Alps of Albania National Park

Alps of Albania National Park
Theth during autumn.
Map showing the location of Alps of Albania National Park
Map showing the location of Alps of Albania National Park
Location within Albania
Map showing the location of Alps of Albania National Park
Map showing the location of Alps of Albania National Park
Alps of Albania National Park (Europe)
LocationShkodër County, Kukës County
Nearest cityKoplik
Coordinates42°23′45″N 19°46′28″E / 42.39583°N 19.77444°E / 42.39583; 19.77444
Area82,844.65 ha (828.4465 km2)
Established26 January 2022[1]
Governing bodyNational Agency of Protected Areas

Alps of Albania National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar Alpet e Shqipërisë) is the largest national park in Albania. Established in 2022, the national park is located in northern Albania and covers an area of 8,844.65 ha (88.4465 km2).[2] The most prominent mountain range are the Albanian Alps (also called the Accursed Mountains), which are also the name sake of the national park. Most of Albania's peaks above 2,000 m are located here, including the highest peak of the Dinarides, Maja e Jezercës. The geological formation is dominated by high terrain, while having a variety of natural features including glaciers, valleys, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, dense forests and several rock formations. It is characterized by its very remote areas which have a large preserved ecosystem all of which is primarily untouched with pristine quality. The park was established to protect various ecosystems and biodiversity and the cultural and historical heritage of the region. The region has been also identified as an important Bird and Plant Area.[3]

The park borders Montenegro in the north and Nikaj-Mërtur Regional Nature Park in the south.

The park was created as an almalgamation of Theth National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar i Thethit), Valbona Valley National Park, and Gashi Nature Reserve. Theth National Park was established in 1966,[4][5] covering 2,630 ha (26.3 km2) around the larger portion of Shala Valley.[6][7] Valbona Valley National Park was established in 1996. In 2017, Theth was declared a Protected Historic Center.[8][9]

Theth village sprawls across the upper Shala Valley and is trapped on four sides by numerous two-thousanders such as Radohima in the west, Arapi and Poplluka in the north and Jezerca in the east. Standing at 1,795 m (5,889 ft), the Valbona Pass leads a mountain path in the west, which separates the park from the Valbona Valley National Park. Like most of the Albanian Alps, the park is dominated by limestone and dolomite rocks and shows major karst features such as the Grunas Canyon and the southern wall of Arapi, which is considered the highest rock face in the Balkans.[10]

  1. ^ "Vendime të miratuara në mbledhjen e Këshillit të Ministrave".
  2. ^ "Parku Kombëtar i Alpeve - AKZM". Agjensia Kombëtare e Zonave të Mbrojtura (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  3. ^ BirdLife International. "Thethi". datazone.birdlife.org.
  4. ^ "RRJETI I ZONAVE TË MBROJTURA NË SHQIPËRI" (PDF). mjedisi.gov.al (in Albanian). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-05.
  5. ^ Thethi-Guide. "Historia e Parkut Kombetar Theth" (in Albanian). Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Thethi & Valbona Valley National Parks, and Gashi River Strict Nature Reserve Management Plan" (PDF). researchgate.net. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Vlerësimi Strategjik Mjedisor për Planin e Integruar Ndersektorial te Bregdetit" (PDF). planifikimi.gov.al (in Albanian). p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-28.
  8. ^ Albanian National Agency of Tourism. "Valbona Valley National Park" (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  9. ^ IUCN, World Wide Fund for Nature, Plantlife. "Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region" (PDF). portals.iucn.org. p. 75.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Maja e Arapit, Geoquest Kletterführer" (PDF). dav-augsburg.de (in German). p. 3.