Žabljak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Žabljak
Жабљак
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Town and municipality
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Main square of Žabljak
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 Žabljak
Location in Montenegro
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| Country |  Montenegro |
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| Region | Northern Montenegro | ||
| Municipality |  Žabljak |
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| Founded | 1871 | ||
| Settlements | 28 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Town and municipality | 445 km2 (172 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2011 census)
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| • Density | 9/km2 (20/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 1,723 | ||
| • Rural | 1,846 | ||
| • Municipality | 3,569 | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
84220
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| Area code | +382 52 | ||
| ISO 3166-2 code | ME-21 | ||
| Car plates | ŽB | ||
| Climate | Dfb | ||
Žabljak (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Жабљак) is a small town in the northern part of Montenegro. It is home to about 1,723 people.
Žabljak is the main town of the Žabljak Municipality. This area had a population of 3,569 in 2011. The town is located right in the middle of the Durmitor mountain region. At 1,456 metres (4,777 feet) above sea level, it is the highest town in the Balkans.
Contents
History of Žabljak
The first Slavic name for this place was Varezina voda. This name likely came from a strong source of drinking water nearby. This water made it possible for people to settle there. Later, the town was called Hanovi because it was a resting place for travelers and their caravans.
The name Žabljak came about in 1870. On that day, construction began on a school, a church, and a captain's home. However, most of the original buildings were destroyed during the Balkan Wars. The only building that remained was the old church of Sv. Preobraženje (Holy Transfiguration). This church was built in 1862 to celebrate a Montenegrin victory against the Ottoman Empire.
After Žabljak became a town, stores and cafés opened. By the 1880s, Žabljak was a busy market town. This led to it becoming the main administrative center for the region.
In 1582, records show there were 28 Christian homes and 36 Muslim homes in the area.
Before World War II, Žabljak was a small town with buildings typical of mountain areas. Its unique natural beauty was already attracting tourists. Visitors came from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and other countries, especially Italy. This was due to the close ties between Montenegro and Italy at the time.
During World War II, Žabljak was completely burned down. After the war, the town was rebuilt. It then became Montenegro's main place for mountain tourism and winter sports.
Žabljak also had Montenegro's only ski jumping hill. It closed many decades ago.
People of Žabljak
Žabljak is the main town of the Žabljak municipality. The whole municipality has about 4,204 people. The town of Žabljak itself has a population of around 1,937. There are no other large settlements nearby.
Here's how the population of Žabljak town has changed:
- 1981: 1,379 people
- 1991: 1,853 people
- 2003: 1,937 people
- 2011: 1,723 people
People living in Žabljak come from different ethnic groups. Here's a look at the main groups:
- In 1991, most people were Montenegrins (91.07%).
- In 2003, the largest group was Serbs (50.26%).
- In 2011, Montenegrins were the largest group again (54.21%).
Fun Things to Do in Žabljak
Žabljak is the center of mountain tourism in Montenegro. The entire Durmitor mountain area is a national park. This means it is protected and offers many chances for both winter and summer mountain activities.
One of the main attractions in Durmitor are its 18 glacier lakes. The biggest lake, and the closest to Žabljak, is Crno jezero. Its name means "Black Lake." The slopes of Durmitor are also becoming very popular with snowboarders.
Žabljak is a great place for many activities, such as:
- Skiing – Durmitor has snow for 120 days each year. There are good slopes like Savin kuk, Štuoc, and Javorovača.
- Rafting – The Tara River canyon is 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) deep. It is the second deepest canyon in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rafting on the Tara River is one of the most popular tourist activities in Montenegro.
- Mountaineering – The conditions in Durmitor are perfect for mountain climbing.
- Hiking – There are many hiking paths around the town of Žabljak.
- Mountain biking – The hillsides of Durmitor are great for biking while enjoying the views.
Žabljak's Weather
Žabljak has a humid continental climate. This means it has mild summers and cold winters. It rains or snows a lot throughout the year.
| Climate data for Žabljak (1991–2020, extremes 1958–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.7 (63.9) |
18.8 (65.8) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.2 (86.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
29.3 (84.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
32.4 (90.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) |
2.6 (36.7) |
5.5 (41.9) |
9.7 (49.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
21.4 (70.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
12.8 (55.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
11.4 (52.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
0.8 (33.4) |
4.8 (40.6) |
9.5 (49.1) |
13.4 (56.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.1 (52.0) |
7.6 (45.7) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
6.3 (43.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.4 (18.7) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
4.2 (39.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
5.6 (42.1) |
2.3 (36.1) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
1.1 (33.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.4 (−15.5) |
−26.3 (−15.3) |
−25.3 (−13.5) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
0.4 (32.7) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−19.4 (−2.9) |
−21.7 (−7.1) |
−26.4 (−15.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 114.3 (4.50) |
128.4 (5.06) |
122.9 (4.84) |
115.8 (4.56) |
110.3 (4.34) |
89.1 (3.51) |
76.7 (3.02) |
61.3 (2.41) |
116.6 (4.59) |
172.6 (6.80) |
213.5 (8.41) |
183.8 (7.24) |
1,505.3 (59.28) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 10.1 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 11.6 | 12.7 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 11.5 | 12.8 | 127.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 81 | 79 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 78 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 91.1 | 97.0 | 139.5 | 159.4 | 190.8 | 203.8 | 257.3 | 236.1 | 195.3 | 161.8 | 106.3 | 87.9 | 1,926.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 32 | 34 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 45 | 56 | 56 | 53 | 49 | 37 | 32 | 44 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro | |||||||||||||
Getting to Žabljak
One challenge for Žabljak's growth as a major mountain tourism spot has been the roads. However, the roads have been getting better in recent years.
The main road to Žabljak connects it with Mojkovac. This road then links to the E65. The E65 is the main road that connects the Montenegrin coast, Podgorica, and the north.
Another important road connection goes through Šavnik and Nikšić. From there, you can reach Risan or Podgorica. Since 2010, the Risan-Žabljak road was rebuilt. This has made the trip from Žabljak to the Adriatic Sea much shorter, taking about two hours.
The town has a small airport called Žabljak Airport. However, the closest international airport is Podgorica Airport. It is about 170 kilometers (106 miles) away. This airport has regular flights to many places across Europe.
There are also regular minibus services to Žabljak from Nikšić and Podgorica. These buses arrive at the bus station in the center of Žabljak.
Famous People from Žabljak
- Jelena Šaulić (1896–1921) – She was a teacher and a fighter. She took part in the Toplica Uprising and was a Komitadji during World War I.
See also
In Spanish: Žabljak para niños
