Čapljina

Infobox Settlement
official_name = PAGENAME
settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = BIH
timezone=CET
utc_offset=+1
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
timezone_DST=CEST
utc_offset_DST=+2
latNS=N
longEW=E
leader_title=Municipality president
native_name = Čapljina
subdivision_name1 = Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
subdivision_name2 = Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
image_shield = GrbCapljine.png|

---

leader_title=Municipality president
leader_name = Stjepan Šutalo
area_total_km2 = 256
population_total = 37584
population_as_of = 1991
population_density_km2 = 139
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Čapljina
pushpin_mapsize =
latd = 43
latm= 06
longd= 17
longm= 42
area_code = +387 036
parts_type= subdivisons
parts = 27 Mjesni Zajednica
website = [http://www.capljina.ba/ Official Web Site]

Čapljina is a town and municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čapljina is located on the border with Croatia a mere convert|20|km|mi from the Adriatic Sea.

Demographics

Current

The Bosniak and Serb populations were expelled during the war in the early 1990s and today the majority of the population are Croats. No reliable estimates on the population exist as a census has not been conducted since 1991. Croats form an absolute majority.

Ethnic structure by settlements, 1991. census

Absolute ethnic majoruty

Relative ethnic majority

References

* Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.

About Čapljina

The river Neretva flows through the municipality and flows into the Adriatic just over the border. The town's landmark is a statue of King Tomislav. The Church of Saint Francis Assisi is also a prominent facet of the town. The municipal coat of arms contains the Croatian chequy, the nearby tower in Pocitelj, and Saint Francis Assisi.

The municipality has a rich archaeological history and untouched wilderness and is starting to develop agricultural tourism. It is also home to Hutovo Blato Park, which contains one of the most diverse bird populations in all Europe. The Croatian town of Metković is located just over the border and there are significant commercial and other links between the two towns new Čapljina International Speedway.

History

Not much is known about this city but it was founded by Romans in 5 BC. The current name of the town "Capljina" derives from the South Slavic word [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C4%8Daplja Caplja] , which means "heron".

In WWII, Ustashe commited some of the most henious atrocities in Capljina and nearby villages. The town and the atrocities were celebrated in songs such as Jasenovac i Gradiška stara, where Capljina was especially highly praised for its role in the Genocide against the Serbs. The Prebilovci massacre, in which around 4000 people were killed total, including 600 villagers from the Prebilovci thrown into a pit, is one of the most significant atrocities in this area.

Since World War II it has been an important road and rail transportation link, connecting the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the port of Ploče in Croatia. During the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina the city was taken over by the Croatian Defence Council who expelled the non Croat population and set up concentration camps for Bosniaks in Gabela. [ [http://www.un.org/icty/bhs/cases/prlic/indictment/prl-ii040302b.htm Predmet Prlic i drugi (IT-04-74) - Optuznica ] ]

During the Summer of 2007 wildfires caused extensive damage throughout the rural part of the municipality.

Famous People

* Serbian journalist Dada Vujasinović
* actor Zdenko Jelčić
* actor Branimir Vidić -Flika
* basketball player Mario Primorac
* basketball player Veljko Mršić
* basketball trainer Jasmin Repeša
* football trainer Mirsad Fazlagić
* Croatian international footballer Sladjan Aracic
* actor Dejan Aćimović
* basketball player Ibrahim "Ibrica" Bećirović

Culture

In the Capljina area, there are lots of Croatian cultural associations such as the following:

* HKUD Čapljina (Čapljina)
* HKUD Sv.Ante (Dretelj)
* HKUD Seljačka Sloga (Trebižat)
* HKUD " ZORA " Struge-Gorica

Sport

In Capljina, there are football, basketball, handball, volleyball and bocce sporting clubs.

Clubs:
* HNK Čapljina - football club (previously named Borac) - currently in the 2nd division of the BiH South League. Nicknamed the Patriots, Capljina has been home to such talented players such as Kana Colic, Zlatan Vego, Ilija Ivankovic,Dadi Mulalic, Zara Zurovac, Milivoje Drasko, Seno Elezovic, Velija Kudra and Mladen Bartolovic.There home ground is at Bjelave which holds 5,000 people.
* GOSK Gabela - football club known as the Blue Lions from village of Gabela, currently in the First Division of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Football League.
* HKK Čapljina Lasta - basketball club currently in the Bosnia-Hercegovina D1 League

References