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Bosnia andeview of Geographical Realities
Summary
Two geographic factors are key considerations in analyzing the risks involved in military operations in the Tuzla area:
o arge chemical plant is located in the western part of the city andons of chlorine gas stored inert could kill people as far asilometers away if it were quickly released when the winds were fight, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Tuzla's summer winds are light and often come from the west, and its terrain could funnel the chlorine gas through lhe city.
o The city's locationarrow valley makes il and the roads approaching it vulnerable lo sniper fire from the surrounding hills, which can also serve as artillery and mortar positions. The hills and mountains around the city typically have forested crests, which couldDr personnel and equipment.
TuzU, Bosnia andeview of Geographical Realities
Considerations
Chemical plant in Tuzla
A large chemical plant is localed on the western outskirts of Tuzlastored at. PoJihem Chemical Plant couldrave threat ifwere sabotaged or badly damaged, and all the gas werereteased at oncfthe chemicals are flammable, corrosive, or toxic-or could become toxic ifixed in ihe atmosphere.
f all the chlorine in storage werenne could cause widespread death up toilometers (km) from theocauonalley means that gas released from the plant could be funnelled up the valley by the wind, right through the city.eople live0
The natural terrain surrounding Tuzla makes it vulnerable lo flat-trajectory fire including sniper fire, while the hills surrounding Tuzla can serve as artillery and mortar positions. Tuzla lies in an cast-west trending valley at an elevation ofeters (in) it is surrounded by rolling hills that increase in height to the east. The hills and embankments near the city center are aboutigher than the cily, while local peakslear line of sight to the valley-and the highways that serve it-areigher than the valley floor. The hills rise eastward for aboul eight km. cresting att Mt. Medednik. the highest peak in the Majevica Mountains. These mountains mark the boundary between the mountain section of Bosnia and Herregovina and the broad plain of the Sava River, which drains into the Danube river. I
The valley bottoms and lower hillslopes around Tuzla are covered by cropland Sieep slopes and hillcrests are covered by deciduous forest. These patches of disconunuous forest could provide concealment for personnel and equipment. Strips of trees along the field boundaries could also provide some concealment throughout the cropped areas, as could the numerous small orchards. The Majevica Mountains support an extensive forest along their crest. I
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alley is lessilometer wide and cui by the narrow, twisting Jala River. Numerous tributary streams drain side valleys and flow into Ihe Jala. In Tuzla, the Jala is confined to an artificial channel wiih moderately steep walls. This channel could be an impediment to easy movement if Ihe bridges were destroyed. The Jala joins the Sprccaributary of the Sava Rtver-aboutm downstream from Tuzla.
Geographic Background
N) is locatedilometers (km) west of Belgrade andm north of Sarajevo. It is onlym west of the border between Bosnia and Hercegovina and Serbia, andm south of the border between Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia.
The Tuzla areaopulation ofeople. In1 Yugoslav census,ercent of the population was Muslim,ercent was Croatian, andercent was Serbian. By laic June, Tuzla sheltered0 refugees.eople live0 km radius of Tuzla. I
Climale
Tuzla's location at the northern end of the mountainous highlands of Bosnia and Hercegovinaignificant impact on its climate. Being protected from the prcvailinif winds by ihe mountain belt to its wesl, Tuzla experiences less cloudiness and precipitation than most of Ihc wcslern areas of Bosnia and Hercegovina. The mountains also moderate ihe temperatures, tn the winter, the intense storms that approach the Balkans from the Adriatic Sea are deflected away from Tuzla towards the southeast by the coastal mountains. *H
Temperature. In July and August, average daily high temperatures are belowegrees Fahrenheit (F) and rarely exceedegrees F, while the average daily low temperatures are aroundegrees F. Ir. the winter, averageempera^es in winter drop fromn November ton January.|
Precipitation. The spring and summer months are Ihe wettest monlhs of the year in Tuzla. July receivesnches and August slightly morenches. Thunderstorms occur on four to fiveonth from May through August but only occasionally during the rest of the year. Snowfall occurs from November through April, with an annual average of just overhcs.J
Wind. Surface winds are light throughout the year. The prevailing winds from April through August are from the west and average three or four knots. The average wir.dspeed when all wind directions are considered is only one knot. From Seplcmbcr through March the prevailing winds are from ihe northeast but still average only three knots, and average only one knot when all winds are included.
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Transportation
Highways. Tuzla is accessible by road, but the highways that serve it are iwo lane and pass through forested hills and valleys thai could provide cover and concealment for possible attackers. The main highway through the center of Tuzla isther highways join Highwayn either end of the city. An old network of twisting, narrow roads weaves through the countryside and across the mountains. It is still heavily used by local residents.
Roads leading east from Tuzla. Highways one of the area's newer highways and heads east from Tuzla towards Bijeljina, eventually leaving the valleyoute with hairpin turns near the mountainecond route east from the Tuzla area does not pass through Tuzla proper bul can be reached by going south on Highwaysbout eight km to Zivinice. Al Zivinice,iverges fromlaying in the Spreca Valley and running just north ofzla Airfield. It runs along the western flanks of the Majevica Mountains, eventually crossing them and reaching Zvomik, in the valley of the Drina River.
Roads leading north from Tuzln. The main road north from Tuzla is Highway Id. Relatively new, it joins Highwayn the western outskirts of Tuzla, beyond Tuzla's industrial district. As it generallyail line, itow gradient across the mountains for most of its route, which terminates al Vukovar on the Sava River. Highwayn older route, follows Lhe main valley of the Jala northwest to the Spreca River valley and then follows the Spreca valley to Doboj, where it intersectshich follows ihe Bosna River north through the mountains towards the Sava. Another old road north from Tuzla splits from Highwayast of town at Simin Han and passes through Gornja Tuzla. The twisting road crosses the mountains one pass lo the north ofraversing the flanks of Mt. Medednik. Il exits the mountains at Cclic and passes through Brcko. I
Roads leading south from Tuzla. The main road from Tuzla to Sarajevo cuts south from the Jala River valley ai the western end of Tuzla.ontinuation of Highway Id, its number changes iot passes through Zivinice.
Railroads. Tuzla is servedtandard gauge rail spur line that comes up (he Spreca River Valley from Doboj. The line's junction at Doboj connects the Tuzla spur with the main line between Sarajevo and the northernecond railroad line runs from Tuzla to Brcko. crossing the mountainsow pass. Narrow gauge railroads lead soulh from Tuzla to mining districts to the south. |^
Airfield. TuzlaN) is lhe only airfield in the Tuzla area. Ii is located almostm south of Tuzla. beyond the forested hills that rise south of Jala River ^LfU
TUZLA, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA
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Roads to Tuzla Airfield. Tuzla Airfield can be reached from Tu2la by using either the main highways or local roads.ast of Zivinice passes to the north of theocal road leaves from the center of Tuzla and heads south directly towards the Airfield. Another local road splits from Highwaypstream from Tuzla, and circles eastward around the row of hills south of the Jala, joiningast of the Airfield.
Other Considerations Food Supply
Although the area surrounding Tuzla is agricultural, the region imports grain, meat, sugar, oils, and canned goods. Bosnia normally imports overercent of its food from Serbia and Croatia, but Serbia cut off food exports in December, and shortages were reported in Bosnia shortly afterward. Croatia--which previously would have been able to fill the gap--has lost much of its best cropland to Serbia and has announced that it will not have enough surplus food to export to other republics. Local production of fruits and vegetables in the Tuzla area has almost certainly been disrupted by the conflict, reducing the supply available in the summer. Although some hoarding has undoubtedly taken place,tored privately in Tuzla is unknown BHM
Important Urban Areas
Tuzla is the largest population center in the area. Most of the town lies between the Jala River and the highway that parallels it at the edge of the valley. Newer parts of the city have been built in side valleys and on the tops of the hills that rise above the main part of town. |
Tuzla has been subject to mortar and artillery fire since mid-May. The pace of the fire has increased, and on the night ofounds fell on the city, causing massive damage, according to the press. Prior to that, press reporting indicates thai the shelling was confined to the eastern end ofesidential district with numerous high-rise apartment buildings.
Important Rural Areas
The rural areas near Tuzla are densely settled and many villages have been the scene of fighting. Press reporting suggests that some villages lo the north and east of Tuzla have been used as artillery positions from which lo fire on Tuzla. Gornja Tuzla has been destroyed, according to lhe press, and Lukavac has experienced frequent fighting.
Lukavac is the most important community near Tuzla. Located onn the Spreca Valley, it is an industrial town that produces caustic soda, cement,o1 census, the population of Lukavac and its immediate ar,f whichercent were Muslim andercent were
SECRET
D.D. Polihem Chemical Plant, Tuzla, Yugoslavia Storage capacity, hazardous and toxic substances
Storage, inon sitea
Substance
Sodium
Sulfuric
Hydrochloric
Sodium
Ethylene
Propylene
Sodium
Sodium
Di-nitrotoluene
Toluene
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Number/ Azimuth
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Airfield abandoned by JNA in2
parallels main runway on south
Highway
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Auxiliary landing strip for Tu2la Airfield
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landing strip for Tuzla Airfield
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Climatic Surface Winds
Speed
Speed
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Original document.
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