Radocelo Mountain

Radocelo is mountain situated in central Serbia, on the left bank of Ibar River, about 12 km west from the tiny town of Ušće. Radocelo is the mountainous range that spreads in the course northeast – southwest of about 15 km which is extended toward the south-east. On the western and the southern sides of Radocelo Mountain there is the valley of Studenica River which is the left tributary of Ibar River. Along the valleys of right tributaries of Studenica River and spring parts of Brvenica River which is also left tributary of Ibar River Radocelo Mountain is divided into high sides and peaks : Krivača /1643 meters/ on the south-west and Vrhovi /1533 meters/ on the south-west.

The Košaninova jezera – the Large and Small Lake are located in the valley on the slopes of the Radočelo Mountain, on the northern side of the Crepuljnik peak, at the elevation of some 900 meters. The Košaninova jezera – Kosanin Lakes are named after the famous Serbian botanist, Nedeljko Kosanin who originated from this area. He researched the lakes of the Golija Mountain, the mountains of Serbia, Macedonia and Albania, and had discovered rare plant examples of the region, and some part of his career spent in the Botanical Garden of Belgrade. Those lakes are famous for the natural phenomenon which is insufficiently researched: during the dry and sunny days the level of lake water rises, while in rainy days – the water level drops. The Veliko Kosaninovo jezero – the Large Kosanin Lake is overgrown with vegetation, and only small portions are under the water surface, while the edges are grown by the forests of beech, fir and spruce. The lake creates the specific bog vegetable formation with the high presence of the Carex paniculatas plant that creates robust, dense and high clumps. The legend has it that fairies used to gather around the Kosanin lakes, and that every clump represents a fairy. The Kosaninova jezera lakes are positioned within the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve and are under the First Category protection. In the close vicinity of the Košanin lakes there is the Pridvorica Monastery, positioned on the road leading to the Studenica Monastery.

The south-western part of Radocelo Mountain contains carbon cliffs while in the northern part of Permian sandstone and the middle part are made of Periodittes and serpentine. South from the Radocelo Mountain massif the village of Milići lies and downstream is Brezova village and Studenica Monastery. On the southern side of Radocelo Mountain there are beautiful villages of Rudno and Devici, with excellent rural households that provide tourist services. Radocelo Mountain is predominantly covered with hundred-years old pine forests which provide genuine and memorable smells of resin and fragrant meadows you can find nowhere like those… The Holy Virgin Church of the Studenica Monastery was covered with marble from Radocelo Mountain quarry.