Bijela gora

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Cirque Borovi do in the north at Bijela gora
Cirque Borovi do in the north at Bijela gora

Bijela gora (Serbian: Бијела гора, English translation: "White mountain") is a karstic high plateau between 1200–1500 m on the northern side of Orjen in Montenegro. At 1862 m, Velika Jastrebica is the highest summit. It bears heavy glacial traces as a huge ice cap covered it during the last ice age.

Sparsely inhabited pastures and vast virgin beech-fir forests are major resources. Also endemic Dinaric calcareous Silver Fir forests are found at Bijela gora with rare endemic plants. Wildlife is characterised by few brown bears and rare wild goat. Deer and boars are common throughout the range.

Bijela gora is inhabited by Montenegrin tribes who belong to the Katun clans. They have distinctive traditions with epic songs in the Serbian oral tradition. One of them describes the silver firs of Bijela gora.

Firs are sung in local songs. The Medugorje at 1769 m from Jeloviste
Firs are sung in local songs. The Medugorje at 1769 m from Jeloviste

It goes:

Bjelogorske vite jele
što ste tako tamne
kô da ljeta nije bilo


(Translation)

Beautiful firs of Bijela gora
why are you so dark
as if there has been no summer

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