Europe

Montenegro

(formerly part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

Last reviewed: 26 January 2009

Country information

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GEOGRAPHY

Montenegro shares external borders with Bosnia to the north-west, Serbia to the north-east, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the south, and has a 14km border with Croatia to the west. To the south west Montenegro has 293.5 kilometres of coastline on the Adriatic Sea, including 52km of beaches.

Montenegro's landscape is varied. The Adriatic coastline enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is made up of beaches, bays and coves. The inland landscape ranges from fertile lowlands alongside lakes and river valleys to high mountains with dense forest and deep canyons. The name 'Montenegro' – meaning black mountain – probably came from the dense 'black' forests which covered the country's mountainous alpine regions.