Reading the map of Montenegro, from coast to mountains

A map of Montenegro is slightly misleading. The country looks small, and it is, at 13,883 km², but between the coast and the north there are mountains over 2,500 m and roads that never run straight. Here’s how to read it, using figures from MONSTAT, the official body that measures the territory.

The shape of the country and its extremes

MONSTAT lists the four extreme points. The northernmost is Moćevići, in Pljevlja, at 43° 32′; the southernmost is Ada, in Ulcinj, at 41° 52′, right where the Bojana meets the sea. To the east it reaches Jablanica, in Rožaje, and to the west Sutorina, in Herceg Novi. There’s less than two degrees of latitude between the two ends, yet the climate shifts from Mediterranean to continental mountain weather.

The official area, 13,883 km², includes the Montenegrin share of Lake Skadar, which isn’t assigned to any municipality in the area tables. MONSTAT notes that the figure may change as the land registry is completed.

Borders with five countries

The land border runs to 716.02 km. The longest stretch is with Bosnia and Herzegovina, 257.62 km, followed by Albania at 189.69 km, Serbia at 170.76 km and Kosovo at 77.91 km. With Croatia, the way many people arrive from Dubrovnik, there are only 20.04 km. To the south lies the sea, with Italy on the other side, as the National Tourism Organisation puts it. The crossings on each border are listed in Montenegro’s border crossings.

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Three regions and 25 municipalities

The coast, the centre and the north are MONSTAT’s statistical regions. The coast has six municipalities, from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj. The centre has another six, including Podgorica, Cetinje and Nikšić, the largest municipality at 2,087 km². The north groups thirteen, from Žabljak to Rožaje and Plav. None of the three has its own government. What each offers is in the regions of Montenegro, and the full list of municipalities is in cities in Montenegro.

Mountains, lakes and rivers

In MONSTAT’s peaks table, the highest are Bobotov Kuk in Durmitor and Maja Rozit in Prokletije, both at 2,522 m, followed by Kom Kučki at 2,487 m. The National Tourism Organisation names Zla Kolata, in Prokletije, as the country’s highest point at 2,534 m. The largest lakes are Skadar, at 369.7 km², and the Piva reservoir, at 112.5 km².

The rivers split into two basins. The Tara, Piva, Ćehotina and Lim flow north towards the Drina. The Morača runs down into Lake Skadar, and the Bojana, which forms the border with Albania, reaches the Adriatic.

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Distances the map doesn’t show

What a map won’t tell you is the time. From Podgorica airport, Cetinje is 40 km and 39 minutes away, but Tivat is 88 km and 1 hour 55 minutes, according to Airports of Montenegro. I always plan by time, not by kilometres.

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