Accursed Mountains

Template:Geobox Prokletije or North Albanian Alps is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from eastern Montenegro and northern Albania to north-western Kosovo^[a]. Its highest point, Jezercë in Albania at 2,694 m (8,839 ft), is the tallest peak in the entire Dinaric Alps. Other peaks include Đeravica in Kosovo at 2,656 m (8,714 ft).

Both the highest peak in Montenegro and Kosovo are located here. The highest peak in Albania though is Mount Korab which is 2,764 m (9,068 ft) high and is located in the east of the country.

In Albanian the range is called Bjeshkët e Nemuna, meaning 'The Cursed Mountains', or Alpet Shqiptare, meaning 'Albanian Alps'. In Montenegrin and Serbian it is called Prokletije (Проклетије), literally 'The Damned' (plural).

Geography

The Prokletije mountain range is located in the west of the Balkans. It occupys the north of Albania, west of Kosovo and the east of Montenegro. It is a subrange or part of the 1,000 km (621 mi) long Dinaric Alps. It is the most southern part of the Dinaric Alps and also contains the highest peaks. The 450 m (1,476 ft) high fertile Metohija valley in Kosovo borders it to its east. The larget lake in the Balkans, Lake Scutari is not far from the Prokletije only being a few kilometers south-west of it.

The Prokletije range was formed by the folding actions of the African Plate which lies under the European one.

Nowhere in the Balkans have glaciers left so much evidence of erosion. After the Alps these mountains are the most glacial in Europe. They have very steep slopes made out of limestone and are the most karstic mountains in the Balkans. The Prokletije range is surely one of the ranges in Europe which has not been explored entirely.

The Prokletije mountains beacause of their steepness are not settled by many people. Instead small villages are located in the valleys while the largest of settlements are situated on the slopes of the mountains. The largest settlement is Peć in Kosovo located at the entrance of the Rugova Canyon. It has a population of 81,000 inhabitants.

Prokletije Central Range, from above.

Settlements of the Prokletije

• Peć 81,000
• Dečani
• Junik
• Plav
• Ballaban
• Tropojë
• Rožaje
• Valbona
• Bajram Curri
• Gusinje
• Lekbibaj
• Nicaj
• Kuqishtë
• Bogë

Histrory

In antiquity the Prokletije range aswell as the entire Dinaric Alps were first settled by an ancient people known as the Illyrians. Their kingdom, Illyria which stretched through the western Balkans also included the Prokletije. The capital city Shkodra in modern day Albania was only a few kilometers south-west of the mountains. When the Romans conquered Illyria in 165 BC the mountains in Prokletije offered the Illyrians shelter and a safe place to keep their culture, traditions, customs and language alive.

Illyria one of the first great powers of ancient Europe

From then on the Prokletije was a part of the Byzantine Empire, Slav states and the Ottoman Empire.

Early Ascents

In the year 1929 British climbers Sleeman, Elmalie and Ellwood reached the summit of Maja Jezercë on the 26th of July. These three climbers were the first to do so. Years later Austrian mountaineers scaled the summit too. Many explorers and scientists visited the Prokletije mountains collecting rocks and samples and then displayind them in museums, all of them bringing comments back.

Before any of these expeditions took place the highest peak of the range was believed to be Shkëlzen at 2,407 m (7,897 ft) high and then Maja Radohimës at 2,570 m (8,432 ft) high. By early summer 1929 all the summits were measured by Italian geodets.

Canyons and Valleys

The Prokletije mountains being eroded and cut through by many glaciers have left many features behind to tell their tale. Deep river canyons and flat valleys are found winding their way around the ridges of the mountains. The largest and most popular canyon is Rugova Canyon. It is situated in Kosovo and it 25 km (16 mi) long from the border with Montenegro up to the city of Peć and is 1,000 m (3,281 ft) deep. It consists of very steep mountain slopes on both sides. Other canyons and gorges tend to be smaller and less known to visitors.

Valley of Cemi i Nikçit in northern Albania

Valleys are not just found on flat ground bordering mountains but also near the summits of mountains. The most known valley to be located high up on mountains is 'Buni Jezerce' in Albania. Buni Jezerce means Valley of the Lakes and it is probably why it contains 6 small glacial lakes the biggest of whom is Big lake of Buni Jezerce.

Canyons in Prokletije

• Rugova Canyon
• Dečani Canyon
• Gashi Canyon
• Cemi Canyon

Valleys in Prokletije

• Valbona Valley
• Thethi Valley
• Ropojona Valley
• Gerbja Valley
• Buni Jezerce
• Cemi i Nikçit Valley
• Vërmosh Valley

Lakes

Prokletije contains many beautiful lakes which are popular tourist attractions. In fact Prokletije falls in second place just behind the Alps as the range that has the most lakes.

Lake Plav

Lakes in the range listed by size:

• Lake Plav
• Big lake of Buni Jezerce
• Lake Dash
• Lake Sylbicë
• Đeravica Lake
• Liqenat Lake
• Heart's Lake
• Žuti kamen Lake
• Dhenve Lake
• Tropojë Lake
• Small Liqenat Lake

Rivers

Prokletije has many rivers that origanate on its many mountains. The majority of the rivers flow in the Adriatic Sea in Albania but some flow all the way into the Black Sea. Rivers here are fast flowing and crystal clear. The longest river is the White Drin which origanates in Kosovo. It flows into the Drin in Albania and when measured from its origin up to the Drin's mouth it is 335 km (208 mi) long. Although the Pećka Bistrica in Kosovo is short it is very powerful and has carved the impressive Rugova Canyon which is up to 25 km (16 mi) long and 1,000 m (3,281 ft) deep.

River in the Prokletije

• White Drin - Drin 335 km (208 mi)
• Ibar River 276 km (171 mi)
• Lim River 220 km (137 mi)
• Cijevna River 65 km (40 mi)
• Pećka Bistrica 62 km (39 mi)
• Dečanska Bistrica 53 km (33 mi)
• Erenik 51 km (32 mi)
• Valbona River
• Shalë River
• Kir River
• Krena
• Tropoja
• Gashi

Waterfalls are also found in some parts of the range. Some are just being discovered for example a small waterfall was only discoverd in 2008 in Albania. The largest waterfalls always attract the most visitors. The White Drin Waterfall in Kosovo is a large waterfall reaching a height of 25 m (82 ft). Beacause it is not far from the city of Peć and it is not hard to get there it is visited by many visitors. The Grunas Waterfall in Albania is located in the Thethi National Park. Its waters are clear beacause not much volume of water falls down.

Fauna and Flora

Lynxes are one of the largest predators found in the Prokletije especially in Albania.

Beacause of Prokletije's lush and high forests this place is ideal for animal life. The fast flowing streams and rivers are perfect habitat for many fish species and the predators that prey on them. Its rugged slopes and steep forests make Prokletije home to large predators and rare mammal species. Aroun 2,000 plant species are found in the range and 2 dozen or so are flor endemic. So fa 140 species of butterflies are found which makes Prokletije the richest area in Europe for butterflies.

Many caves in the Prokletije are home to many species of bats and other cave dwelling species.

List of Animals in Prokletije

• Eurasian Brown Bear
• Grey wolf
• Eurasian Lynx
• Chamois
• Golden Jackal
• Red Fox
• European Wildcat
• European Otter
• Alpine Salamander
• Fire Salamander

Two national parks exist in Prokletije and both are found in Albania. The 'Thethi National Park' covers an area of 2,630 hectares and is located along the Thethi River. Trout are abundant here. The main attraction in the park is the Grunas Waterfall. The 'Valbona Valley National Park' is 8,000 hectares and is also called the Gem of Albania. It consists of the Valbona Valley and the Valbona River which is known for its crystal clear waters.

Highest peaks

• Maja Jezercë (2,694 m (8,839 ft))
• Đeravica (2,656 m (8,714 ft))
• Maja Grykat e Hapëta (2,625 m (8,612 ft))
• Maja Radohimës (2,570 m (8,432 ft))
• Maja e Popljuces (2,569 m (8,428 ft))
• Maja Briaset (2,567 m (8,422 ft))
• Maja Hekurave (2,561 m (8,402 ft))
• Maja Shnikut (2,554 m (8,379 ft))
• Maja Tat (2,543 m (8,343 ft))
• Maja Gusanit (2,539 m (8,330 ft))
• Zla Kolata (2,534 m (8,314 ft))
• Marijaš (2,533 m (8,310 ft))
• Kolata e Mirë (2,524 m (8,281 ft))
• Maja Rosit (2,524 m (8,281 ft))
• Žuti kamen (2,522 m (8,274 ft))
• Maja Kokervhake (2,508 m (8,228 ft))
• Maja e Ropës (2,502 m (8,209 ft))
• Maja Shkurt (2,499 m (8,199 ft))
• Maja Malësores (2,490 m (8,169 ft))
• Maja e Ragamit (2,472 m (8,110 ft))
• Maja Bojs (2,461 m (8,074 ft))
• Kopranik (2,460 m (8,071 ft))
• Maja Vukoces (2,450 m (8,038 ft))
• Veternik Mountain (2,410 m (7,907 ft))
• Shkëlzen (2,407 m (7,897 ft))
• Pasji Peak (2,405 m (7,890 ft))
• Bogićaj (peak) (2,404 m (7,887 ft))
• Hajla (2,403 m (7,884 ft))
• Rusulija (2,382 m (7,815 ft))
• Streoc (2,377 m (7,799 ft))
• Tromeđa (2,366 m (7,762 ft))
• Žljeb (2,365 m (7,759 ft))
• Maja e Kakisë (2,360 m (7,743 ft))
• Liqenat (2,341 m (7,680 ft))
• Rrasa e Zogut (2,305 m (7,562 ft))
• Vranovačka Hajla (2,281 m (7,484 ft))
• Junik Mountains (2,280 m (7,480 ft))
• Maja e Elbunit (2,231 m (7,320 ft))
• Dečani Mountain (2,200 m (7,218 ft))
• Maja Trojan (2,190 m (7,185 ft))
• Pogled (2,155 m (7,070 ft))
• Dramadol (2,120 m (6,955 ft))
• Beleg (2,102 m (6,896 ft))
• Maja e Ershellit (2,067 m (6,781 ft))
• Volujak (2,014 m (6,608 ft))
• Škreljska Hajla (2,011 m (6,598 ft))
• Maja e Madhe (2,011 m (6,598 ft))
• Maja e Grebenit (1,864 m (6,115 ft))
• Maja e Veleçiqut (1,725 m (5,659 ft))

See Also

• Mokna
• Bogićevica
• Rugova Canyon
• Valbona
• Žljeb mountain

Notes and references

Notes:

a.	^ Template:Kosovo-note

References:

• Prokletije at summitpost.org

External links

• Prokletije on BirdLife
• Peace parks of Prokletije