Vranjina Explained

Official Name:Vranjina
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Montenegro
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Montenegro
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Municipality
Subdivision Name1: Zeta
Population As Of:2011
Population Total:209
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Coordinates:42.2783°N 19.1347°W
Vranjina
Native Name:Врањина
Location:Lake Skadar
Coordinates:42.274°N 19.136°W
Length Km:1
Width Km:2
Elevation M:330
Population:209
Population As Of:2011

Vranjina (Врањина) is a settlement, island, and a hill in Lake Skadar, in the Montenegrin municipality of Zeta. Until the first half of the 18th century, Vranjina like other islands of Skadar lake, was one of the hills in the Zeta–Skadar lowlands.[1]

Island

Created by a delta of the Morača River, the island is in the northern part of the lake. It has an area of 4.6 km2 and its highest point is at 296 meters, making it the highest island in Montenegro. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, towards Podgorica, and a causeway, across the lake towards Bar.

Vranjina Monastery is a well-known feature of the island. According to the legend, the island had different name before the monastery has been built. When Ilarion Šišojević, the first metropolitan bishop of the Zetan Orthodox Metropolitanate, started the construction of the monastery he decided that the island will be named against the first bird he would notice. It was a crow (Serbian: Врана).[2]

Town

Vranjina town, on the shores of the Skadar lake, is called the Montenegrin Venice because of its natural setting. It is a popular fishing spot. Several fish restaurants located on the island include Plantaže restaurant.

Notable local landmarks include the so-called "house of Oso Kuka", named after an Ottoman border guard of Albanian descent who died on the island in a fight against Montenegrin forces in 1862.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, its population was 209.[3]

Ethnicity!width="80px"
NumberPercentage
159 76.1%
46 22%
undeclared 14 6.7%
Total 209100%
Language!width="80px"
NumberPercentage
115 55%
93 44.5%
undeclared 1 0.5%
Total 209100%

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ratko Đurović. Crnom Gorom. 27 July 2013. 1969. "Binoza," Grafički zavod Hrvatske. 125. Ona predstavljaju uzvišenja u nekadašnjoj Zetsko-skadarskoj površi. Vranjina je, na primjer, postala ostrvo u prvoj polovini XIII vijeka, dok je prije toga bila dio kopna, kao i druga ostrva Skadarskog jezera..
  2. Book: Glasnik Srpskoga učenog društva .... 22 June 2013. 1870. 167 . Društvo . Srpsko Učeno .
  3. Web site: Tabela N1. Stanovništvo prema nacinalnoj odnosno etničkoj pripadnosti po naseljima, Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine. Statistical Office of Montenegro. January 27, 2012. cnr.