Pešter
Encyclopedia
Pešter or Pešterska visoravan (Serbian Cyrillic: Пештер, pɛ̌ʃtɛr, or Пештерска висораван) is a karst
plateau
in southwestern Serbia
, in the Raška
(Sandžak
) region. It lies at the altitude
of 900–1200 meters. The territory of the plateau is mostly located in the municipality of Sjenica
, with parts belonging to Novi Pazar
and Tutin
. The name of the region comes from the word pešter, which is an archaic term for cave
.
The plateau is actually a large field (Peštersko polje) surrounded by mountains of Jadovnik
(1734 m), Zlatar (1627 m), Ozren
(1680 m), Giljeva
(1617 m), Javor
(1520 m) and Golija
(1833 m). With the area of around 50 km², Pešter field is the largest field in Serbia, and the highest one in the Balkans. Rivers Uvac
, Vapa
, Jablanica and Grabovica flow through the plateau. In the geologic past, the field was a large lake, of which only a small Sjenica lake near the village of Tuzinje
remained.
The soil is mostly karst
interspersed with pasture
s. Economy of the area relies primarily on cattle breeding, chiefly sheep. Pešter is famous for its dairy product
s, especially the "Sjenica cheese" (Sjenički sir), as well as lamb and prosciutto
. The plateau is sparsely populated: most settlements are on the edge of the field, and the remainder is settled only
Pešter is famous for its microclimate, which is particularly harsh in the winter months. The lowest temperature in Serbia since measurements are taken, -39. °C is measured at Karajukića Bunari
village on 26 January 2006, beating the previous record of -38.4 °C measured in Sjenica in 1954.
Pešter is home to a number of endangered species, such as the plants Fumana bonapartei, Halacsya sendtneri and Orchis tridentata
. The only nesting place of Montagu's Harrier
Serbia is in this area. On 1 May 2006, Ramsar
included the wetland area of 3,455 hectare
s into its list of wetlands of international importance.
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in southwestern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, in the Raška
Raška (region)
Raška is a region in south-central Serbia and northern Montenegro. It is mostly situated in the Raška District. The southern part of Raška is also known as Sandžak and is divided between Serbia and Montenegro....
(Sandžak
Sandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...
) region. It lies at the altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of 900–1200 meters. The territory of the plateau is mostly located in the municipality of Sjenica
Sjenica
Sjenica , is a town and municipality in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. The population of the town, according to 2011 census, is 13,056 inhabitants, while the municipality has 25,448.-History:...
, with parts belonging to Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar is a city and municipality located in southwest Serbia, in the Raška District. According to the official census in 2011, number of inhabitants of municipality is 92,776, while the city itself has a population of 60,638...
and Tutin
Tutin
Tutin is a town and municipality in Raška/Sandžak region of Serbia. According to a 2011 census, the municipality of Tutin has a population of 30,770 people. It is the first municipality in Serbia that has renewable wind power.-History:...
. The name of the region comes from the word pešter, which is an archaic term for cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
.
The plateau is actually a large field (Peštersko polje) surrounded by mountains of Jadovnik
Jadovnik
Jadovnik is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, on the western edge of Pešter plateau, near the town of Sjenica. Its highest peak Katunić has an altitude of 1734 meters above sea level....
(1734 m), Zlatar (1627 m), Ozren
Ozren (Pešter)
Ozren is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, near the town of Sjenica. Its highest peak Orlovača has an altitude of 1693 meters above sea level. It is one of the mountains which surround the Pešter plateau. Spring of the Uvac river is located at the foothills of Ozren....
(1680 m), Giljeva
Giljeva
Giljeva is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, near the town of Sjenica in Sandžak region. Its highest peak Jelenak has an altitude of 1617 meters above sea level....
(1617 m), Javor
Javor (Serbia)
Javor is a mountain in central Serbia, between towns of Sjenica and Ivanjica. Its highest peak Vasilin vrh has an altitude of 1519 meters above sea level....
(1520 m) and Golija
Golija
Golija is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, between towns of Ivanjica and Novi Pazar. It belongs to the Dinaric mountain range. The mountain is heavily forested, with significant biodiversity and it hosts the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve, the first UNESCO-MAB registered biosphere reserve in...
(1833 m). With the area of around 50 km², Pešter field is the largest field in Serbia, and the highest one in the Balkans. Rivers Uvac
Uvac
The Uvac is the river in southwestern Serbia and Republika Srpska, 119 km long right and major tributary of the Lim, loosely making the northern border of the Sandžak/Raška region...
, Vapa
VAPA
Vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VAPA gene.-Further reading:...
, Jablanica and Grabovica flow through the plateau. In the geologic past, the field was a large lake, of which only a small Sjenica lake near the village of Tuzinje
Tuzinje
Tuzinje is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 204 people.-References:...
remained.
The soil is mostly karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
interspersed with pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
s. Economy of the area relies primarily on cattle breeding, chiefly sheep. Pešter is famous for its dairy product
Dairy product
Dairy products are generally defined as foods produced from cow's or domestic buffalo's milk. They are usually high-energy-yielding food products. A production plant for such processing is called a dairy or a dairy factory. Raw milk for processing comes mainly from cows, and, to a lesser extent,...
s, especially the "Sjenica cheese" (Sjenički sir), as well as lamb and prosciutto
Prosciutto
Prosciutto |ham]]) or Parma ham is a dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked; this style is called prosciutto crudo in Italian and is distinguished from cooked ham, prosciutto cotto....
. The plateau is sparsely populated: most settlements are on the edge of the field, and the remainder is settled only
Pešter is famous for its microclimate, which is particularly harsh in the winter months. The lowest temperature in Serbia since measurements are taken, -39. °C is measured at Karajukića Bunari
Karajukića Bunari
Karajukića Bunari is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 116 people.-References:...
village on 26 January 2006, beating the previous record of -38.4 °C measured in Sjenica in 1954.
Pešter is home to a number of endangered species, such as the plants Fumana bonapartei, Halacsya sendtneri and Orchis tridentata
Orchis tridentata
Orchis tridentata is a species of orchid found in southern Europe from Spain to Turkey and Lebanon; northwards to the Crimea, Poland and Germany.This orchid favors grassy places, woodland, scrub and maquis....
. The only nesting place of Montagu's Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.-Plumage:...
Serbia is in this area. On 1 May 2006, Ramsar
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
included the wetland area of 3,455 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s into its list of wetlands of international importance.
External links
- Ivanjica - Golija - Pešterska visoravan - Moravac – a hiking tour through Pešter and Golija
- Rezervati prirode - Peštersko polje at the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia