Mount Klekovača

Klekovača is a limestone mountain in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its highest peak Velika Klekovača (1962 m), which makes it the highest mountain in this part of the country. It is surrounded by Srnetica (1375 m), Grmeč (1604 m), Osječenica (1791 m), Lunjevača (1706 m) and Crna Gora (1650 m).

It lies within the municipality of Drvar (the southern side of the mountain) and the municipalities of Istočni Drvar and Petrovac in Republika Srpska, to which the northern part belongs. The entity boundary runs across the summit of Velika Klekovača and descends along the Klekovača ridge to Mala Klekovača.

Klekovača is distinguished by great rock faces that stretch along the very ridge from Velika to Mala Klekovača. In the opinion of most mountaineers, Mala Klekovača is the most striking area, with its rugged sweep of cliffs. This part of the mountain also holds several large meadows and vast amphitheatres of rock. The geological substrate of Klekovača is limestone.

In the north-western part of the mountain, towards Osječenica, lie the Oštrelj pass and settlement at 1033 m above sea level, together with the Oštrelj peak. The Bosanski Petrovac–Drvar road runs over Oštrelj.

Klekovača can be climbed from several sides, and there is also a route between Mala (1413 m) and Velika (1962 m) Klekovača.

Tall, dense conifer forest grows up to around 1500 m above sea level, then gives way to sparser beech forest. The very summit of Klekovača is covered in dwarf mountain pine (klek) and low scrub, which is thought to have given the mountain its name.

Klekovača is also home to the rare alpine plant edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum). The rare medicinal plant yellow gentian has been all but eradicated by excessive picking.

On Klekovača one may also encounter the beautiful, colourful Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo, Papilio apollo). It is one of the loveliest of butterflies, yet at the same time endangered, being highly sensitive to change.