Pešter

Pešter (Serbian Cyrillic: Пештер or Пештерска висораван) is a karst plateau in southwestern Serbia, in the Raška (Sandžak) region. It lies at the altitude of 900–1200 meters. The territory of the plateau is mostly located in the municipality of Sjenica, with parts belonging to Novi Pazar and Tutin. The name of the region comes from the word "pešter", which is an archaic term for cave.

The plateau is actually a large field ("Peštersko polje") surrounded by mountains of Jadovnik (1734 m), Zlatar (1627 m), Ozren (1680 m), Giljeva (1617 m), Žilidar (1616 m), Javor (1520 m) and Golija (1833 m). With the area of around 50 km², Pešter field is the largest field in Serbia, and the highest one in the Balkans.cite web|url=http://www.sjenica.co.yu/istorijageografija.htm|title=Istorija & Geografija Sjenice|publisher=Official web site of municipality of Sjenica|language=Serbian|accessdate=2007-07-26] Rivers Uvac, Vapa, Jablanica and Grabovica flow through the plateau.cite web|url=http://www.serbia-tourism.org/srpski/tekst.php?podaci=planine.txt&gde=sje|title=Sjenica-Pešter|publisher=Tourist organization of Serbia|accessdate=2007-07-26|language=Serbian] In the geologic past, the field was a large lake, of which only a small Sjenica lake near the village of Tuzinje remained.

The soil is mostly karst interspersed with pastures. Economy of the area relies primarily on cattle breeding, chiefly sheep. Pešter is famous for its dairy products, especially the "Sjenica cheese" ("Sjenički sir"), as well as lamb and prosciutto. The plateau is sparsely populated: most settlements are on the edge of the field, and the remainder is settled only

Pešter is famous for its microclimate, which is particularly harsh in the winter months. The lowest temperature in Serbia since measurements are taken, convert|-39.|°C|°F is measured at Karajukića Bunari village on 26 January 2006, beating the previous record of convert|-38.4|°C|°F measured in Sjenica in 1954. [cite web|url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.co.yu/arhiva/2006/01/27/srpski/D06012603.shtml|title=Minus 39, oboren rekord|date=2006-01-27|accessdate=2007-07-26|publisher=Glas Javnosti|language=Serbian]

Pešter is home to a number of endangered species, such as the plants Fumana bonapartei, Halacsya sendtneri and Orchis tridentata. The only nesting place of Montagu's Harrier Serbia is in this area. On 1 May 2006, Ramsar included the wetland area of 3,455 hectares into its list of wetlands of international importance. cite web|url=http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_serbia.htm|title=The Annotated Ramsar List: Republic of Serbia|publisher=Ramsar Convention|accessdate=2007-07-26]

References

ee also

*Regions of Serbia

External links

* [http://ciklonaut.com/Turoteka/2000/Jone_leto00/02_pester.htm Ivanjica - Golija - Pešterska visoravan - Moravac] – a hiking tour through Pešter and Golija sr icon