The Učka ([], it, Monte Maggiore) is a mountain range in western Croatia. It rises behind the
Opatija riviera, on the eastern side of the
Istria
Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian, Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the larges ...
n peninsula.
It forms a single morphological unit together with the
Ćićarija range which stretches from the Bay of
Trieste to
Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
. Učka is a limestone massif with numerous areas of
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
, stretching for 20 km from the
Poklon Pass
The different kinds of bows one could encounter at an Eastern Orthodox service are shown in the drawing below.
Strict rules exist as to which type of a bow should be used at any particular time. The rules are very complicated, and are not alw ...
(920 m) to
Plomin Bay, and is between 4 and 9 km wide.
[Naklada Naprijed, ''The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide'', pg. 89, Zagreb (1999), ]
It differs from all the other coastal mountains in Croatia because of its abundant vegetation on the seaward side. Best known are the forests of sweet chestnuts in the area around
Lovran.
Učka's highest peaks are considered nature reserves and memorial areas. The highest peak, Vojak, is located at 1396 meters above sea level.
From it there are views over Istria, the
Bay of Trieste
The Gulf of Trieste ( it, Golfo di Trieste, sl, Tržaški zaliv, hr, Tršćanski zaljev, german: Golf von Triest) is a very shallow bay of the Adriatic Sea, in the extreme northern part of the Adriatic Sea. It is part of the Gulf of Venice and ...
, the
Julian Alps and the
Adriatic islands, right down to
Dugi Otok.
The subject of a degree of local folklore, Učka is visible from much of the peninsula and is
snow-capped some months of the year. The town of
Opatija ( it, Abbazia) is said to have derived its popularity as a resort in
Imperial Austria because it is located "in the shade" of Mt. Učka, which by legend shields it from the fierce
Mediterranean heat in summertime.
The area of Učka is designated a
nature park
A nature park, or sometimes natural park, is a designation for a protected natural area by means of long-term land planning, sustainable resource management and limitation of agricultural and real estate developments. These valuable landscape ...
(''park prirode''), a kind of
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
in Croatia.
Historically, the
Istro-Romanians
The Istro-Romanians ( ruo, rumeri or ) are a Romance ethnic group native to or associated with the Istrian Peninsula. Historically, they inhabited vast parts of it, as well as the western side of the island of Krk until 1875. However, due to sev ...
, a
Romance ethnic group
An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...
of
Istria
Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian, Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the larges ...
, have been separated by the mountain range, forming two areas of concentration: one in the
village of
Žejane and one in the village of
Šušnjevica and the surrounding
settlements. Although these areas are 50 kilometers away from each other, there is a
road around the Učka that connects them.
See also
*
Učka Tunnel
References
External links
Učka Nature ParkLand Art Trail on Mt. Učka
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ucka
Mountain ranges of Croatia
Nature parks of Croatia
Istria
Landforms of Istria County