Plav

Plav is a town and municipality in the eastern part of Montenegro, near the border with Albania. It lies along the Lim River and is surrounded by the Prokletije (Accursed Mountains). The town serves as the administrative center of Plav Municipality, a mountainous district known for its rugged scenery, forestry, and traditional communities.

Lake Plav is a notable geographic feature associated with the area. This glacial lake sits in a high-altitude basin to the north of the town and is a popular destination for hiking, boating, and fishing. The surrounding landscape includes the alpine terrain of the Prokletije mountains, which are a major draw for outdoor recreation and ecotourism.

The name Plav also appears in Slavic languages, where plav is an adjective meaning "blue" in masculine form, with plava and plavo as feminine and neuter forms. The toponym Plav is commonly linked to historical naming practices related to the color of water, sky, or local terrain, though precise etymologies can vary by locality.

In addition to the town itself, Plav is used as a municipal designation that encompasses rural settlements and villages within its boundaries. The area has a diverse cultural heritage, reflecting generations of Montenegrin, Bosniak, and Albanian influences, and it has historically depended on farming, forestry, and hydroelectric resources along the river system.