Dinara – the Mountain of Extraordinary Beauty
43(5):517-518,2002 COVER PAGE Dinara – the Mountain of Extraordinary Beauty The magnificent Dinara Mountain is a morpho- The inhabitants of the region at the foot of the tectonic component of the Dinaric Alps, a mountain mountain are famous for their valuable, almost ex- chain running through the territories of Croatia, otic, national costumes and other interesting folklore Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Monte Negro, from the elements, e.g., the Vrlika reel dance. There are few northwest to the southeast, separating the Adriatic sea permanent settlements on Dinara. Mainly, there are from the Pannonian Plains. modest summer huts of cattle-breeders from the re- Dinara is the highest mountain in Croatia, with gion under the mountain and from the Sinj plain, and its peak reaching 1,831 m above sea level. It extends a few villages in several bigger valleys. The area is from the saddle Derala (965 m) in the northwest up to characterized by lack of water, especially during dry the saddle Privija (1,230 m) above Unište in the summer time, when people have to carry water from southeast of the country. It is 20 km long and nearly distant springs, several hours of walk away (1). 10 km wide. The origin of the name “Dinara” has not Through this karstic region runs the Cetina River, giv- been established yet; it is thought that it could stem ing the area its unique beauty. From its source in the from the name of the Illiric tribe Dinara that once village at the foot of the Dinara mountain, after which lived on the east side of the mountain.
[Show full text]