The massif is limited by the Tara River Canyon on the north, the Piva River Canyon on the west, and by the Komarnica River Canyon on the south. To the east, the Durmitor opens to a 1,500 m (4,921 ft) high plateau, called Jezerska površ (Plateau of Lakes). The Sinjavina mountain is located to the east of the Jezerska površ plateau. The Durmitor is for the most part located in the Žabljak municipality.
The massif gives its name to the national park that comprises it. Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952, and designated as a World Heritage Site in 1980.
Durmitor features 18 glacial lakes, scattered over mountain massif and Jezerska Površ plateau. The lakes add significantly to the beauty of the mountain, and have been nicknamed Gorske Oči, or "mountain eyes".[1][2]
One theory of the name Durmitor is that it is derived from Eastern Romance, meaning 'sleeping place' (cognate with English dormitory). There are similarly named mountains, such as Visitor (cf. visător 'dreamer') and Cipitor (cf. ațipitor 'sleeper') across the former Yugoslavia.[3]
Another theory is that the name was given by the Celts, and the meaning would be anything from 'water from the mountain' to 'ridged mountain'.[citation needed] Considering the duration of time that the ancient Celts spent around these part and the Tara River (Tara is a Celtic goddess, as well)[citation needed], its name being of Celtic origin, it is very possible that Durmitor is a name of similar origin. Zeta river also has a Celtic origin name ("Loved one").[citation needed]
Durmitor National Park, created in 1952, includes the massif of Durmitor, the canyons of Tara, Sušica and Draga rivers and the higher part of the canyon plateau Komarnica, covering an area of 390 square kilometers (150 sq mi). It is the largest protected area in Montenegro, and it was inscribed on the list of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites in 1980.[2]
At 80 kilometers (50 mi) long and 1,300 meters (4,300 ft) deep, the Tara River Canyon in Durmitor National Park is the deepest gorge in Europe.[2][4]
