Tara River (Montenegro)

The Tara River (Serbian/Montenegrin: Ријека Тара / Rijeka Tara; Tr. "Riyeka Tara") emerges from the confluence of the Opasnica and Veruša Rivers in the Dinaric Alps of Montenegro, flows 144 kilometers northward and converges with the Piva River near the Bosnian border to form the Drina River. The Tara River is the largest European supply of drinking water

The Tara River cuts the Tara River Gorge, the deepest canyon in Montenegro and Europe, at 78 kilometers in length and 1,300 meters at its deepest. The canyon is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a part of Durmitor national park.

The Bosnian and the Montenegrin government had plans to flood the Tara Gorge, with the construction of a hydroelectric dam in the Drina River. However, it abandoned this plan in April, 2005 after several successful protests of advocates for the preservation of the canyon. But, in September 2006, a protocol for cooperation between Slovenian company "Petrol" and Montenegrin company "Montenegro-bonus" was signed [Power plant on the Tara [http://www.balkanium.com/forum/showthread.php?p=27989] ] , and the building of an electric plant with initial power of 40 or 60 megawatts is planned, despite all efforts to protect the gorge.

Tara River is not to be confused with Tara Mountain and Tara National Park, which are situated in western Serbia.

River Rafting

Rafting is very popular on Tara River. It is also one of the most popular things to do in Montenegro. The one day rafting route, from Brstnovica to Šćepan Polje is 18 km long and it takes 2 to 3 hours. Among the attractions of the area is Đurđevića Tara Bridge, on the crossroads between Mojkovac, Žabljak and Pljevlja.

Rafting starts at Splavista from where you start the adventure 100 km long in the most beautiful and exciting part of canyon. Already at the beginning the Tara, the waterfalls of Ljutica are shown and then, you will pass under monumental bridge of the Tara, 165 metres high and then, you come up to the old Roman road and then pass through the. Lever Tara. "Funjički bukovi" and "Bijele ploče" will make you realise how calm and up to this moment nice Tara becomes wild beauty. "Nisovo vrelo" is the deepest part of canyon of 1100 metres high. Further is the bottom of the mountain top, "Curevac" (1650 m), that rises above Tara as its "eternal guardian" and one of the nicest bellevue of Durmitor. Then you end up at the waterfalls of Draga and then pass through the Radovan luka. Then you pass through the "Canyon of Susica", "Tepački bukovi", "Brstanovički bukovi" and "Bailovica sige." Rafting will end at Sćepan Polje.

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