National Park Tara

The National Park takes most part of the Tara massive and is on the territory of municipalities Bajina Bašta and Užice, in the western part of Serbia. For the protection of the important natural values it possesses, it was declared a National Park. Characteristics of Tara are ecologically kept nature, mountain relief with the moderate altitude of 800 meters to 1500 meters and rich plant and animal life. Its beauties were part of the studies of many scientists, and one of the first to study them was Josif Pančić who, in 1875, found an endemic coniferous species named `Pančić`s Spruce'.

Over 75% of Tara is covered with mixed forests represented mostly with fir, spruce, and beech. There are over 1100 types of plants in the National Park which make one-third of the plant life in whole Serbia. Studies so far recorded 96 species of lichen, 171 species of moss, 30 species of fern, 7 species of gymnosperm and 950 species of flowering plants. Animal life is also rich and consists of 53 types of mammals of which most attractive are brown bears, chamois, 135 types of birds, 138 butterflies and most endangered species like eagles and hawks. On the territory of the National Park Tara there are two immovable goods that are under special regime of protection, those are Rača Monastery and archeological site `Mramorje` in Perućac.