Skadar Lake National Park – Discover the Largest Lake in the Balkans

Skadar Lake National Park, located in Montenegro, is home to the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula and is considered one of the most beautiful natural attractions on the entire peninsula.

Are you ready to experience the untouched, enchanting nature of this unique region?

Regardless of whether you have already visited Lake Skadar or are just planning to explore it, there are facts worth knowing about this inspiring beauty of Montenegro.

The national park stretches along the border of Montenegro and Albania, and the total area of ​​the lake is 369.7 km², of which about 221.8 km² belongs to the Montenegrin part.

Lake Skadar is the largest karst lake on the Balkan Peninsula and a natural crypto-depression, which means that parts of its bottom are below sea level. A special phenomenon is the sublacustrian springs, known as oka, of which there are about 30. The deepest among them, Radus, reaches a depth of up to 60 meters, although the average depth of the lake is about 6 meters.

Numerous islands on the lake hide the remains of monasteries, medieval fortifications and other testimonies of the rich historical and cultural heritage of Montenegro. The shores of the lake are rich in numerous capes and coves overgrown with reeds, which gives the National Park a special and authentic look, making it one of the most beautiful lakes in Montenegro.

Skadar Lake, known as Skadarsko jezero in Montenegrin, was officially added to the list of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1996 and before that, in 1993 it was declared one of the National Parks in Montenegro . Since then it has been one of the most important sights of Montenegro. In order to really get to know Lake Skadar National Park, it is important to know its history.

After the Ottoman Empire’s fall, Skadar was still incorporated into Albanian administration (as Lake Shkoder) but when the Montenegrins finally obtained their complete independence, by the early 20th century, King Nikola Petrovic had set up his court in the town of Rijeka Crnojevica, located at the shore of Lake Skadar Montenegro.

On the lake’s surface, the remains of the city of Obod can be frequently seen. The establishment was once a printing dome, famous for the first printed book in Southern Europe, called “Oktoih”.

Today, tourists can enjoy many interesting forts, medieval churches and monasteries of Montenegro, archaeological sites and traditional, rural architecture.

These parts of our country truly stand out for their magnificent and rich fauna and flora. Numerous animal and plant species can be seen and admired.

The ecosystem of Skadar National Park is very diverse. When you include most of the floral species, you can say that the ecosystem is of a sub-Mediterranean type with wetland biotopes and freshwater.

In Skadar Lake National Park Montenegro harbours and cultivates many medicinal, aromatic, melliferous and endemic floral species including Dalmatian greenweed, rosemary, saffron, gentle snake’s head, wild yellow tulip, moon carrot, laurel, fritillary, pea-tree, etc.

In floodable areas, there are many different species of willows. In the northern part of the land, you can find trees like Skadar oak – protected as endangered.

As a part of the Dinariedes mountain chain, known for its karst terrains, Skadar Lake National Park includes large underground caves, landforms and conduits.

The most interesting facts about this area are its hydrological phenomenons such as swallow holes, typical karst and intermittent springs. During summertime, many of these springs dry up for Lake Skadar to retain a huge amount of freshwater.

The Skadar Lake boat trip, known also as the Skadar Lake cruise, is one of the most popular attractions in this part of Montenegro. It usually lasts about 2 or 3 hours, and it is conducted by a highly skilled team of professionals.

You can start your Lake Skadar boat trip from Virpazar which happens to be the main gateway to the lake. The best route for the cruise is passing by Lessendro fortress, built in the year 1843.

Passing by the fortress, you can enjoy the wonderful, untouched nature with many authentic animal and plant species. Many local organizations offer their traditional cheese, homemade brandy and domestic wine, completing the overall impression of this amazing attraction.

Besides the boat tours, there are interesting hiking routes to explore the shore.

Karuc is a picturesque fishing village on the shore of Lake Skadar, where you can start your walk across ancient villages, trying out delicious domestic honey and wine, straight from the local producers. Walking back to Cetinje, you can enjoy the breath-taking view on Rijeka Crnojevica bridge over the lake.