According to abbreviationfinder, Sarajevo is the capital and most populous city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the Sarajevo valley in the Bosnian region, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and around the Miljacka River. The city center is 511 meters above sea level while some neighborhoods reach 700 meters, making Sarajevo one of the highest cities in Europe. Due to this long and rich history of religious diversity and coexistence, Sarajevo is known as the ” Jerusalem of Europe “.
Geography
Sarajevo is located near the geometric center of the triangle that makes up Bosnia-Herzegovina, within the historical region of Bosnia itself, and in the Sarajevo valley, in the middle of the Dinaric Alps. The valley was previously a vast green plain, but gave way to urban expansion and development after World War II.
The city is surrounded by lush hills and five great mountains. The highest of all of them is Treskavica, with 2,088 meters of altitude; followed by Bjelašnica, 2,067 meters high; Jahorina, with 1,913 meters; Trebević, with 1,627 meters and Igman, with 1,502 meters of altitude, which is the smallest of these peaks. The last four are known as the “Sarajevo Olympic Mountains”. The Bosnian capital is approximately 500 meters above sea level. The city itself has much of its extension in these mountainous terrain, which is why steeply sloping streets abound.
Sarajevo has a continental climate and is among the climate zones of central Europe to the north and south Mediterranean climates. Its proximity to the Adriatic Sea softens the temperatures of Sarajevo, although the mountains to the south of the city considerably reduce the maritime influence. The average annual temperature is 9.5 ° C, and January is the coldest month of the year.
The hottest month is July. The temperature highest ever Sarajevo took place 19 of August of 1946, when the thermometers of the capital skyrocketed to 40 ° C. The lowest temperature occurred on January 25, 1942 and was -26.4 ° C. On average, Sarajevo has 68 days of summer per year (with temperatures of 30 ° C or more). The city usually has partially cloudy skies with 59% clouds per year. The cloudiest month is December, which has 75% cloud cover, while the clearest month is August, with 37% covered skies.
The rainfall is moderate but steady during the year, with an average of 170 rainy days a year. This climate has caused winter sports to grow in the region, with the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Games being held.
Economy
After years of war, Sarajevo’s economy has been subjected to various reconstruction and rehabilitation programs. The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina opened in Sarajevo in 1997, while the Sarajevo Stock Exchange did so in 2002. The city’s great manufacturing, administration, and tourism, combined with a large shadow economy market, makes Sarajevo one of the strongest economic regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The city had a strong industrial base during its communist period and only a few businesses have survived the fall of communism by adapting to the new markets. Sarajevo’s industry now includes tobacco products, furniture, socks, automobiles, and communication equipment. The companies based in Sarajevo are, among others, B&H Airlines, BH Telecom, Bosnalijek, Energopetrol, Sarajevo Tobacco Factory and Sarajevska Pivara.
The tourism industry in Sarajevo is very important and proof of this was the inclusion of the Bosnian capital in the Lonely Planet ranking as the 43rd Best City in the World in 2006. Sports-related tourism enjoyed the new facilities and infrastructures that They were designed to celebrate the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Games, especially the Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina, Trebević and Treskavica ski facilities.
Transport
Sarajevo’s situation in a valley between the mountains makes it a compact city. The narrow streets and the absence of parking areas significantly restrict car traffic, but allow for better pedestrian and cycle mobility.
Electric trams, in operation since 1885, are the oldest form of public transport in the city. There are seven tram lines supplemented by five trolleybus lines, as well as several bus lines. Sarajevo’s main train station is located in the north-central area of the capital. From that point, the roads advance west before branching off in different directions, including the industrial areas of the city. Sarajevo is undergoing an intense renovation of its infrastructure. Many of its highways and streets are being repaved, the tram system is being modernized, and both new bridges and roads are being built.
The Sarajevo International Airport, also known as Butmir, is located a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war, the airport was used by United Nations flights. The airport received 534,000 passengers in 2006, while in the previous ten years it had only received 25,000 passengers.
Culture
Sarajevo has been home to many different religions for centuries, giving the city a rich cultural diversification. As a result of the war, the city today is predominantly Bosnian, but in recent years many refugees have returned and there are a growing number of illegal immigrants from East Asia. See population of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the time of the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was home to several famous Bosnian poets, as well as scholars, philosophers, and writers.
In the 20th century, the city has seen the birth of several prominent intellectuals and artists, including the Nobel Prize winner Vladimir Prelog ; Oscar winner, director Danis Tanovic ; and another Nobel Prize winner, Ivo Andrić, who attended a high school in Sarajevo for two years.
The city is also home to the national theater company, founded in 1919, as well as the Sarajevo Youth Theater. Other notable cultural institutions are the Sarajevo Culture Center, the Sarajevo Library, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Art Gallery, and the Bosnian Institute, a private library that houses an important art collection focused on Bosnian history.
The demolitions associated with the war, as well as the reconstruction, destroyed several religious / cultural institutions and symbols, including the Gazi Husrev Library, the National Library, the Sarajevo Oriental Institute and a museum dedicated to the 1984 Olympic Games. it was the hardening that the government established with its protection laws. The Bodies that ensure cultural protection in Sarajevo are the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission for the Conservation of National Monuments.
