PREMIEVAL FOREST PERUCICA

The primeval forest of PERUĆICA is located within the Sutjeska National Park. It is surrounded by the mountain tops of Maglić, Volujak and Sniježnica, and the Sutjeska River Canyon separates it from Zelengora Mountain. Sutjeska River runs through Perućica, and its impressive waterfall of Skakavac is 75 m high. The area of Perućica is 1,291 ha and is 6 km long and 1 to 3 kilometer wide.

Difficult access is the main reason that only a small number of people have experienced the numerous phenomena that nature gifted the area. The height difference within the forest is around 1,100 m (from 590 to 1700 m altitude).

The forest is very thick and in parts impassable. Ina relatively small area, due to its specific geographical characteristics and climate conditions, we find an extremely rich flora and fauna. Extraordinary specimen of fir, beech and juniper tree can be found here, with trees over 50 m high and diameter of 1.5 m. A great number of species of flora and fauna, numerous of which are endemic; make this area priceless for botanist and zoologists.

Due to its beauty and richness, in 1952, the primeval forest of Perućica was pronounced a strictly protected reserve, exclusively used for scientific and educational purposes. Perućica represents a trace of true nature with rich, multifunctional biodiversity and deserves to be fully protected for the sake of todays and future generations.