Sarajevo is located at 43°52′0″N, 18°25′0″E, close to the center of triangular-shaped Bosnia-Herzegovina and within the historical region of Bosnia proper. It is built on the Sarajevo valley, in the middle of the Dinaric Alps, and encircled by heavily forested hills and mountains. The valley itself once formed a vast expanse of greenery, but gave way to urban expansion and development in the post-World War II era. The highest of the surrounding peaks is Treskavica at 2,088 meters (6,850 ft), with 1,502 meters (4,928 ft) Igman being the shortest. The city itself has its fair share of hilly terrain, as evidenced by the many steeply inclined streets and settlements seemingly perched on the hillsides. On average, Sarajevo is situated 500 meters (1,640 ft) above sea level.

The Miljacka river, with its source near outlying Pale, flows westwardly through the center of Sarajevo before eventually meeting up with the Bosna on the outskirts of the city. The Bosna's source, Vrelo Bosne near Ilidža, is another notable natural landmark and a popular destination for Sarajevans. Several smaller rivers and streams also run through the city and its vicinity.

Cityscape

Sarajevo is located close to the center of the triangular shape of Bosnia and Herzegovina in southeastern Europe. It consists of four municipalities (or "Općina"): Centar (Center), Novi Grad (New City), Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad (Old Town). Greater Sarajevo includes these and the neighbouring municipalities of Ilidža and Vogošća.

Climate

Sarajevo has a mild continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the north and the Mediterranean to the south. The average yearly temperature is 9.5 °C, with January (-1.3 °C avg.) being the coldest month of the year and July (19.1 °C avg.) the warmest. The highest recorded temperature was 40.0 °C on August 19, 1946, while the lowest recorded temperature was −29.0 °C on February 3, 1929. On average, Sarajevo has 68 summer days per year (temperature greater than or equal to 30.0 °C). The city typically experiences mildly cloudy skies, with an average yearly cloud cover of 59%. The cloudiest month is December (75% average cloud cover) while the clearest is August (37%). Moderate precipitation occurs fairly consistently throughout the year, with an average 170 days of snowfall. Suitable climatic conditions have allowed winter sports to flourish in the region, as exemplified by the 1984 Olympics.