Montenegro
A small Adriatic land of black mountains and a fjord-like bay
Montenegro, the Black Mountain, packs dramatic geography into one of Europe's smallest countries: a short but stunning Adriatic coastline, the deep fjord-like Bay of Kotor, and a wall of rugged peaks rising sharply behind. Home to about 625,000 people and centered on the capital of Podgorica, it punches well above its weight in scenery, from the glacial lakes of Durmitor to the medieval stone towns clinging to the coast. Once part of Yugoslavia, Montenegro has become a magnet for yachts and a candidate for European Union membership.
The Dinaric Alps dominate the country, rising to Zla Kolata at 2,534 meters on the Albanian border, and the karst terrain has carved the deepest river canyon in Europe along the Tara, as well as the dramatic Bay of Kotor. Skadar Lake, the largest in the Balkans, straddles the Albanian frontier and teems with birdlife. A narrow coastal strip gives way almost immediately to mountains. The climate ranges from Mediterranean on the coast to alpine in the highlands, and tourism and energy anchor the economy.
The Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro maintained a fierce independence from the Ottomans in its mountain strongholds, becoming a kingdom in 1910 before joining the South Slav state that became Yugoslavia. After the federation's violent breakup, Montenegro remained in union with Serbia until a 2006 referendum restored full independence. It adopted the euro unilaterally despite being outside the eurozone, joined NATO in 2017, and continues to pursue EU accession while preserving an Orthodox, Slavic culture shaped by its mountains and sea.