Ulog (Bosnian: Улог) is a small mountain village located on the banks of the Upper Neretva River in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Administratively, it belongs to the Kalinovik municipality. Ulog sits in the Upper Neretva valley surrounded by the high peaks and forests of the eastern Dinaric Alps.
The region around the Neretva’s source and its first 90 km of course is known as the Upper Neretva (Bosnian: Gornja Neretva). This part of the river flows from its headwaters deep in the Dinaric Alps near the Zelengora and Lebršnik mountains through steep gorges and wide glacial valleys. Ulog lies along the river before it reaches the larger town of Konjic.
Ulog originated as a mountain settlement along an old caravan route connecting Mostar and Nevesinje en route to Istanbul. Like many villages in rural Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has experienced significant population decline in recent decades due to urban migration and historical events. Once home to thousands, today only a small number of mainly elderly residents remain.
The Neretva River at Ulog is part of a pristine freshwater system famous for its exceptionally clear and cold water — class I purity — and rich biodiversity, including endemic fish species. The surrounding landscape offers dramatic canyon views, mountain forests, and clean spring waters.
Near Ulog, a designated revir (fly-fishing zone) has been established on the Neretva River, offering opportunities for catch-and-release angling focused on native trout species. Local fishing associations manage permits and have stocked parts of the river to support sustainable recreational fishing.
In recent years, the Upper Neretva around Ulog has been the focus of hydropower development. The new Ulog Hydropower Plant with a 35 MW capacity and associated dam has been constructed on the river just downstream of the village. This project, and several planned small hydro plants upstream, have been controversial due to concerns about environmental impacts on river ecology, landscapes, and local communities.
Environmental organizations and researchers have documented ecological risks associated with dam operations, including altered flow regimes and reports of fish kills in the downstream reaches of the Neretva. These issues have brought attention to the need for careful river protection and sustainable management of the Upper Neretva’s natural heritage.
Though small and sparsely populated today, Ulog represents an important crossroads of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and ongoing environmental debate along the Upper Neretva. Its setting amid rare mountain landscapes and one of Europe’s most noted freshwater ecosystems makes it a symbol of both rural life and the challenges facing river communities in the 21st century.