Montenegrin Scout Jamboree: 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sub-camp NP Prokletije

The Jamboree site is divided into 5 sub-camps where the participants will live for the duration of the Jamboree, and the sub-camps got their names by Montenegrin National parks (Lovcen, Biogradska gora, Skadarsko jezero, Durmitor and Prokletije). Their natural and cultural values are presented in visitors centers, and opportunities for active recreation are numerous. Besides the marked walking, hiking and biking trails, in the parks you can find thematic, educational and wine paths. There is also sports fishing, cruising, camping, adventure park, rent-a-bungalow...

Conquering peaks, viewing platforms, richness of flora and fauna, healing powers of water wells, herbs, national cuisine.

Relief is indented with numerous peaks, gorges, steep slopes, river valleys, alpine type and other natural phenomena. Among these, the following zones: Karanfilsko-Bjelički (most rugged part of the area, with numerous peaks over 2,000 meters above sea level); Visitorsko; Zone Bogićevica; Zone Bora and Kofiljaće; Elderly Zavojska-zone.

Continental, mountainous and subalpine. The winters are long and very sharp and short summers and fresh. Mean annual air temperature of 2-7 ° C. Maximum rainfall takes place in the late fall and winter, the first portion. Snow cover has an average depth of 15cm and is kept from 90 - 210 days.

Glacial lakes (Hridsko, Visitorsko, Ropojansko, Tatarijsko, Bjelajsko, the Vizier Brady pond, the pond Treskavac, Koljindarsko et al.), large and small streams, springs and sources of drinking water and mineral water, rivers, underground aquifers and mountain ponds.

Sub-camp NP Biogradska gora

Conquering peaks, viewing platforms, richness of flora and fauna, healing powers of water wells, herbs, national cuisine.

Greatest natural value of this park is the rainforest Biogradska gora, which covers the area of 1600 ha and is one of the last three rainforests in Europe. In 1878, it was donated to the then ruler of Montenegro, duke Nikola and from then on it remained – as a "duke’s reserve" – under the state protection.

The park has 26 plant communities with around 2.000 species and subspecies. Out of over 200 bird species, particularly interesting is the imperial eagle. Deer, fawn, leap, wolf, wild boar, fox, rabbit and over 350 different inspects species have found their habitat in the Park. At the altitude of 1.094 meters, in the heart of the rainforest, there is Biogradsko Lake, the biggest and best known of the numerous glacial lakes in the area of the National Park. It consists of two parts, with numerous vortexes and typical glacial coves with unusual esthetic characteristics. Today, Biogradsko Lake is a famous excursion site with developed parking space, restaurant, bungalows, walking paths with lights and a camping space. Thanks to the climate conditions during summer months, it attracts a large number of tourists, particularly transit tourist, which stop here on their way to the coast, seeking refuge from high temperatures.

Sub-camp NP Durmitor

Conquering peaks, viewing platforms, richness of flora and fauna, healing powers of water wells, herbs, national cuisine.

National Park encompasses the basic mountain massif of Durmitor, parts and areas of the lakes and Piva mountain, upper parts of canyon valleys Grabovica and Komarnica, canyon valley of the river Tara and canyons of its confluences - Sušica, Vaškovska river and Draga.

Park area amounts 39.000 hectares, stretched on the territory of five municipalities: Žabljak, Šavnik, Plužine, Mojkovac and Pljevlja.
Main feature of the relief is a wide plateau located at 1.500 meters above the sea level, carved by deep canyon valleys, with impressive mountain tops, of which 48 are at 2.000 meters above the sea level. The highest peak is Bobotov kuk, at 2.525 meters above the sea level. Particular impression is created by 18 glacial lakes, called "mountain eyes", located at 1.500 meters above the sea level. The biggest and the most beautiful is Crno Lake, with stunning scenery, and a giant peak Medvjed, above the lake.

With the decision of UNESCO’s International Committee for the World Natural and Historical Heritage from 1980, NP Durmitor was included in the list of the World Natural Heritage.

Center of the park is Žabljak, small town at the bottom of the southeastern part of Durmitor. This settlement, which is located at the highest altitude of the Balkan Peninsula (around 1.450m) is the biggest winter center in Montenegro, with considerable accommodation capacities, both hotel and private, infrastructure for winter sports and services in the area of tourism and mountaineering. Mountaineering paths are marked and there is an organized mountain climbing guide service.

In the National park zone, you can conquer whirlpools, defiles, limans and spinning wheels with rafts, kayaks and pneumatic boats, carried by the mainstream of the river Tara and guided by secure hands of rafters, discover the beauty, pass through the deepest canyon in Europe and swim in perfectly clean water.

Length of the river Tara is 156 kilometers, canyon valley is 93 kilometers long, while the canyon depth can reach even 1.300 meters.

Sub-Camp NP Skadarsko jezero

Conquering peaks, viewing platforms, richness of flora and fauna, healing powers of water wells, herbs, national cuisine.

With the area ranging from 370 to 530 square kilometers, depending on the water level, Skadar Lake is the biggest lake in the Balkans. Due to its geographic position and sub Mediterranean climate, it is one of the most important habitats of swamp birds in Europe, right after the river Danube delta. There are around 280 bird species on the lake, including the rare curly pelican, which became a trademark of the National Park.

Throughout the history this region was a confluence of different civilization, which left a strong impact on its rich cultural and historical heritage. On the islands in the Skadar Lake, among birds and water-lilies many monasteries can be found. The oldest monastery- Starčevo, was founded in the XIV century by the humble ascetic, old man Makarije, after whom the island was named Starčeva gorica. On the shores of the lake there are two small towns–old urban settlements, with specific architecture – Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića. Both settlements are nowadays famous for its restaurants that offer traditional specialties.

Southern hinterland of the lake (Crmnica) is famous for the best vine in Montenegro. Together with the lake carp, this will satisfy even the most demanding lovers of good food and drinks. The lake has numerous extraordinary beaches, particularly those in the village Murići, not less attractive than beaches on the coast.

Sub-Camp NP Lovcen

Conquering peaks, viewing platforms, richness of flora and fauna, healing powers of water wells, herbs, national cuisine.

The lowest point of the National Park Lovćen is the crossroads in Krstac - 965 m above the sea level, while the highest is the peak Štirovnik - 1.749 m above the sea level, which is also the highest peak of the mountain Lovćen. The Park encompasses central and the highest part of Lovćen massif, covering the area of 6.400 hectares
Particularities of Lovćen are its lookouts.

View from Lovćen from all sides leaves an unrepeatable and unforgettable visual impression. Places that offer such distant and unrepeatable views are numerous: Jezerski vrh, Štirovnik, old road Krstac-Ivanova korita, Austrian strategic roads that lead to the mountain tops, Kotor serpentines – specific projecting and construction phenomenon. Exposed to the steep Lovćen slope and the Bay of Boka Kotortska – serpentines are an unrepeatable experience.

Most of the sacral objects and interesting ethnographic material in Lovćen is concentrated in the area of Ivanova korita and village Njeguši, famous for fantastic ham and cheese. Authentic national architecture can be seen in this region: katuns –summer settlements of farmers and old stone houses with roofs made of sawn straw or laminar limestone, village guvna - places where folk meetings were held, were people celebrated and enjoyed themselves. Around ten churches with specific church towers “distaffs» (its form reminds of the distaff) round up Lovćen landscape.

Climbing up to the mausoleum of the greatest Montenegrin poet and ruler Petar Petrović Njegoš (1813. -1851), represents a highlight of the visit to the National Park “Lovćen”. Mausoleum can be reached by the 20 kilometer road from Cetinje, followed by additional 461 steps that should be climbed to reach the mausoleum. Mausoleum is the most important work of the great Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. It is said that Meštrović asked for a symbolic fee – Njeguški cheese and ham.

The chapel is the most impressive part of Njegoš mausoleum. It is nine meters high with the arch covered in mosaic with 200.000 gold-plated tiles. Sarcophagus reminds of traditional Montenegrin tomb, with the state emblem and a cross carved in stone, as symbols of Njegoš spiritual and secular authorities.

Bar, ancient port

Montenegro’s open gate. The largest harbour on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, Mediterranean centre of diversity, seductive for its friendliness, its birds, olives and wine.
Here, the nature changes with every new step. Located under the Rumija Mountain, between the Adriatic See and the Lake Scutari, Bar will surprise you with its variety of cultures, religions, nations, customs, with the quiet villages surrounding it.
International cruisers dock at the 46 kilometres long coast, but don’t worry if you’d prefer to bathe: there is enough space for you on some nine kilometres of beach, during the season lasting from the middle of May till mid-October.
Check the trueness of the stories about the monster supposed to live in the 65 kilometres long Lake Scutari close to the Bar municipality. Beware! Don’t risk going into the water if you have just tasted the Crmnica wine. It beguiles your senses, it can attract even the lake mermaids. Enjoy the view of the bird colonies which arrive here from other parts of the world every year. Discover the lake islands with their monasteries, historical buildings and their ancient stories about the lives of the people. Don’t miss the small town of Virpazar and its inns.

Visit the Old City on an elevated ground some four kilometres from the coast. In this open air museum or architecture, one civilisation after another has left its traces since the 7th century. Hark to the sound of life of many peoples under the shadow of a 2000 years old olive tree. You will not find so many different national costumes in one place anywhere else.
In the town itself, you will face a rich cultural life: theatre performances, concerts, and art exhibitions throughout the year.

Montenegro, nature's resort

A country of miracles, a treasure chest full of most wonderful treasures, as if, as the legend says, the God’s bag had really torn apart when he was giving gifts of nature and wonderful things including the mountains and other beauties fell out of it just above Montenegro.

However, geographers say that this area in the South of Europe and the Balkans, not large but unique for its diversity, was created in ancient times by the strong forces of nature. Made by forces or not – it turned beautiful and unusual – magnificent.

And it offers...

Something for everyone! You can enjoy spectacular nature; this is a place for absolute relaxation and recreation; this is where you can absorb new energy. You can have great fun, adrenalin outbursts, competitive and research thrills. Here you can find small and protected but also long sandy beaches and thousands of kilometres of hiking and biking trails, fast rivers suitable for rafting and kayaking, great ski paths but also untouched landscapes; this is a place of carnivals, concerts, traditional fiestas, theatre played on squares... Here you can meet the richest people in the world in our harbours, and shepherds on the mountains whose wisdom will take you back to the Homer’s time and whose calmness will make you feel in harmony with stars. Enchanted with the uniqueness of diversity and beauty many keep coming back to Montenegro and every time discover another pearl in the unique treasure chest on the Mediterranean.

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Jamboree site

The Jamboree site is 2km from Bar city center and just 500m from the railway station. The site is divided into 5 sub-camps where the participants will live for the duration of the Jamboree, and the sub-camps got their names by Montenegrin National parks (Lovcen, Biogradska gora, Skadarsko jezero, Durmitor and Prokletije). Also in the camp, is the central stage where the night program and concerts will be held. To the north of the camp are the headquarters and infirmary. Cub Scouts will have their own program as well as their own space to have fun and enjoy the Jamboree to the max! Our valued IST members will have a place to rest and mingle in the sub-camp Durmitor, dedicated for them. Some of the site features are: dining hall, market, pub, IT center, post office, 3 amphitheaters for activities, a couple of sports terrains as well as dedicated areas for archery, hot-air balloons, challenge track and chill out zone. On the camp smoking will be allowed only in marked areas.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

There will be 3 off site trips in the program of the Jamboree. One of them will take you to Boka Kotorska, UNESCO world heritage site, beautiful bay carved in mountains. The second one will take you to a spot from where you can see as far as Italy, if the weather is good. From the peaks of Lovcen mountain you will see most of Montenegro and feel the might and honor of Montenegrin people.
Skadarsko lake is the third trip you will have. Marsh and lake meet each other and make home to many endemic and rare species of birds and plants. This world recognized site will leave you breathless!