The rivers of Montenegro are characteristic by their naturally clear and unpolluted waters. Another
characteristic is the large volume of water resulting from the high precipitation. This makes them preferable
for water sports like rafting, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, fly-fishing, etc. Most of the rivers in Montenegro
form breath-taking canyons, thanks to the geographic position of the country.
Tara River
Tara is a river flowing through the territories of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and at some points,
it represents the physical border between these two countries. Tara is one of the most beautiful and famous
rivers, not only in Montenegro but in the world as well. It earned its nickname “The Tear of Europe”, thanks
to its emerald-clear water and mesmerising canyon. The canyon itself is over 1330 metres deep, which makes it
the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest in the world, just after the Grand Colorado Canyon. The
canyon and the river are under the protection of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site due to its geological,
biological, and hydrological phenomenon. The river is 144 km long with the average fall of 4,5 m/km, and in
the upstream the water is drinkable. It is most popular for rafting, kayaking, fishing and fly-fishing. The
most attractive part for rafting is the last 25 km of the river, where you’ll get to experience the
unforgettable adrenaline rush while rafting through the wild beauty of the river’s canyon. Another popular
activity in the Tara canyon is the zip-line, where you experience flying 150 meters over Tara with the speed
up to 100km/h. For all those of you who aren’t fans of adrenaline-fueled activities we recommend you visit the
Djurdjevića Tara Bridge, wherefrom the edge of the roadway, you will have a spectacular view of the canyon,
172 meters above the river.
Piva River
Together with Piva, Tara creates the river Drina on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Piva springs under
the mountain Golija, near the Piva Monastery. This majestic river continues its flow through the mountains,
creating a spectacular canyon whose cliffs reach up to 1000 meters in height. The river is incredibly clean
and the water is drinkable through its entire flow. Between 1967 and 1975, the Mratinje Hydroelectric Power
Plant and a 220-meter high dam were built 10 km upstream of Šćepan Polje, where the magnificent 45km long and
180metres deep Piva Lake was created by flooding the rivers of Komarnica and Piva and its canyons. This is the
biggest artificial lake in Montenegro, at the same time is the biggest lake with drinkable water in the
Balkans. What stands out to Piva is the untouched nature! This is especially noticeable in the area around the
river, which is densely forested. People are using this untouched nature for many activities including
recreational vacations etc.
Lim River
River Lim is an international river that flows through Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina
for 220 km and flows into the Drina river. The river Lim is formed at an altitude of 909 meters above sea
level, extending from the Piva Lake, and it is considered to be the best river by the potential for kayaking
in Southeast Europe. Throughout its course, Lim flows through gorges and valleys, depending on the composition
of the terrain. Lim River is characterised by light green clear water, the richness of fish, and rafting and
kayaking opportunities. It forms a composite valley in which beautiful gorges and valleys alternate and the
fertile area around it is called Polimlje, which is known for its cultural and historical monuments.
Moraca River
Morača River is one of the symbols of the capital city of Podgorica. It is the longest river that flows
through the city with a longitude of 113 km. Morača is a fast mountain river; it receives a large number of
small and fast mountain rivers and springs and has a large hydroelectric potential, but also clean and
high-quality water. The Morača Canyon area is characterised by steep slopes of terrain, intersected by deep
gorges and canyons. In the middle part of the valley, the river narrows into an imposing, 38 km long and up
to 1000 metres deep canyon of Platije located about 30 minutes drive from Podgorica. Its exceptionally clear
waters are home to many species of fish, so fishing is a regular type of activity on the shores of the river.
This river is the biggest tributary of the Skadar Lake; after merging with its largest tributary river Zeta,
Moraca enters the Zeta Valley. It flows through the Zeta plain, one of the rares in Montenegro until it flows
into Skadar Lake.
Zeta River
Zeta is an 86 km long-river whose waters are well utilised in three hydropower plants. The river has two
streams, the upper and the lower stream. The lower stream is longer and richer in water, but also
hydrologically and in beauty. Coasts of the river are fertile, as the river flows towards the Skadar Lake,
making it a suitable place for plant growth and agriculture.
Cijevna River
River Cijevna and its canyon are one of the largest botanical sites in Europe. The river is 56 km long, and
it flows through Montenegro (33 km) and Albania. It flows through a deep gorge, which gradually decreases and
expands, creating numerous opportunities for lovers of rafting, canoeing, kayaking, alpinism and fishing. The
canyon of Cijevna, often known as Montenegrin Colorado, has fast and ice-cold water which is mainly drinkable.
The additional attributes of this river are numerous beaches, whirlpools and the beautiful waterfalls of
Niagara, where the citizens of Podgorica prefer to escape during the hot, summer days.
Bojana River
River Bojana surfaces from the Skadar Lake. It flows out of the Lake and flows into the Adriatic Sea. It’s 41
km long and is considered as a miracle of nature for a couple of reasons. One of them is that the bottom of
its riverbed is 36 km under the sea level but in its upper part! Although it has got that big flow, seawater
rushes deeply upwards through its riverbed meaning the river flows both upstream and downstream. Also, in its
riverbed, there are both - salty seawater and clear river water, which creates a diverse ecosystem, a habitat
for around 140 fish and 300 bird species. At the estuary of the Adriatic Sea, it forms a large river island
called Ada Bojana. This island is a famous tourist spot for campers. Some of the most popular activities here
are paragliding, windsurfing, horseback riding at sunset etc.
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