Okucani
Encyclopedia
Okučani is a village
in western Slavonia
, Croatia
. It is located at the contact point between the Posavina
plain and the southern slopes of Psunj
; 19 km southeast of Novska
and 17 km west of Nova Gradiška
; elevation 119 m. Chief occupations are farming, livestock breeding, fishing and wood processing. It has a population of 4,224 according to the 2001 census. Croats make 76% of the population and Serbs make 21% of the population.
The town is an important road intersection immediately along the Posavina highway and the railway, from which the road of international importance branches off towards Virovitica
and Banja Luka
. An interesting stele can be seen in Mramorno Polje near Vrbovljani
.
There is a small fishpond near the town. Psunj Mountain stretches to the northeast of the town, offering fine hiking and walking opportunities.
Okučani was captured and incorporated into the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia
early in the Croatian War for Independence. After joining the unrecognized Republic of Serbian Krajina
Okučani and the rest of the pocket came under Croatian control after Operation Flash
on May 1, 1995.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in western Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It is located at the contact point between the Posavina
Posavina
Posavina is a Slavic name for the region of the Sava river basin in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia that is adjacent or near the Sava river itself.-History:...
plain and the southern slopes of Psunj
Psunj
Psunj is a mountain in the southwestern Slavonia region in eastern Croatia. It is the highest mountain of Slavonia, with the highest peak of Brezovo polje at 984 m.a.s.l. In the north it extends to Ravna gora and Papuk, while otherwise it is surrounded by lowlands...
; 19 km southeast of Novska
Novska
Novska is a town in Croatian Slavonia, located between Kutina and Nova Gradiška, southeast of the capital, Zagreb. It has a total population of 13,573 in the following settlements:* Bair, population 6* Borovac, population 276* Brestača, population 911...
and 17 km west of Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška is a city located in the Brod-Posavina County of Croatia, population 14,196 . It is located in the historic region of Slavonia, near the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina....
; elevation 119 m. Chief occupations are farming, livestock breeding, fishing and wood processing. It has a population of 4,224 according to the 2001 census. Croats make 76% of the population and Serbs make 21% of the population.
The town is an important road intersection immediately along the Posavina highway and the railway, from which the road of international importance branches off towards Virovitica
Virovitica
Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality...
and Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
. An interesting stele can be seen in Mramorno Polje near Vrbovljani
Vrbovljani
Vrbovljani is a village in Croatia....
.
There is a small fishpond near the town. Psunj Mountain stretches to the northeast of the town, offering fine hiking and walking opportunities.
Okučani was captured and incorporated into the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia
SAO Western Slavonia
SAO Western Slavonia or Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia was a Serbian self-proclaimed autonomous region within Croatia. It was formed on 12 August 1991 and was subsequently included into Republic of Serbian Krajina...
early in the Croatian War for Independence. After joining the unrecognized Republic of Serbian Krajina
Republic of Serbian Krajina
The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self-proclaimed Serb entity within Croatia. Established in 1991, it was not recognized internationally. It formally existed from 1991 to 1995, having been initiated a year earlier via smaller separatist regions. The name Krajina means "frontier"...
Okučani and the rest of the pocket came under Croatian control after Operation Flash
Operation Flash
The Serbs in western Slavonia took part in the organized rebellion against the government of the Republic of Croatia that had just proclaimed independence in June 1991, by proclaiming the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia in August 1991...
on May 1, 1995.