WORLD WONDER OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
You know how often people who visit a certain place have completely different experiences. For some, Paris is the most romantic and beautiful city in the world, and for some it is a dirty and dangerous disappointment. Some adore Vienna, some are sterile. But that is not the case with Strbacki Buk either – because there is no person who has one ugly word to say about this place.
And no, we are not biased.
When you start descending towards the waterfalls upon arrival at the site, you will not believe for a moment that you are still in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because the huge energy of water, as well as the million colors of greenery that surrounds you, will make you feel like you have wandered into the wilderness of South America.
And when you go down to the end, you will see a scene from a fairy tale and an incredible miracle of nature, hidden on the border between Croatia and BiH.
Where is Strbacki Buk in general?
Strbacki Buk is located on the border between BiH and Croatia, but it is officially on the side of BiH. From Banja Luka, it can be reached in less than three hours.
Strbacki Buk na Uni – information
24.5 m high, Štrbački Buk on the Una, is the highest, but also the most beautiful waterfall in the Una National Park. It was created due to tectonic shifts and thousands of years of sediment deposition as a geological phenomenon, and for decades it has been attracting the attention of nature lovers, but also artists, who are looking for inspiration for their works in the beauties of the Una.
At the beginning of the last century, the shores of this waterfall were adorned with numerous Una mills reminiscent of sojenice, houses of the prehistoric tribe Japodi, who lived in this area for the last 1000 years of the era.
Not far from Strbacki Buk, ie. 24 km upstream, if you head in the direction of Kulen Vakuf, you will be enchanted by another amazing waterfall, the one on Martinbrod.
In addition to Milančev buk, in Martin Brod you can see many other waterfalls, cascades and pools that stretch through the village to the mouth of the river Unac in Una. The length of this largest waterfall complex in the National Park is 800 m with a total height difference of 54 m.
But it’s not just waterfalls that you can see here.
The very nature of Una National Park is fantastic. Whichever direction you take, a resting scene appears. Soothing shades of green surround you on all sides.
Rafting on Štrbački buk
If you love adventure, one of the things you must try here is rafting. Unlike Vrbas, which is quite quiet, rafting on Štrbački Buk, along with Tara, probably provides the most adrenaline, and at times it looks almost scary.
Macadam as the only way to enter the park
What is most surprising and a bit disappointing is the fact that both roads leading to Strbacki Buk (Orasac and Gorjevac) are macadams of the worst category. Roads barely four meters wide, where two vehicles can hardly pass, and if God forbid they meet, one of them will probably have to do some miracle in maneuvering his car, in order to free up space for another car to pass.
That is the only reason that tourists refuse to visit this wonder of the world.
In addition to natural beauty, it has additional value in archeological sites, the remains of numerous fortifications and medieval towns such as the Klišević Tower, the Ottoman fortress of Havala and cities such as Orašac, Ostrovica and Rmanj.
