Geography and Environment of Serbia

Serbia and Montenegro is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula and occupies 102,173 square kilometers. Serbia and Montenegro's many waterway, road, rail, and telecommunications networks serve to link Europe, Asia, and even Africa at a strategic intersection in southeastern Europe. Endowed with natural beauty, Serbia and Montenegro is rich in varied topography and climate. Three major rivers that pass through Serbia, the Danube, Sava and Tisa, are navigable. The longest river in the country is the Danube, which flows for 588 of its 2,857-kilometer course through Serbia and meanders around its capital, Belgrade on its way to Romania and the Black Sea. The larger of Serbia and Montenegro's two constituent republics, Serbia, is landlocked, whereas the other, Montenegro, has an Adriatic coastline of 294 kilometers. The countryside in the north is characterized by the fertile flatlands of the Panonian Plain, while there are limestone ranges and basins in the east. Three mountain ranges, the Rodope, Carpatho-Balkan and Dinaric meet in the south of Serbia, where Mount Djeravica (2,656m/ 8,714ft) is the highest point of elevation in the country. Belgrade is hilly and sits at an average elevation of 116.75m/383ft above sea level. Montenegro, in the southwest, is dominated by rocky, mountainous terrain with canyons, lakes, rivers, and a dramatic coast where, in many places, cliffs descend sharply to the shoreline. Serbia and Montenegro is renowned for its greenery. In fact, 182 trees in Belgrade alone have been listed as natural monuments and protected by law. Such green treasures cover an area of over 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) in the capital city and include many parks. The forests in the outskirts of Belgrade are home to dozens of rare bird species along with other exceptional flora and fauna.

Detailed geography