Tara River Basin Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1976, in Montenegro. Set in the south-eastern Dinaric Alps, the Tara River Basin is a high-mountain landscape of plateaux, glacial lakes and some of Europe’s deepest river gorges. The Tara Canyon extends for about 80 kilometres and reaches 1,300 metres at its deepest point, carving through limestone to create a dramatic river–canyon system of outstanding natural beauty. Its canyons, karst springs and linked lake–river networks support varied habitats and species. The site focuses on protecting the integrity of the river and canyon, maintaining water quality, and conserving the alpine and subalpine ecosystems that define the basin. Long-running research on rivers, mountain lakes and fauna underpins conservation and guides sustainable use across the landscape.