# Kolašin

Kolašin (Cyrillic: Колашин, pronounced) is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 2,989 (2003 census). Kolašin is the centre of Kolašin Municipality (population 9,949) and an unofficial centre of Morača region, named after Morača River.

## Etymology

Rebecca West wrote that the district was originally named Kol I Shen, which is Albanian for 'St. Nicholas', which was inhabited by Catholic Albanians who converted to Islam and who were expelled in 1858 by local tribes

## History
### Late modern

Rebecca Wests visited the town of Kolasin in the 1930s where she learned that in the 18th century, Catholic Albanians and Orthodox Montenegrins lived in peace. In 1858, however, several Montenegrin tribes attacked the town and destroyed all the inhabitants who had kept their Albanian identity or who were Muslim.
During this period, Kolašin was home to a significant Albanian community. They were largely expelled in different waves during the late 19th century expulsion of the Albanians fleeing to Turkey, Kosovo (Pristina) and Macedonia. The Montenegrin forces also robbed the Albanians before the expulsion.

### Contemporary

The Bulgarian foreign ministry compiled a report about the five kazas (districts) of the sanjak of the Novi Pazar in 1901-02. According to the Bulgarian report, the kaza of Kolašin was almost entirely populated by Albanians. According to it, the kaza of Kolašin had 27 Albanian villages with 732 households and 5 Serb villages with 75 households.

## Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Dfb. (Warm Summer Continental Climate).
Climate data for Kolasin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1947–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) | 19.3 (66.7) | 22.7 (72.9) | 27.2 (81.0) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.7 (90.9) | 35.2 (95.4) | 37.1 (98.8) | 32.7 (90.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 16.4 (61.5) | 37.1 (98.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) | 5.0 (41.0) | 8.8 (47.8) | 13.7 (56.7) | 18.6 (65.5) | 22.8 (73.0) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 20.5 (68.9) | 15.8 (60.4) | 10.0 (50.0) | 4.1 (39.4) | 14.5 (58.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.1 (22.8) | −4.3 (24.3) | −1.6 (29.1) | 1.9 (35.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | 9.1 (48.4) | 10.3 (50.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 7.4 (45.3) | 3.9 (39.0) | 0.2 (32.4) | −3.7 (25.3) | 2.8 (37.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −29.8 (−21.6) | −23.4 (−10.1) | −20 (−4) | −10.1 (13.8) | −5.4 (22.3) | −3.0 (26.6) | 1.0 (33.8) | 1.0 (33.8) | −5.4 (22.3) | −9.0 (15.8) | −21.6 (−6.9) | −22.8 (−9.0) | −29.8 (−21.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 185.9 (7.32) | 191.7 (7.55) | 184.1 (7.25) | 165.7 (6.52) | 135.2 (5.32) | 96.3 (3.79) | 75.1 (2.96) | 60.5 (2.38) | 163.5 (6.44) | 221.5 (8.72) | 301.2 (11.86) | 275.8 (10.86) | 2,056.5 (80.96) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 11.5 | 11.9 | 11.7 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 6.2 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 127.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 82 | 79 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 78 | 79 | 82 | 82 | 85 | 86 | 81 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 78.8 | 89.5 | 129.3 | 147.9 | 188.0 | 193.2 | 245.8 | 234.7 | 184.6 | 152.1 | 92.9 | 68.5 | 1,805.3 |
| Source 1: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro (humidity, sun 1961–1990) ||||||||||||||

## Sports

The local football team is former third tier club FK Gorštak, who play their home games at the Stadion u Lugu. The town's basketball team is KK Gorštak.

## Tourism

Kolašin is one of the centres of Montenegro's mountain tourism. Although Žabljak is considered more attractive destination, Kolašin has the advantage of being easily accessible by road and rail.
Kolašin is located on the foot of Bjelasica and Sinjajevina mountains, which offer great conditions for skiing. Because of Kolašin's altitude (954 m), the town is considered an air spa.
Biogradska Gora national park is in the town's vicinity, and is considered a premium tourist attraction. The development of Kolašin as a tourist destination is bolstered by opening of Bianca Resort & Spa, a luxury resort in town's center.

## Transport

Kolašin is connected with rest of Montenegro by two-laned motorways. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegro's coast and Podgorica with northern Montenegro and Serbia (E65, E80).
Kolašin is also a station on Belgrade–Bar railway.
Podgorica Airport is 80 km (50 mi) away, and has regular flights to major European destinations.

## Media

* Ozon Radio

## People

* Slavko Labović, a Danish Serbian actor
* Veljko Vlahović, Montenegrin communist politician
* Vlado Šćepanović, a Montenegrin professional basketball coach and former player
* Gavrilo V, Serbian Patriarch, 41st Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church
* Milovan Jakšić, a former football goalkeeper
* Amfilohije Radović, Serbian Orthodox metropolitan bishop