Nikšić Municipality ( Montenegrin and Serbian: Opština Nikšić / Општина Никшић) is one of the

municipalities of Montenegro The ''municipalities'' (Serbian: ''opštine'' / општине, singular: '' opština'' / општина) are the first level administrative subdivisions of Montenegro. The country is divided into 25 municipalities including the Old Royal Capit ...

. The municipality is located in central and northwestern region of Montenegro. The administrative centre of the municipality is town of

Nikšić Nikšić ( cnr, Никшић, italic=no, sr-cyrl, Никшић, italic=no; ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 56,970 located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot ...

Geography and location

Nikšić municipality has the largest landmass of any municipality in Montenegro (covering 15% of Montenegro), and includes 129 settlements. It was also largest landmass municipality in socialist

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

. Town of Nikšić is situated in north-central Montenegro. It is located at the centre of the spacious ''Nikšić field'' (''Nikšićko polje''), a karst plain with an area of 48 km², and an elevation of 640 m AMSL. The plain is surrounded by inhospitable rocky mountainous terrain, a typical landscape of western Montenegro. The city itself is located at the foot of the ''Trebjesa'' hill.

Zeta Zeta (, ; uppercase Ζ, lowercase ζ; grc, ζῆτα, el, ζήτα, label= Demotic Greek, classical or ''zē̂ta''; ''zíta'') is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 7. It was derived f ...

river originates in the ''Nikšić field'', and flows near the city of Nikšić, before it becomes a

subterranean river A subterranean river is a river that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground surface – one where the riverbed does not represent the surface of the Earth. It is distinct from an aquifer, which may flow like a river but is contained within a per ...

south of the city. The river caused frequent flooding of the plain, until the construction of

Hydroelectric power plant Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...

''Perućica'' in 1960. The construction of the power plant resulted in creation of three large artificial lakes near the city - ''Krupac'', ''Slano'' and ''Vrtac Lakes''.

Local administration

Municipal parliament

Demographics

The 2011 census recorded a total population of 72,443. The inhabitants were largely divided between

Montenegrins Montenegrins ( cnr, Црногорци, Crnogorci, or ; lit. "Black Mountain People") are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common Montenegrin culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Genetics Accordi ...

, numbering 46,149 (63.70%), and

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language. The majority of Serbs live in their na ...

, numbering 18,334 (25.31%), the rest belonging to other ethnic groups (3,114, 4.30%) or opting undeclared (4,846, 6.67%). By language, 43,75% spoke Montenegrin, while 42,44% spoke Serbian. By religious affiliation, Eastern Orthodoxy was predominant (91,38%).

Gallery

File:Niksic v.jpg, Town of

File:Trg Slobode NK.JPG, Freedom Square File:Krupac (Nikšić) 01.jpg, Krupac lake near Nikšić File:SlanskoJezeroIslands.jpg, Lake Slansko near Nikšić File:Niksic le pont du Tsar P1010092mod.jpg, Tsar's Bridge, Zeta river File:Zupa Niksicka wikipedia.jpg, Župa Nikšićka valley File:Kapetanovo Jezero - panoramio (2).jpg, Kapetan lake File:Kesli katuni Bijela gora Montenegro.JPG,

Bijela Gora Bijela Gora (Montenegrin Cyrillic , Бијела Гора, , lit. "White Mountain") is a karstic high plateau between 1200–1500 m on the northern side of Mount Orjen in Montenegro. At 1862 m, Velika Jastrebica is the highest summit. It ...

References

Municipalities of Montenegro {{montenegro-geo-stub