Šator (Шатор) is a mountain in the Dinaric Alps, in the western regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name šator means "tent". The highest peak Veliki Šator is 1872 m above sea level. Dimensions of the mountain are some 15 km in the west–east and 10 km in the north–south direction. The mountain area includes a lake, rich flora and fauna, numerous geomorphological and hydrological phenomena, as well as the aesthetic appearance in general.

Geography

Šator rises some 1000 meters above high plains and enormous karstic fields which surround it. These plains are among highest and most spacious karstic fields in the Dinaric Alps and certainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the south is Livanjsko Polje field located some 700 m above sea level, which is over 50 km long. Šator rises from its north - north-west end. In the opposite direction, south - south-east, are Mount Staretina, peaking at 1675 m above sea level, and Mountain Golija, 1890 m above sea level. These mountains divide the Livanjsko field from the Glamočko Polje field. To the east is a huge grassy plain, which is around 1000 m above sea level. To the north is deep valley where the Unac River emerge and Župica Lake. On the north-west is an 1100 m grassy plateau, and a 1656 m mountain of Jadovnik. The spacious and grassy Grahovsko Polje field is on the west, with an altitude above sea level of around 900 m meters. At the middle of the Grahovsko field is a small town of Bosansko Grahovo at an altitude around 861 m above sea level, a place which is a main approach to Šator. This whole area is bounded with a long mountain chain, which includes the peaks of Dinara on the border with Croatia.

Peaks

Šator peaks start rising with a sort of plateau 1500 m meters above sea level, at the end of the dense forests of beech, fir and spruce. Those 5 peaks have a shape like tent and form a 10 km string in east–west direction. That is almost perpendicular to most of Dinaric Alps mountains, which stretch in southeast–northwest direction. From a distance the whole mountain gives the impression of tent and that is how it got its name ( = ). The highest peak, on the western end, is Veliki Šator ( = ) which rises to 1872 m above sea level, while somewhat isolated, on the eastern end, is Mali Šator ( = ), slightly shorter at 1768 m. Two of the remaining three peaks exceed 1750 m above sea level, while the third, the neighbor of Mali Šator, exceeds 1800 m above sea level.

Flora and fauna

South slopes of Šator are grassy, in spring covered with carpets of flowers. On the opposite, north side are steep cliffs and scree slopes (also: talus piles) and karst depression with lot of dwarf pine. Šator and area around the mountain were enormous pastures for thousands of cattle, which were driven from as far as Dalmatia, but are now almost depopulated.

Tourism

Šator is a tame mountain in general, in a sense, and therefore more suitable for family trips instead of serious mountaineering. A mountain road that reaches Šatorsko Lake at 1488 m above sea level, grassy slopes, carpets of flowers and dense forests make this mountain attractive for visitors.