Wild, untouched, but not so accessible nature, craggy, sharp and steep peaks, harshness on one side, on the other, forests, pastures and lakes that take your breath away. In a word - Cursed.
On the Gusinjska side of the Grebaje valley - the starting point for hiking in this area surrounded by a large number of peaks.
"It with its peaks, on one side Brad and Karanfili, on the other side Volušnica, Troyan and Karaul, offers something for everyone from hikers to high mountaineers and alpinists. In this part of Karanfili we have the peak Očnjak which is on the border between high mountains and alpinism. bih pointed out that in the bosom of Karanfil is the lowest permanent snowfield in the Balkans, which is located at 1620 meters above sea level. It is snow that never melts. Above it rises the Koplje POK rock, which is considered the heaviest mountain climbing rock in the Balkans, with a height of 650 up to 700 meters. On this side is the border with Albania that goes to Volušnica, and there we have the trail that is the most visited in Montenegro," says hiking guide Ahmet Reković.
However, it is not a mountain for everyone. Accidents with fatal outcomes when climbing peaks are not rare. As much as 80 percent of the Prokletije National Park (NP) is not covered by a signal, so those who need help in the mountains call the SOS number.
"This Karanfila chain is extremely difficult, it is not recommended for everyone, but only for experienced mountaineers and of course with guides," Reković points out.
For those who prefer to enjoy forest areas and slightly easier trails, there is a path to the lake of happiness - Hridski on the Plavska side of Prokletije at almost 2.000 meters above sea level and with a maximum depth of five meters. There is a belief that bathing in the lake brings health and happiness. Whether because of the legend according to which fairies bathe in the lake or because of the incredible beauty of the landscape, this place is unmissable on the tourist map. But you don't even have to enter Prokletije National Park to enjoy the beauty of the springs in this area.
Not far from the center of Gusinje, you will be greeted by Ali Pasha's springs, a famous meeting and gathering place every August 2 on Ilijindan. On that day, around 10 people from all over the world who have their origins in this area traditionally come.
"We are at Ali Pasha's springs, the largest karst spring in Montenegro. Here you can see water springing from the ground on an area of over 300 square meters, giving about four cubic meters of water per second. They are located at 925m above sea level. The temperature of the water is about zero degrees throughout the year. It is extremely clean and drinkable water, according to all research it has been proven that it is very healthy and that it contains many minerals that are good for the eventual distribution of this water," says the visitor relations associate at the National Parks of Montenegro Gore Boban Redžepagić.
From Alipaša's springs, you can reach the Ropojana valley in about 20 minutes' drive, and in it there is another tourist attraction - Grlja waterfall, which is formed by the river of the same name at a height of 15 meters.
If you go upstream along the river Grlja, you will also reach its spring "Oka Skakavica" at 1000 meters above sea level. This type of spring is not typical because the water does not spring from it suddenly, but from one point on the bottom, then collects on the surface in the form of a calm puddle in in the shape of an eye, it overflows and flows further.The river Skakavica flows from the Oka, which breaks through a 500 m long canyon as the Grlja river, and exits the canyon as the Vrulja.
"As you can see here behind me is the characteristic place "Oko Skakavica". It is not in the park, but it is right behind us in the Rupojana valley. Areas like this adorn our area and the tourists who come enjoy such landscapes. This is the basic role of preserving nature and to protect it, to leave it to future generations as we found it," says the director of NP Prokletije Marinko Barjaktarović.
And in addition to natural beauties, the Gusinjsko - Plav region can also boast of important cultural and historical sites.
For the prehistoric sundial recently discovered by archaeologist Miloš Petričević in the Volušnica massif, preliminary findings indicate that it is very similar to the oldest sundials in the world that were discovered a few years ago in Ukraine and are related to the steppe Srubna culture.
The Prokletija Caves preserve drawings created in the XNUMXth century BC, and this stone block with petroglyphs, according to some reports, originates from the Middle Bronze Age, the drawing belongs to the Neolithic art of the Balkans.
Bonus video:
