Seasons in Montenegro

At Lake Skadar, the season also changes the area covered by water. National Parks of Montenegro gives an area ranging from around 370 square kilometres in summer to 540 in winter, depending on the water level. These figures refer to the whole lake, shared by Montenegro and Albania. The Montenegrin part of the lake has national park status, so the area of the whole lake should not be confused with the area of the park. The Morača and its tributaries supply most of the lake's water, which flows out through the Bojana.

The National Parks' account of plant life highlights the shallow northern shore, which is subject to flooding and has wetland vegetation, willow groves and meadows. During summer, white and yellow water lilies and kasoranja, an aquatic plant with leaves floating on the surface, cover large areas of water. Below the surface, there are also meadows of submerged plants where aquatic animals find food and shelter.

The Katun Roads project, run by the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, describes katuns as temporary mountain settlements used by herders. Families move there with their livestock for summer grazing, using the huts and pens during their stay on the pasture.

There is no single return date for every household. The account of the Granični visovi Katun Road distinguishes between livestock farmers who leave the katun as early as the beginning of September and those who move down to lower meadows, extending their stay until the snow comes. The same source records rare cases of spending the winter in a katun, when it suits a livestock farmer better to feed the animals there than to transport hay to the village. Leaving or staying therefore also depends on the location of pastures, meadows and stored fodder, as well as the season.

The National Tourism Organisation highlights autumn and winter as the time when large flocks of migratory birds fly over Lake Skadar. The lake is also a wintering site: National Parks lists the coot and black-necked grebe among the waterbirds that spend the winter here.

The draft management plan for Lake Skadar National Park describes three roles the area plays for birds: a stopover during migration, a wintering site and a breeding site. Birds stopping here during migration rest and feed before continuing their journey.

According to the Herceg Novi Tourism Organisation, mimosa flowers in winter and gives its name to the Mimosa Festival, an event devoted to the flower. The flowering season thus finds a place in the public calendar: carnival parades, masked balls, a flower exhibition and performances by brass bands and majorettes bring people together in the town in winter.

Parades and promenade performances take place outdoors. The programme also includes exhibitions, literary events and stage performances. The Tourism Organisation also describes the festival as a welcome to spring and names JUK Herceg fest as the organiser.