At the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

 "The mountains in their overwhelming might

Moved me to sadness when I saw them first,
And afterwards they moved me to delight;
Struck harmonies from silent chords which burst
Out into song, a song by memory nursed;
-- a few lines from "Overwhelming Might" (by Christina Rossetti)
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(in the west-central Balkans at the southern end of the Dinaric Alps) Montenegro, a Balkan gem, is a country bounded by the Adriatic Sea and Croatia (to the southwest), Bosnia and Herzegovina (northwest), Serbia (northeast), Kosovo (east), and Albania (southeast). It has a rich and turbulent history, influenced by various civilizations, from the ancient Illyrians and Romans to the Ottomans and Austrians.

+ Montenegro’s administrative capital is Podgorica, though its cultural center is the historical capital of Cetinje. For much of the 20th century Montenegro was part of Yugoslavia.

+ The country’s name, Montenegro, denotes “Black Mountain,” in reference to Mount Lovćen, its historical center near the Adriatic Sea and its stronghold in the centuries of struggle with the Turks. (Alone among the Balkan states, Montenegro was never subjugated.) The old heartland of Montenegro, in the southwest, is mainly a karstic region of arid hills, with some cultivable areas (e.g., around Cetinje and in the Zeta valley). The eastern districts, which include part of the Dinaric Alps (Mount Durmitor), are more fertile and have large forests and grassy uplands. The drainage system of Montenegro flows in two opposite directions. The Piva, Tara, and Lim rivers follow northerly courses, the Morača and Zeta rivers southerly ones.

+ The terrain of Montenegro ranges from high mountains along its borders with Kosovo and Albania, through a segment of the Karst region of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1 to 4 miles (2 to 6 km) wide. The coastal plain disappears completely in the north, where Mount Lovćen and other peaks rise abruptly from the inlet of the Gulf of Kotor. (The coastal region is noted for seismic activity.)

+ Montenegro’s section of the Karst lies generally at an elevation of 900 meters above sea level -- although some areas rise to 1,800 meters. The lowest segment is in the valley of the Zeta River, which is at about (450 meters). The river occupies the center of Nikšić Polje, a flat-floored, elongated depression typical of karstic regions, as is the predominantly limestone underlying rock, which dissolves to form sinkholes and underground caves.

+ With majestic mountains and breathtaking beaches, Montenegro proves that good things can come in small packages.

+ The Bay of Kotor (shown here) is lined with medieval cities like Herceg Novi and Kotor, known for its dramatic waterfront fortifications built by the Venetians. Seaside glamour is evident in the marinas of Budva and the palazzos of Perast. Outdoor enthusiasts head inland to Durmitor National Park, where they find some of the most rugged alpine terrain in Europe.