| Učka | |
|---|---|
 View from Kvarner Gulf | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Vojak |
| Elevation | 1,396 m (4,580 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°17′6″N14°12′7″E / 45.28500°N 14.20194°E /45.28500; 14.20194 |
| Geography | |
  Učka Location in Croatia | |
 | |
| Country | Croatia |
| Parent range | Dinaric Alps |
TheUčka (pronounced[ûːt͡ʃkaː],Italian:Monte Maggiore) is a mountain range in westernCroatia. It rises behind theOpatija riviera, on the eastern side of theIstrian peninsula.
It forms a single morphological unit together with theĆićarija range which stretches from the Bay ofTrieste toRijeka. Učka is a limestone massif with numerous areas ofkarst, stretching for 20 km from thePoklon Pass (920 m) toPlomin Bay, and is between 4 and 9 km wide.[1]
It differs from all the other coastal mountains in Croatia because of its abundant vegetation on the seaward side. Best known are the forests of sweet chestnuts in the area aroundLovran.
Učka's highest peaks are considered nature reserves and memorial areas. The highest peak, Vojak, is located at 1,396 meters above sea level.[2] It offers views over Istria, theBay of Kvarner, theJulian Alps and theAdriatic islands, right down toDugi Otok.[1]
The subject of a degree of local folklore, Učka is visible from much of the peninsula and issnow-capped some months of the year. The town ofOpatija (Italian:Abbazia) is said to have derived its popularity as a resort inImperial Austria because it is located "in the shade" of Mt. Učka, which by legend shields it from the fierceMediterranean heat in summertime.
The area of Učka is designated as anature park (park prirode) in Croatia.
Historically, theIstro-Romanians, aRomanceethnic group ofIstria, have been separated by the mountain range, forming two areas of concentration: one in thevillage ofŽejane and one in the village ofŠušnjevica and the surroundingsettlements. Although these areas are 50 kilometers away from each other, there is aroad around the Učka that connects them.[3]
Between 1968 and 2003, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was 30.0 °C (86.0 °F), on 15 August 1993.[4] The coldest temperature was −24.3 °C (−11.7 °F), on 6 January 1985.[5]
