Bosnia and Herzegovina Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located on the Balkan Peninsula. It is almost entirely landlocked, except for a narrow, undeveloped outlet to the Adriatic along the Neretva River, which gives Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.4 miles of Adriatic coastline. The size of Bosnia and Herzegovina is 19,781-sq. mi. The land boundaries are 850.8 miles long. Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two land regions: Bosnia, the northern part, is mountainous, and covered with thick forests; Herzegovina, the southern part, is composed largely of rocky hills and flat farmland. Major rivers in Bosnia include the Bosna, Drina, Neretva, Vrbas, and Sava.

Geography - note

Within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

Climate

Bosnia and Herzegovina has scenic, snowy winters, and a rainy season in the early summer. Summers are warm in the mountain valleys, but cool at higher elevations. The far northern part of the country has somewhat colder winters and warmer summers. The average January temperature in Sarajevo is 30°F. The average July temperature is 66°F.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Use of Natural Resources

Bosnia and Herzegovina Environment

Climate:

Bosnia and Herzegovina has scenic, snowy winters, and a rainy season in the early summer. Summers are warm in the mountain valleys, but cool at higher elevations. The far northern part of the country has somewhat colder winters and warmer summers. The average January temperature in Sarajevo is 30°F. The average July temperature is 66°F.

Terrain:

Mountains and valleys

Natural Resources:

Coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower

Natural Hazards:

Destructive earthquakes

Irrigated Land:

12 Square Miles
30 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

Air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation

Environment - International Agreements:

Party To: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bosnia and Herzegovina Geography

Geographic Location Europe
Total Area 19,767 Square Miles
51,197 Square Kilometers
Land Area 19,763 Square Miles
51,187 Square Kilometers
Water Area 4 Square Miles
10 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries 956 Miles
1,538 Kilometers
Irrigated Land 12 Square Miles
30 Square Kilometers
Border Countries Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km
Coastline 12 Miles
20 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 44 00 N, 18 00 E
Terrain Mountains and valleys
Highest Point 2,386 Meters
Highest Point Location Maglic 2,386 m
Lowest Point Location Adriatic Sea 0 m
Natural Resources Coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower
Time Zone UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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