| Vranica | |
|---|---|
| Враница | |
 Vranica, Nadkrstac, summit view | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,110 m (6,920 ft) |
| Coordinates | 43°57′24″N17°43′00″E / 43.9566666666666°N 17.71655°E /43.9566666666666; 17.71655 |
| Geography | |
  Vranica Location in Bosnia | |
| Location |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Vranica (Serbian Cyrillic:Враница) is amountain range in theDinaric Alps of centralBosnia and Herzegovina, located between the town ofGornji Vakuf in the west and the town ofFojnica in the east, within the territory of theFederation. The highest peak is Nadkrstac at 2,110 metres (6,920 ft).[1] Geologically, the Vranica range is part of the Dinaric Alps and formed largely of secondary and tertiary sedimentary rock, mostlylimestone. Notable peaks are Nadkrstac (2110 m), Locika (2106 m), Rosinj (2059 m) and Scit (1949 m). Thick shrubs ofPinus Mugo replace mixed forest—mostlybeech—above 1,400 m (4,600 ft). The typicalkarst characteristics of the nearby Herzegovina mountains is relatively absent in Vranica, which has relatively abundant water sources. Streams that source from these mountains are the Dragača in the east, theVrbas in the west.
Just east of its main summit, at 1660 m altitude is a beautiful glacial lake calledProkoško Jezero. This lake was once known as a habitat for a uniqueamphibianendemic variant of theTriton Salamander(Ichthyosaura alpestris reiseri). On the northern shore is a settlement of typical wooden shepherd huts, which in recent years has grown oversized with illegal recreational sheds that threaten the vulnerableecosystem.[2] Prokoško Jezero received a protected status in 2005 based onIUCN criteria, when it was declared a Monument of Nature by theBiH authorities.[3] Despite these protective measures, it is not clear whether pollution connected to over-recreation will have become entirely fatal for the salamander.
The Vranica mountains were only on the edges affected by combat during the 1992–1995 conflict. The central main ridge remained largely spared from warfare and the mine risk is therefore minimal. Also for that reason Vranica is an attractive destination for hikers, mountain bikers and tour skiers.[4] A rough unpaved mountain road leads from Fojnica to Prokoško Jezero. A mountain hut—Rosinj P.D.—is located on the west side of the main ridge at 1,780 m (5,840 ft).[5]
43°57′05″N17°44′59″E / 43.95139°N 17.74972°E /43.95139; 17.74972
