@Montenegro
Introduction Montenegro
Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the
Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;
over subsequent centuries it was able to maintain its independence
from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro
became a theocratic state ruled by a series of bishop princes; in
1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World
War I, Montenegro was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and, at the
conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved
in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia
and Montenegro. Following a three-year postponement, Montenegro held
an independence referendum in the spring of 2006 under rules set by
the EU. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded the 55%
threshold, allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence
on 3 June 2006.
Geography Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 14,026 sq km
land: 13,812 sq km
water: 214 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km