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It cannot be said that Tara is the roof of the world, because there is another, much higher, mountain. Tucked into coniferous forests, intersected by streams, decorated by meadows, both wild and subdued – Tara is like the palm of a hand with an extremely long life line. There, on that palm with the elongated line of life, diverse natural beauty has found a home: mountain streams, canyons, lakes, rare plant life and animals – all of which, thanks to concern, care and man management, have been enclosed in a national park of the same name. Tara is located in western Serbia and belongs to the inner Dinaric Alps. It is 50 km long, 22 km wide and has an average altitude of 1,200 metres. Tara’s highest peak, at 1,591 m/asl, is Kozji Rid (Goat’s Hill). Tara’s ecologically preserved natural environment, mountain relief of moderate altitude, winter sports facilities – especially in the Predov Cross area - beneficial climate, proximity to the River Drina and the manmade Perucac Lake, all serve to make this one of the most attractive regions in Serbia and, in many ways, a unique destination in Europe and indeed, the world. As much as 80 per cent of the national park’s territory is covered by mixed forests of spruce, fir and beech. In addition to the endemic Serbian Spruce, the local plant world is marked by the Turkish Hazel, Yew and European Holly. Moreover, even if we were just to glance down into the rocky outcrops, crags and many gorges and canyons of Tara, we would find genuine botanical rarities of the Balkans, such as Pancic’s Serbian knapweed, Nikolic’s Aquilegia dinarica, St John's wort, Yellow Corydalis, Euphorbia sub hastifolia, Pancic’s Serbian Pheasant’s Eye, Daphne blagayana, peony and Deer Fern. Tara’s forests are also home to the brown bear and mountain goat, while gliding over the heights above are eagles and falcons. In the forests of Tara there are more than 250 kinds of fungi, three of which are poisonous. One of them, the Death cap, is the most dangerous fungus in Europe. The terrain of Tara alone makes the mountain suitable for a variety of recreational activities: gentle slopes favour walking, horse riding, a variety of sports games and fitness trails to name but a few of the activities on offer. There are 18 marked hiking trails covering a total of 120 kilometres. Hiking maps, available from information points across the park, are required to take proper and safe advantage of these trails. Tara is rich in archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages. There are recognisable tombstones, as well as the ruins of the medieval Solotnik fortification. Of particular importance is the 13th century Raca Monastery, founded by King Dragutin Nemanjic.
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