Bjelašnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bjelašnica is the name of a mountain situated in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the southwest, and it is only a 20 minute drive from Sarajevo. This mountain is part of a range that stretches from Sarajevo southwest to Konjic. It is home for a variety of traditional  Bosnian villages, Bogomil tombstones, mountain huts, watermills, canyons, and waterfalls. Bjelašnica is a popular tourist spot for hikers, snow-surfers, and skiers. During the 1984 Winter Olympics, it was used for a number of events. 

Bjelasnica at first glance does not seem to have a lot of trails, but the advantage of Bjelasnica is that these trails are very well kept and you can rarely come across rocks. The trails are very beautiful and wide, flattened and long enough. Thick green grass covers the mountain in the summer while winters attract 4 meters of snow. Strong winds and thunders characterize the climate of this magnificent Bosnian mountain beauty.

The beauty of the mountain is augmented by the temper of its climate. It is the result of the geographical position of Bjelasnica within the Dinaric Mountains, its geological structure and altitude. The highest part of the Dinaric Mountains, 300 meters in length, towards the Adriatic Sea, represents a border of impact of two climates - Mediterranean and Continental. Air mass from the sea interferes with the air mass from mountains on Bjelasnica. That kind of interference results in rain and snow precipitation in autumn and great amounts of snow in the winter which is retains until late in the spring. This kind of climate specificity is suitable for developing winter sports.