Interesting facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina

If you have never been to this small European country full of cultural contradictions, people who wish you a warm welcome, and a beautiful untouched nature, then you definitely have to visit it.

• Name Bosnia comes from the Indo-European word Bosana which means water. Bosnia is full of beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls (one of them has a height of over 300 meters) as well as the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Herzegovina comes from the name of Herceg Stjepan, an ancient leader.
• Sarajevo hosted the Olympic Games in 1984. These games marked that time because it was the first time that a socialist country hosted the Olympic Games. The organizers took full advantage of this opportunity, and at that time built many sports facilities.
• The trams used for the first time in Europe were those in Sarajevo, at the beginning of 1885. These public transport vehicles were driven by animals, mostly horses, and sometimes even mules, usually two of them driving in the team. 11 years later, Sarajevo was the first city in Europe to have a completely electric tram line.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked 10th in the world by drinking coffee. Bosnian coffee is part of country’s identity. It is a symbol of the state and a part of its tradition, but it is a reflection of the gourmet mentality of the local inhabitants.
• Sarajevo Clock Tower is a historical heritage that is considered to be the only public clock in the world with lunar time.
• Medjugorje is located in the mountains near Mostar. A small town that is incredibly popular among Christian pilgrims. Millions of pilgrims have been visiting it since 1981, when a smaller group of young people in this village began to announce that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to them.
• Perucica is one of the last jungles in Europe. It is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the border with Montenegro and is a part of the National Park Sutjeska. There is also the highest Norwegian fir tree with a height of 63 meters. In 1952, this forest area was declared a space that is necessary to scientifically explore and study.
• In the small town of Konjic, near the Neretva River, there is a nuclear bunker known as the Atomic War Command, built during the Revolution in Yugoslavia and President Josip Broz Tito. This shelter occupies an area of 6,500 square meters and consists of 12 linked blocks. It looks like a complicated labyrinth, with residential areas, conference rooms, offices, rooms for strategic planning and other functional areas. The construction and existence of this bunker was secret until 1990, when it was finally revealed to the public. Today, in this bunker is an exhibition of contemporary art.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina has pyramids. For years there have been scintific research and archeologists from all over the world are visiting Visoko, where the pyramids are located. I will write about this phenomena in my next post.

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