19 interesting facts about Montenegro

19 interesting facts about Montenegro

At Atlas & Boots we try to spend at least two weeks in a particular country. Unfortunately, my last riding trip in Montenegro was limited to just seven days. Since I spent most of my time in the saddle, I had little contact with the locals. Every opportunity I had was usually spent refusing the second (and third) helping of Rakija, a colorless brandy with 40% alcohol!

I really wanted to find out more about the country, so I set out to collect some interesting facts about Montenegro. Here is the best I found.

Interesting facts about Montenegro

1. Montenegro ist eines der jüngsten Länder der Welt, das am 3. Juni 2006 seine Unabhängigkeit von Serbien erklärt hat. Außer Serbien sind nur Kosovo (2008) und Südsudan (2011) neuer. (Quelle: Washington Post)
2. Montenegro wird aus dem venezianischen Italienisch als „Schwarzer Berg“ übersetzt. Der Name bezieht sich auf den Berg Lovćen, der sich 1.749 m (5.738 ft) über dem Meeresspiegel im Südwesten Montenegros erhebt. (Quelle: Britannica)
3. Die montenegrinische Küste verfügt über 117 Strände mit einer Gesamtlänge von 52 km (32 Meilen). (Quelle: Montenegro Tourism Board)

alt="Things to know about Montenegro: 117 beaches">DreamtimeThe Montenegrin coast has 117 beaches

1. Montenegro ist ein winziges Land (etwas kleiner als Connecticut, USA) und hat nur 643.000 Einwohner. (Quelle: CIA World Factbook)

2. Montenegro appears in the James Bond film [easyazon_link keywords=”Casino Royale” locale=”US” tag=”atbo0c-20″]Casino royale. Unfortunately, the scenes set in Montenegro were actually filmed in the nearby Czech Republic. However, the country was host to a young Brad Pitt, who filmed The Dark Side of the Sun there in 1987. (Source: IMDb)

3. The Tara Canyon in Montenegro is the largest canyon in Europe by volume. It is 82 km (51 miles) long, 1,300 m (4,300 ft) deep and 914 m (3,000 ft) at its widest point. (Source: The Telegraph)

alt="Interesting facts about Montenegro: Tara Canyon in is Europe's largest gorge">DreamtimeTara Canyon is Europe's largest gorge

1. Montenegros Top-Level-Domain ist .me. Nachdem sie 2007 gesichert wurde, öffnete die Regierung sie für die Welt und vermarktete sie als generische Top-Level-Domain, die zur Bezeichnung von „Ich“ verwendet wird. Sie ging 2008 live und wurde zur am schnellsten verkauften Debüt-Top-Level-Domain aller Zeiten. (Quelle: BBC)

2. Montenegro uses the euro as its de facto currency. However, it has never had an official agreement with the EU and therefore cannot mint, issue or print euro coins or banknotes itself. (Source: European Commission, BBC)

3. The village of Crkvice on Mount Orjen in Montenegro is the wettest place in Europe with the highest total annual rainfall of 5,000 mm. (Source: The Soils of Serbia)

alt="Interesting facts about Montenegro: Stara Maslina">DreamtimeStara Maslina is said to be the oldest olive tree in the world

1. Das Dorf Mitrovica in Montenegro beherbergt einen der ältesten Olivenbäume der Welt. Stara Maslina soll über 2.000 Jahre alt sein! (Quelle: Lonely Planet)

2. One of the most encouraging interesting facts about Montenegro is that it is one of the few countries in the world that has included environmental protection in its constitution. It defines itself as a “civil, democratic, ecological” state. (Source: FAO)

3. The mountains of Montenegro are among the most rugged areas in Europe, with an average elevation of more than 2,000 m (7,000 ft). Bobotov Peak in the Durmitor Mountains is the highest peak in the country at 2,522 m (8,274 ft). (Source: Britannica)

alt="Durmitor National Park in Montenegro">DreamtimeDurmitor National Park in Montenegro

1. Montenegro war das erste Land der Welt mit einer nationalen Druckerei. (Quelle: Britannica)

2. Montenegrins are among the tallest people in the world, with an average male height of 1.832 m. They are only a fraction behind the Dutch in second place. (Source: The Telegraph)

3. In some parts of the country, families still live by a centuries-old law called Krvna, which recognizes the right to revenge; When a man from one family kills another, the victim's family must respond in kind. This is perhaps one of the less charming interesting facts about Montenegro…(Source: VICE)

4. Sveti Stefan is one of the most famous sights in Montenegro. The fortified island village is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Unfortunately, the site is owned by a luxury resort and is therefore closed to all but paying guests. (Source: Lonely Planet)

alt="Interesting facts about Montenegro: Sveti Stefan">DreamtimeSveti Stefan is one of the most famous sights in Montenegro

1. Montenegro ist ein vielfältiges Land in Bezug auf ethnische Zugehörigkeit, Sprache und Religion mit einer Mischung aus Montenegrinern, Serben, Bosniern und Albanern, die Christentum, Islam und Katholizismus praktizieren. (Quelle: CIA World Factbook)

2. The capital Podgorica was virtually destroyed by Allied bombing raids during World War II. Only Pearl Harbor, Stalingrad and Dresden were said to have suffered major damage. (Source: Montenegro: A Modern History)

3. Montenegro's Biogradska Gora National Park is home to 1,600 hectares (16 km²) of virgin forest - one of the last three remaining virgin forests in Europe. (Source: Lonely Planet)

Lonely Planet Montenegro is a comprehensive travel guide to Montenegro, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Dreamstime

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