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Herzegowina

Herzegovina is the southern portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with Bosnia proper forming the country. It lies along the Adriatic coast and inland toward the Dinaric Alps, with notable karst landscapes and a river valley system, most prominently the Neretva. The coastal town of Neum provides Bosnia and Herzegovina’s access to the sea, while inland towns and villages vary from agricultural valleys to mountainous terrain. The region’s major population centers include Mostar, Čapljina, Stolac, Ljubuški, and Čitluk.

Etymology and history

The name Herzegovina derives from the title Herzeg (duke), used by medieval Bosnian rulers for lands ruled

Geography and places of note

The Neretva river valley is a central feature, with the city of Mostar renowned for its Stari

Demographics and economy

The population is primarily composed of Bosniaks and Croats, with some Serb communities in border zones. The

by
the
Herceg
of
Hum.
The
term
has
been
used
for
centuries
to
designate
the
southern
lands
of
the
medieval
Bosnian
state
and
continues
to
identify
the
region
today.
In
modern
history,
Herzegovina
became
part
of
the
Ottoman
Empire,
later
came
under
Austro-Hungarian
administration,
and
after
the
breakup
of
Yugoslavia
was
incorporated
into
the
state
of
Bosnia
and
Herzegovina.
In
the
1990s,
wartime
divisions
led
to
governance
within
the
Federation
of
Bosnia
and
Herzegovina,
which
includes
the
Herzegovina-Neretva
Canton.
Most
(Old
Bridge).
Nearby
sites
include
Blagaj
with
a
dervish
Tekija
on
the
Buna
river,
the
Kravice
waterfalls
near
Ljubuški,
and
the
historic
town
of
Počitelj.
The
region
also
includes
Međugorje,
a
major
pilgrimage
site.
The
gradual
transition
from
a
coastal
belt
to
mountainous
terrain
shapes
local
climate
and
agriculture.
economy
is
supported
by
tourism
(Mostar,
Međugorje,
Neum),
wine
and
agriculture
in
the
Neretva
valley,
and
light
industry
in
urban
centers.