Protected Area and Hydrology
Skadar Lake National Park, falling under the IUCN Category II protected area, spans an impressive 40,000 hectares. It extends through the Montenegrin part of Skadar Lake and its shores. The park’s unique hydrological feature is its sublacustrian springs, which are found along the lake’s rim, bottom, and funnel-shaped depressions that can reach depths of up to 60 meters.
Limnological Richness
This park stands out from other national parks in Montenegro and beyond due to its pronounced limnological characteristics. It boasts an extremely diverse algoflora and a rich variety of bird and fish species. Of the park’s total area, 22,400 hectares are water, while 14,600 hectares consist of peripheral land and wetlands. Freshwater and wetland ecosystems dominate this area, supporting numerous endemic invertebrate and herpetofauna species, alongside an extraordinarily rich avian population.
Flora and Fauna
The vegetation around Skadar Lake is both rich and diverse, featuring more than 25 rare and endemic species. The lake’s clear waters are adorned with white and yellow water lilies. In the flooded areas, you can find the once widespread subspecies of Skadar oak – Quercus robur ssp. scutariensis. Meanwhile, relic chestnut forests survive on the southern shores of the lake. The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), a rare and endangered species in Europe, has become an emblem of the lake and the park.
Cultural Heritage
The most valuable segment of cultural heritage within the park and its surroundings is found in the medieval monasteries from the reigns of the Balšić and Crnojević families, along with fortifications from the Ottoman era. These historical monuments add a profound cultural dimension to the natural beauty of Skadar Lake National Park.
