07/05/2018
https://www.facebook.com/lakeskadar/posts/373114089759617
Grmožur is a small rocky island located near the entrance of Godinjski bay. Although it is barely thirty meters in diameter, Grmožur boasts three unofficial names: Snake Island, Bird Island and Montenegrin Alcatraz. It was known by the residents of Crmnica village as snake island, as it was once teeming with these reptiles. Bird lovers have christened it Bird Island due to the abundance of bird species that use the island as a nesting sanctuary. Last but not least, the label Montenegrin Alcatraz is derived from the remains of an impressive Ottoman fortress built in the 18th century. After Montenegro gained independence in 1878, the fortress was converted into a prison for convicts sentenced to serious crimes. This was the first fully organised prison in the region, with it’s own rule book and official procedures. For example, prisoners, guards and other employees all had to be non-swimmers. A particularly interesting item in the rule book is that, in case a prisoner escaped, the guard assigned to him had to serve the remainder of the sentence. Prisoners included the students from Belgrade who attempted the assassination of King Nikola. The fortress was heavily damaged in a large earthquake which hit Montenegro in 1905.
