Mountain Biokovo

The mountain Biokovo is a massif in the Split-Dalmatia County, which divides the Adriatic from Zagora. Biokovo is almost bare on the southern side of the mountain, but vegetation is varied and interesting. Klek, downy oak and the white oak are at the base, and beech, maple, lime, fir and Dalmatian black pine in the higher parts of the mountain and with more protected endemic species; biokovsko zvonce and biokovska zečina and others. The animal world is also diverse, and these animals are also inhabited here: weasel, mink, eagle owl, golden eagle, short-toed eagle, chamois, mouflon and others, and the Biokovo cave beetle which is an endem. In 1981, Biokovo was declared a park of nature in whose area is also the Botanical Garden located in the village of Kotišina. The botanical garden of Kotišina is worth visiting, at an altitude of 350-500 meters and an area of 16.5 ha. It was founded by the friar Jure Radić, PhD for the protection and conservation of the Biokovo plant world, which includes about 300 mediterranean and mountain plants. Although beautiful, the mountain of Biokovo is dangerous if it is not sufficiently respected, so it is advisable to the enthusiasts to take extreme care, using only marked walking trails, or going on one of the professionally organized excursions.