the rocky and seemingly lifeless slopes are thick forests of pine, including the endemic white-bark pine at Masna Luka called Pinus leucodermis (Bosnian pine). Three types of wild thyme and dozens of wild flowers cover the valley and mountain sides in the spring and summer.

History, heritage and culture

All around the valley is dotted with the Bosnia and Herzegovina trademark stećci from medieval ages. It is not clear how long human settlements have existed here but research began when Blidinje recently received Nature park status. Traces of Illyrian graves and Roman roads indicate that Blidinje has been settled for at least 2,500 years. The large necropolis at Dugo Polje indicates that the waves of Slavs that came in the 7th century also made this area their home.

Stećaks necropolis

Ponor, Donje Bare, Jezero, Risovac, and Dugo Polje are five stećak medieval necropolises, named by their location. They are scattered throughout the Blidinje karst plateau, and the one at Dugo Polje polje is the largest.[11] [12] [13] Necropolises are all protected by KONS, and one on Dugo Polje is given particular attention by being included into World Heritage by UNESCO.[14] [15] [16]

The park itself is free of mines with well-marked trails.

Culture and traditional life style

There is also a Franciscan monastery that is located within the park and open to visitors. Houses here are traditional shepherd homes with straw roofs that are mainly used during the spring and summer seasons. Winter is harsh and cold in these parts.

Hajdučka Republika Mijata Tomića

Croatian: Hajdučka Republika Mijata Tomića is a private property in the middle of Blidinje Nature Park. Property spreads over seven hectares (0.07 km2, 0.027 mi2) between the mountains of Vran and Čvrsnica and is a tourist destination as a fictional self-proclaimed micronation. It was born out of protest because of inefficiency of the state in solving a problem with the local electricity supply.[17]

The satirical idea to proclaim a republic was conceived by the Vukoja-Lastvić family who built and owns a motel on the location (Croatian: Hajdučke Vrleti), consisting of the late Vinko, a tourism entrepreneur and a humorist enthusiast, as head of the family; his wife Albina; and his daughter Marija – who is the current "President of the Republic" as of March 2019. The fictional republic was founded on the day of Diva Grabovčeva, 29 June in 2002, and is named after Mijat Tomić, who is unrelated to the owners' family, but was a historical person known as a Croatian: [[hajduk]], with his hiding place in the nearby caves.

When Vinko Vukoja wanted to solve a problem regarding the main power supply net, he encountered years of negligence by three bordering municipalities, Posušje, Tomislavgrad and Jablanica, who couldn't agree under which jurisdiction the area fell and shifted the responsibility to one another. For years, whenever the motel owner asked any of the municipalities to solve his electricity problem, they would reject him, saying it was not their problem, referring him to one of the other two. Finally, Vukoja solved that with his own money.[18] On this alleged "no one's land", the Hajdučka Republika was proclaimed as a form of satirical defiance. On the day of the proclamation, SFOR was alarmed anonymously, but as soon as they realized the true nature of the idea, they left the very same day. The republic has no separatist ambitions.[17]

Thanks to this satirical protest project, its motel became one of the most popular places in western Herzegovina.[19] Every year, there is a celebration and amateur liars' contest (from which politicians are barred as professional liars), Croatian: Triba slagat i ostat živ . This project attracted the attention of Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian media, as well as some media outside the Balkans.

The republic has a consul and portparole, issuing its own passports; its purported currency is the Croatian: "kubura" .[20] The formation of political parties is strictly forbidden, as well as any dealing with politics, since "it is not good for human wellbeing".[17] Its state flag has a white background, in the upper left corner is the state coat of arms, which is a chessboard, and in the middle is the picture of Mijat Tomić marked in blue.[21] On 16 October 2009, President Vinko Vukoja died in a car accident. His daughter Marija inherited his position and the title Croatian: "[[harambaša]]" .[22] The republic has its official webpage on the motel's website.[23]

Blidinje Nature Park

Blidinje Nature Park
Iucn Category:III
Photo Width:240
Map Size:200
Relief:1
Location:West Herzegovina Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nearest City:Mostar
Nearest Town:Jablanica
Coordinates:43.62°N 17.61°W
Length Km:3 - 5
Area:358km2
Area Ref:[24]
Elevation:NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet)
Established:1995[25]
Named For:plateau
Visitation Num:Open all year
Visitation Year:Open all year
Governing Body:Federation of BiH
Operator:Blidinje Nature Park Public Enterprise
Website:Blidinje Nature Park

Blidinje Nature Park is a nature park in Bosnia and Herzegovina,[26] established on 30 April 1995. It is situated at the Blidinje plateau, and comprises the territory of the plateau including major mountains of the Dinaric range, Čvrsnica, Čabulja and Vran. Its main geological characteristic are karstic features such as Dugo Polje field, Blidinje Lake, Grabovica and Drežnica valleys, and others, with a total area of 364 km2. It represents important geological and hydrogeological nature reserve in Dinaric karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with significant cultural and historical heritage.

Ski resort

The Risovac ski-resort is developed in the areal of Risovac village in the Jablanica municipality. In the last decade or so, after creation of a ski track on the slopes of Čvrsnica, a weekend village with cottages and several motels with various other complementary tourist facilities, such as ski-lift, has developed near the ski track.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hercegovačka kamena šuma od koje zastaje dah . Blidinje.NET . 7 April 2023 . hr . 15 November 2020.
  2. Book: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Committee on Environmental . Environmental Performance Reviews: Bosnia and Herzegovina . 2004 . 978-92-1-116915-7 . 18 April 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: Nature Park Blidinje. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180218165435/http://www.visitmycountry.net/bosnia_herzegovina/en/index.php/national-parks/66-bastina/nacionalni-parkovi/262-nature-park-blidinje. 18 February 2018. dead.
  4. Web site: A history of the occurrence of Blidinje lake (Bosnia and Herzegovina) . hrcak.srce.hr . https://web.archive.org/web/20180521081956/https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/273866 . 21 May 2018.
  5. Book: Efe . Recep . Ozturk . Munir . Tourism, Environment and Ecology in the Mediterranean Region . 26 September 2014 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 978-1-4438-6800-6 . en.
  6. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Jablanica/HJPC+HJM,+Hercegovačko-neretvanski+kanton,+Striževo/@43.6408052,17.6081929,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x475f5ec9433dc6cf:0x66591eff72e618d9!2m2!1d17.760399!2d43.6577331!1m5!1m1!1s0x475f5e4b0a2a1f43:0x228e165e0315aaf7!2m2!1d17.6215321!2d43.5864503?entry=ttu
  7. Web site: Izvještaj sa ornitoloških posmatranja u Bosni i Hercegovini u septembru 2006 . wild-herzegovina.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091339/http://www.wild-herzegovina.com/bibliography/Marcouse-2006.pdf/content/blidinje . 18 May 2015.
  8. Radoš. Denis. A history of the occurrence of Blidinje lake (Bosnia and Herzegovina).. Geoadria. 22. 1. 1–40. 10.15291/geoadria.1334. 2017. free.
  9. Slišković . Mara . Hidrogeološke značajke Parka prirode Blidinje . 15 December 2017 . Hydrogeological characteristics of Blidinje Nature park : master's thesis . University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering. Department of Geology and Geological Engineering . hr.
  10. Abaza . Aida . Žujo Zekić . Denisa . Adrović . Avdul . June 2014 . DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES ICHTHYOSAURA ALPESTRIS (LAURENTI, 1768) IN THE HERZEGOVINA AREA . Journal of Science-professional from Chemistry and Technology Faculty of Technology Tuzla . 7 . 1 . 49–55.
  11. Web site: SREDNJOVJEKOVNE NEKROPOLE STEĆAKA NA PODRUČJU BLIDINJA KAO ARHEOLOŠKO-TURISTIČKA ATRAKCIJA . Blidinje.NET . 2 April 2023 . hr . 2 November 2020.
  12. Web site: Dugo polje Nekropola . www.nekropola.ba . 2 April 2023 . en, sh.
  13. Web site: Necropolis with stećak tombstones of Dugo polje on Blidinje, the historic site . old.kons.gov.ba . Commission to preserve national monuments . 2 April 2023 . Sarajevo . 20 January 2004.
  14. Web site: Centre . UNESCO World Heritage . Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards . UNESCO World Heritage Centre . 2 April 2023 . en.
  15. Web site: Dugo polje at Blidinje, Jablanica, FBiH . Stećci WH . 2 April 2023.
  16. Web site: The necropolis with tombstones Dugo polje . trail.viadinarica.com . 2 April 2023 . en.
  17. Web site: 8 December 2007 . Hajduci na Vranu ljude samo po očima pamte . Hajduks from Vran Only Remember People by their Eyes . dead . https://archive.today/20090705053811/http://www.nezavisne.com/nedjeljne/vijesti/17757/Hajduci-na-Vranu-ljude-samo-po-ocima-pamte.html . 5 July 2009 . 30 June 2007 . . sr.
  18. Web site: 13 August 2007 . hr. ČIJE JE BLIDINJE: Dok hajduci vladaju, tri općine se spore . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080412034148/http://tomislavcity.com/politika/ije-je-blidinje-dok-hajduci-vladaju-tri-op-ine-se-spore.html . April 12, 2008 . 30 June 2008 . Tomislavcity.com . Who Owns Blidinje? While Hajduks Rule, Three Municipalities Argue.
  19. Web site: 29 January 2007 . Država bez kriminala, vojske i policije . Nation Without Crime, Army or Police . 24 November 2014 . . bs.
  20. Web site: 2 September 2013 . Hajdučka republika, glas bunta u BiH . The Hajduk Republic, the voice of rebellion in Bosnia and Herzegovina . 10 March 2019 . Al Jazeera Balkans . bs.
  21. Web site: hr . Hajdučka Republika Mijata Tomića . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081204102649/http://www.hajduckevrleti-blidinje.com/razno.asp . December 4, 2008 . 30 June 2008 . Hajdučke vrleti . Blidinje.
  22. Web site: Marija Vukoja profile . hr . 24sata.info . 30 November 2015.
  23. Web site: The Republic . Hajducke Vrleti . 20 April 2023.
  24. https://www.protectedplanet.net/555698343 Blidinje
  25. Book: Clancy . Tim . Bosnia & Herzegovina: The Bradt Travel Guide . 2013 . Bradt Travel Guides . 978-1-84162-449-5 . en.
  26. Ćavar . Izabela . Strukturna obilježja sekundarnog stanovanja u Parku prirode Blidinje . Acta Geographica Croatica . 2017 . 43./44. . 1 . 59–84 . 7 April 2023 . Structural features of secondary housing in the Blidinje Nature Park . hr . pdf . 1330-0466.