Golija is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, located at 43°20′N, 20°17′E, between towns of Ivanjica and Novi Pazar. It belongs to the Dinaric mountain range. The mountain is heavily forested, with significant biodiversity and it hosts the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve, the first UNESCO-MAB registered biosphere reserve in Serbia. It is also a ski resort, with several historical monuments and monasteries.
Golija stretches in north-south direction, in a S-shape between Novi Pazar an Raška on south and Ivanjica on the north. It covers an area of about 75,000 ha. River and creek valleys separate numerous hills. The highest peak is Jankov kamen (1833 m), followed by Radulovac (1785 m), Bojevo Brdo (1748 m) and Crni Vrh (1725 m). The peaks offer beautiful sightseeing to Golija's forests and pastures, as well as the peaks of nearby Kopaonik, Komovi and Prokletije mountains.
The rivers of Moravica and Studenica River have its headwaters at the mountain. Studenica breaches through the mountain, in its deep valley with several shorter gorges. Its right tributary Izubra has three waterfalls of total height of around 20 m, and several cascades.
The area of Golija has 6,600 inhabitants within 42 dispersed rural communities which are characteristic of these mountainous regions. The main economic activities are livestock raising and extensive farming, and collection of forest products such as mushrooms and medicinal herbs.
Within the reserve is Studenica Monastery, which is a cultural World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination, while monasteries of Sopoćani, Stari Ras and Klisura lie at Golija outskirts.
Two hotels are currently built on the mountain itself, and several resorts exist in the vicinity of Ivanjica and Novi Pazar. Hotel "Golijska reka" has 106 beds, lies 40 km from Ivanjica at altitude of 1408 m. In the hamlet of Odvraćenica, 31 km from Novi Pazar, a new hotel "Golija" replaced the old mountain home, with three pistes and two ski lifts in the vicinity, at the Kula peak. Another ski lift operates at the location of Dajića brdo. Building of a new ski lift, 2 km long, at the Jankov kamen peak is planned, as well as a system of 5 ski lifts at the location of Odvraćenica.
The mountain is suitable for biking and hiking, and there are three hunting grounds: Čemernica, Grabovica i Golija, offering the hunt of Roe Deers, Boars and Rabbits.
Golija stretches in north-south direction, in a S-shape between Novi Pazar an Raška on south and Ivanjica on the north. It covers an area of about 75,000 ha. River and creek valleys separate numerous hills. The highest peak is Jankov kamen (1833 m), followed by Radulovac (1785 m), Bojevo Brdo (1748 m) and Crni Vrh (1725 m). The peaks offer beautiful sightseeing to Golija's forests and pastures, as well as the peaks of nearby Kopaonik, Komovi and Prokletije mountains.
The rivers of Moravica and Studenica River have its headwaters at the mountain. Studenica breaches through the mountain, in its deep valley with several shorter gorges. Its right tributary Izubra has three waterfalls of total height of around 20 m, and several cascades.
The area of Golija has 6,600 inhabitants within 42 dispersed rural communities which are characteristic of these mountainous regions. The main economic activities are livestock raising and extensive farming, and collection of forest products such as mushrooms and medicinal herbs.
Within the reserve is Studenica Monastery, which is a cultural World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination, while monasteries of Sopoćani, Stari Ras and Klisura lie at Golija outskirts.
Two hotels are currently built on the mountain itself, and several resorts exist in the vicinity of Ivanjica and Novi Pazar. Hotel "Golijska reka" has 106 beds, lies 40 km from Ivanjica at altitude of 1408 m. In the hamlet of Odvraćenica, 31 km from Novi Pazar, a new hotel "Golija" replaced the old mountain home, with three pistes and two ski lifts in the vicinity, at the Kula peak. Another ski lift operates at the location of Dajića brdo. Building of a new ski lift, 2 km long, at the Jankov kamen peak is planned, as well as a system of 5 ski lifts at the location of Odvraćenica.
The mountain is suitable for biking and hiking, and there are three hunting grounds: Čemernica, Grabovica i Golija, offering the hunt of Roe Deers, Boars and Rabbits.