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The Accursed Mountains (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Prokletije, Проклетије, separator=" / ", ; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian Alps (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Albanski Alpi, Албански Алпи, separator=" / ", link=no), is a mountain range in coastal Southeast Europe adjacent to the
Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
. It is the southernmost subrange of the
Dinaric Alps The Dinaric Alps (), also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern Europe, Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia ...
range (Dinarides), extending from northern
Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
to western
Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...
and northeastern
Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...
.
Maja Jezercë Maja may refer to: People * Maja (given name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) * Charles Maja (1966–2020), South African actor * Josh Maja (born 1998), English footballer * Otto Maja (born 1987), Finnish stree ...
, standing at , is the highest point of the Accursed Mountains and of all Dinaric Alps, and the fifth highest peak in Albania. The range includes the mountain
Zla Kolata Zla Kolata ( Montenegrin Cyrillic: Зла Колата) or Kollata e Keqe () is one of the highest peaks of the Accursed Mountains, on the border of Albania and Montenegro. Description Zla Kolata has an elevation of , making it the highest mo ...
, which, at , is the tallest mountain in Montenegro. The range also includes the mountain
Gjeravica Gjeravica (Albanian indefinite form: ''Gjeravicë''; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Ђеравица, Đeravica, separator=" / ") is a mountain peak in Kosovo. It also is the second-highest mountain peak in the Accursed Mountains range and the Dinaric Alps ran ...
, which, at , is the second tallest mountain in Kosovo. One of the southernmost glacial masses in Europe was discovered in the Albanian part of the range in 2009.


Name

The origin of the name "Accursed Mountains" is disputed. According to one local legend, the devil escaped from hell and created the jagged glacial
karst Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
s in a single day of mischief. Others say a woman cursed the mountains while she and her children trekked through them on a scorching-hot day and could not find any water. A third legend claims Slavic soldiers gave the mountains their name as they struggled to march through them. Both the Albanian () and Serbo-Croatian () names mean "The Accursed Mountains".


Location and relief

The Accursed Mountains, the southernmost part of the
Dinaric Alps The Dinaric Alps (), also Dinarides, are a mountain range in Southern Europe, Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch from Italy in the northwest through Slovenia, Croatia ...
, stretch more than from
Lake Skadar Lake Skadar or Lake Scutari (, ; cnr-Cyrl-Latn, Скадарско језеро, Skadarsko jezero, )also called Lake Shkodra (and ''Lake Shkodër'')lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern Europe. It is n ...
along the Montenegrin–Albanian border in the southwest to Kosovo in the northeast. These points are at 42°45' and 42°15' N in the Mediterranean zone of the western
Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
. Akademia e Shkencave e RPSSH: ''Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar'', Tirana 1985 und ''Gjeografia fizike e Shqipërisë'', Tirana 1990 The southern boundary of the Accursed Mountains is at the river Drin and its tributary Valbona. In a broader sense, the Accursed Mountains also include the mountain ranges to Mitrovica with the Hajla and
Mokna Mokra Gora (; sr-Cyrl, Мокра Гора, lit=Wet Mountain, ) is a mountain on the border between Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. It is part of the Accursed Mountains range. It has two peaks higher than . The highest is Pogled at , and the o ...
massifs. Some authors, however, see the
river Lim The Lim (Serbian Cyrillic: Лим, ) or Vermosh River () is a river that flows through Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and is long.Cem river then curve slightly to the east in the direction of
Gjeravica Gjeravica (Albanian indefinite form: ''Gjeravicë''; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Ђеравица, Đeravica, separator=" / ") is a mountain peak in Kosovo. It also is the second-highest mountain peak in the Accursed Mountains range and the Dinaric Alps ran ...
summit above the western Kosovo (450m) basin. From here, the Accursed Mountains turn northwards over the
Bogićevica Богићевица; ) is a mountain area in the Accursed Mountains">Rops (peak)">Rops Bogićevica ( sr-Cyrl">Богићевица; ) is a mountain area in the Accursed Mountains (Prokletije) mountain range. It spreads over Montenegro, Kosovo an ...
massif and Čakor pass and continue with another row of mountains. The Accursed Mountains finish in the area of upper
Ibar River The Ibar ( sr-cyrl, Ибар, ), also known as the Ibër and Ibri (), is a river that flows through eastern Montenegro, northern Kosovo and central Serbia, with a total length of . The river begins in the Hajla mountain, in Rožaje, eastern Mo ...
valley near Mitrovica, just after the
Suva Planina Suva Planina (Serbian Cyrillic: Сува планина, meaning "dry mountain") is a mountain in southeastern Serbia. It lies between the towns of Niška Banja to the northwest and Babušnica to the southeast, with a ridge branching towards Bel ...
() massif that encircles Dukagjin basin from the north and northwest. The Accursed Mountains are ethnographically and sociologically diverse with many tribes living in the region as sheep herders. Names of various
Albanian tribes The Albanian tribes () form a historical mode of social organization (''farefisní'') in Albania and the southwestern Balkans characterized by a common culture, often common patrilineal kinship ties and shared social ties. The ''fis'' ( sq-defi ...
( Hoti, Gruda,
Kelmendi Kelmendi is a historical Albanian tribes, Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in Malësia (Kelmend (municipality), Kelmend municipality) and eastern Montenegro (parts of Gusinje Municipality). It is located in the upper valley of the Cem (river), ...
, Kastrati, Dukagjini, Shkreli,
Shala Shala (Šala) was a Mesopotamian goddess of weather and grain and the wife of the weather god Adad. It is assumed that she originated in northern Mesopotamia and that her name might have Hurrian origin. She was worshiped especially in Karka ...
,
Nikaj The Nikaj are an historical Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in the Highlands of Gjakova of north Albania. The Nikaj tribe is a traditional ''fis'' in the sense of being a community that claims paternal descent from one common ancestor, consis ...
,
Krasniqi Krasniqi is a historical Albanian tribe and region in the Accursed Mountains in northeastern Albania, bordering Kosovo. The region lies within the Tropoje District and is part of a wider area between Albania and Kosovo that is historically kn ...
, Gashi, Kuči and Rugova) refer to their geographical locations within the range. On the Montenegrin side of this mountain range, on the rock wall of the summit Koplje, there's a rock climbing route which is the most difficult in this region. The route is called "Prvo Koplje" and its first ascent was made by the alpinists Žarko Gostović (1950-2019) from
Skopje Skopje ( , ; ; , sq-definite, Shkupi) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It lies in the northern part of the country, in the Skopje Basin, Skopje Valley along the Vardar River, and is the political, economic, and cultura ...
,
Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...
and Ante Bedalov (1952-1974) from
Kaštel Kambelovac Kaštel Kambelovac is a town within the administrative area of Kaštela in Dalmatia, Croatia. The town of Kaštela The town of Kaštela is located on the coast of the Bay of Kaštela. It has over 40 000 inhabitants, and it is the second largest t ...
, Croatia. The two climbed this route starting from 15 June 1972, and finishing the ascent on 18 June 1972, needing three and a half days to finish this first ascent.


Geology

The Accursed Mountains are a typical Dinaric karst high mountain range with a pronounced steep topography and glacial features. Maximum relief differences of are found in the Valbona, Grbaja and Ropojani and Cem valleys. Overhanging walls and ridges forming pointed peaks are typical of the western and central Accursed Mountains. The eastern mountains are less rugged with lower relief. The valleys show characteristic effects of Pleistocene glaciation. Most of the area was modified by glacial activity with
karst Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
ic areas in the western parts. The range was formed by the
folding Fold, folding or foldable may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Fold'' (album), the debut release by Australian rock band Epicure * Fold (poker), in the game of poker, to discard one's hand and forfeit interest in the current pot *Abov ...
resulting from the collision of the African and
Eurasian Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents dates back to antiq ...
plates Plate may refer to: Cooking * Plate (dishware), broad, mainly flat vessel commonly used to serve food * Plates, tableware, dishes or dishware used for setting a table, serving food and dining * Plate, the content of such a plate (for example: ...
. Nowhere in the Balkans have glaciers left so much evidence of erosion. After the
Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...
, these mountains are the most glaciated in Europe south of the Scandinavian
ice sheet In glaciology, an ice sheet, also known as a continental glacier, is a mass of glacier, glacial ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than . The only current ice sheets are the Antarctic ice sheet and the Greenland ice sheet. Ice s ...
. They have very steep limestone slopes with abundant karst features. The Accursed Mountains are a large, rugged, pathless range. It is one of the rare mountain ranges in Europe that has not been explored entirely. In some areas, the Accursed Mountains run almost parallel with the Šar Mountains in
North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...
, Albania and Kosovo. This tectonic crash produced the unusual zig-zag shape of the range and also their curving from the dominant Dinaric northwestern – southeastern direction toward the northeastern one. In the western and central parts of the range the composition of the mountains is of mainly uniform with
Mesozoic The Mesozoic Era is the Era (geology), era of Earth's Geologic time scale, geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Period (geology), Periods. It is characterized by the dominance of archosaurian r ...
limestones and dolomites of the
Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 143.1 Mya. ...
and
Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...
ages. In the eastern Accursed Mountains in addition to the limestone and dolomite series, there are rocks from the late
Palaeozoic The Paleozoic ( , , ; or Palaeozoic) Era is the first of three geological eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. Beginning 538.8 million years ago (Ma), it succeeds the Neoproterozoic (the last era of the Proterozoic Eon) and ends 251.9 Ma at the start of ...
and
Triassic The Triassic ( ; sometimes symbolized 🝈) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.5 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.4 Mya. The Triassic is t ...
periods, medium-Triassic
volcanic rock Volcanic rocks (often shortened to volcanics in scientific contexts) are rocks formed from lava erupted from a volcano. Like all rock types, the concept of volcanic rock is artificial, and in nature volcanic rocks grade into hypabyssal and me ...
s and Jurassic
metamorphic rock Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock to new types of rock in a process called metamorphism. The original rock ( protolith) is subjected to temperatures greater than and, often, elevated pressure of or more, caus ...
s. The Kalktafel is cut deeply with valleys in a variety of rock blocks of the mountains north of Përroi i Thatë, the Biga e Gimajive south of it, the Jezerca block between Shala and Valbona valley, the massif of the Maja e Hekurave, the plateau of the Maja e Kolats north of Valbona and Shkëlzen northeast of Valbona. The valleys were formed by glaciers which created very steep walls and hollows up to deep. The south wall of the Maja Harapit is high, making it the highest rock face on the Balkan Peninsula. Although some scientific research gives the Accursed Mountains the status of a separate mountain chain, in most other ways this chain is still considered the highest of all Dinaric areas, connected with the Dinaric mountain chain in terms of geology, morphology, and ethnography.


Massifs

The Accursed Mountains are made up of many large sections or mountain massifs/groups, all of which are connected to one another. These massifs include the Popluks group with a height of , the Shkurt group at , the Radohimës group at , the Zaborës e Krasniçës at , the Bjelic group at , the Karanfili-Brada group at , the Rabës group at , the Ershellit group at , the Kakinjes group at , the
Shkëlzen Shkëlzen ( 'Shkëlzeni') is a mountain situated in the Albanian Alps, bounded by the Tropojë river valley to the northeast, the Gashi river valley to the southwest, and the Tropojë basin to the southeast. Its highest of the two peaks, ''Maja e ...
group at , the
Bogićevica Богићевица; ) is a mountain area in the Accursed Mountains">Rops (peak)">Rops Bogićevica ( sr-Cyrl">Богићевица; ) is a mountain area in the Accursed Mountains (Prokletije) mountain range. It spreads over Montenegro, Kosovo an ...
group at , the Horolac group at , the Kershi Kocaj group at , the Maja e Zezë group at , the Lumbardhit group at , the
Kopranik Kopranik (, ) is a mountain with a height of in Kosovo. Kopranik is part of the Albanian Alps. At the northern slopes of the mountain is the Rugova Canyon which is a popular tourist destination in the Accursed Mountains The Accursed Mountain ...
group at , the Strellc group at , the Gjeravica group at , the
Junik Junik ( sq-definite, Juniku; sr-Cyrl, Јуник) is a town and municipality in the Gjakova District in western Kosovo. History During the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans, Junik and the Municipality of Junik were part of the Nahiya of Altun- ...
group at , the Starac-Qokorr group , the
Hajla Hajla ( or ''Hajla''; sr-Cyrl, Хајла) is a mountain located between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. It has several peaks that reach over , the tallest with a hight of . The northern slopes contains the spring formation of the Ibar ri ...
group at , the Stedim-Ahmica group at , the Zleb-Rusulija group at , the
Mokna Mokra Gora (; sr-Cyrl, Мокра Гора, lit=Wet Mountain, ) is a mountain on the border between Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. It is part of the Accursed Mountains range. It has two peaks higher than . The highest is Pogled at , and the o ...
group at and the Suva Planina group at .


Canyons and valleys

Erosion during
glaciation A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate be ...
left many telltale features behind. Deep river canyons and flat valleys wind around the ridges of the mountains. The largest canyon is
Rugova Canyon Rugova Canyon (; , ''Rugovska klisura'') or Rugova Gorge () is a river canyon near Peja in western Kosovo. The canyon is located in the Albanian Alps, close to the border with Montenegro. With a length of and a depth up to 1,000 meters, Rugova ...
. It is situated in Kosovo and is long from the border with Montenegro to
Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...
and is deep. It has very steep vertical mountain slopes on both sides. Valleys common at lower altitudes are found at the alpine level, creating mountain passes and valley troughs, such as Buni Jezerce in Albania. Buni Jezerce means "Valley of the Lakes" and it contains six small glacial lakes, the biggest being called the Big lake of Buni Jezerce. Canyons in the Accursed Mountains *
Rugova Canyon Rugova Canyon (; , ''Rugovska klisura'') or Rugova Gorge () is a river canyon near Peja in western Kosovo. The canyon is located in the Albanian Alps, close to the border with Montenegro. With a length of and a depth up to 1,000 meters, Rugova ...
* Deçani Canyon * Gashi Canyon * Cemi Canyon Valleys in the Accursed Mountains * Vermosh Valley *
Valbona Valley The Valbona Valley () is in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. It is part of Alps of Albania National Park, one of the most impressive and notable topographic features of Albania. Being the southernmost continuation of the Dinaric Alps, it f ...
* Thethi Valley * Ropojona Valley * Gerbja Valley * Buni Jezerce * Cemi i Nikçit Valley


Rivers and lakes

The Accursed Mountains contain several notable rivers of the region. Rivers in this range fall roughly into two main categories, those that flow into the Lim and those that enter the
White Drin The White Drin or White Drim (; , ) is a river in Kosovo and northern Albania, a ca. long headstream of the Drin. Course Kosovo The Kosovo section of the White Drin flows entirely in the semi-karst part of Kosovo, in an arc-shaped -long ...
and meet the
Black Drin The Black Drin, or Black Drim (; ) is a river in North Macedonia and Albania. It flows out of Lake Ohrid in Struga, North Macedonia. It is long and its drainage basin is . Its average discharge is . After flowing through North Macedonia for , the ...
downstream at the Drin confluence. The southern and eastern slopes of the Accursed Mountains fall into the latter category. The Tara and Lim rivers, two major sources of the Dinaric river system, originate on the northern borders of the Accursed Mountains. The Vërmosh originates in the northwest mountainous part in Montenegro, close to the border with Albania. As a tributary of the
Drina The Drina ( sr-Cyrl, Дрина, ) is a long river in the Balkans, which forms a large portion of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Al ...
it drains into the
Danube The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
and then into the
Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...
. The Lim flows through the Plav lake. The Ibar, which originates on the slopes of the
Hajla Hajla ( or ''Hajla''; sr-Cyrl, Хајла) is a mountain located between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. It has several peaks that reach over , the tallest with a hight of . The northern slopes contains the spring formation of the Ibar ri ...
, takes a similar route into the Danube via the
West Morava West Morava (, ) is a river in Central Serbia, a 184-km long headstream of the Great Morava, which it forms with the South Morava. It was known as Brongus in antiquity. Origin The West Morava originates in the Tašti field, east of the town o ...
in Serbia. In the southern Accursed Mountains, the Drin dominates. It drains most of the ranges with its tributaries and when measured from the source of the White Drin in Radavc to the mouth of the Drin near Lezha, it is long. However, not all of the Drin flows near or parallel to the Accursed Mountains. One Drin tributary is the Valbona, which drains into the
Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
, and its eastern tributary the Gashi River. To the west of the mountains is the
Cem Cem Sultan (1459–1495) was a prince of the Ottoman Empire. Cem or CEM may also refer to: Colleges * College of Eastern Medicine, a branch of Southern California University of Health Sciences, in Los Angeles, California, US * College of Eme ...
, which drains the northwestern part of the Montenegrin-Albanian border area to the Adriatic. Water levels fluctuate because the karst topography drains the water underground. Some rivers or streams, such as Përroi i Thatë in Albania, dry out completely during the summer droughts. Although the
Lumbardhi i Pejës The Lumbardhi i Pejës, or Peja Bistrica or Peć Bistrica (; ), is a river in Kosovo. This 62 km-long right tributary to the White Drin river flows entirely within the south-western part of Kosovo. Name The river's name, Lumbardh, litera ...
river in Kosovo is short, it is very powerful and carved the Rugova Canyon. There are about 20 small alpine lakes of glacial origin in the Accursed Mountains. Many lakes are in the Bogiçevica border area between Kosovo and Albania and the ''Buni i Jezercë'' trough near the Jezerca and Bojs peaks. Some lakes, such as Lake Liqenat in Kosovo and Hrid Lake in Montenegro, are tourist attractions. Hrid Lake is a clear example of a well-preserved glacial relief. In the Pleistocene period this was a collection area for ice that fell down over steps of rock from surrounding peaks, dragging with it heterogeneous material. Precipitation washed away smaller rocks, but larger ones remain on the southwestern and western lake shore. The lake is long, wide and about deep on average. In addition to precipitation, it receives water from sources near its shores. The largest lake is
Lake Plav Lake Plav (; ) is a lake in Plav municipality, in northeastern Montenegro.Jezera i rijeke
Montenegro Travel
in Montenegro. The lake lies at an altitude of above sea level in the Plav valley, nestled between the Accursed Mountains and the Visitor range. Waterfalls are found in some parts of the range. The
White Drin Waterfall The White Drin Waterfall () is a waterfall in the western part of Kosovo. It is located in the Zhleb Mountain within the Accursed Mountains and is situated near the village of Radac, which is 11 km away from the town of Peja. The waterfall i ...
in Kosovo reaches a height of . Because it is not far from
Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...
, it is easily accessible and frequented by many visitors. The Grunas Waterfall in Albania is high and is in the
Theth National Park Alps of Albania National Park () is the largest national park in Albania. Established in 2022, the national park is located in northern Albania and covers an area of . The most prominent mountain range are the Albanian Alps (also called the Accurs ...
. The Ali Pasha natural springs in Montenegro near
Gusinje Gusinje (, ; ) is a small town in Montenegro in the northern region. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 1,673 and is the administrative center of Gusinje Municipality. Name Two alternative etymologies have been proposed ...
are the premium attraction for the town.


Highest peaks

Peaks over *
Maja Jezercë Maja may refer to: People * Maja (given name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) * Charles Maja (1966–2020), South African actor * Josh Maja (born 1998), English footballer * Otto Maja (born 1987), Finnish stree ...
(; in Albania) *
Gjeravica Gjeravica (Albanian indefinite form: ''Gjeravicë''; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Ђеравица, Đeravica, separator=" / ") is a mountain peak in Kosovo. It also is the second-highest mountain peak in the Accursed Mountains range and the Dinaric Alps ran ...
(; in Kosovo) *
Maja Grykat e Hapëta Maja may refer to: People * Maja (given name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) * Charles Maja (1966–2020), South African actor * Josh Maja (born 1998), English footballer * Otto Maja (born 1987), Finnish stree ...
(; in Albania) Peaks over *
Maja e Radohimës Radohina is a massif situated in the Albanian Alps, within the boundaries of Shkodër municipality. Its main peak, ''Maja e Radohinës'', reaches a height of . Geology Radohina lies between the valleys of Theth in the southeast and Cemi i Vuk ...
(; in Albania) *
Maja e Popllukës Maja e Popllukës is a mountain in Albania in the Accursed Mountains range. It is high and is surrounded by many peaks above . It is located just south of Maja Jezercë Maja may refer to: People * Maja (given name), a feminine given name (incl ...
(; in Albania) * Maja Briaset (; in Albania) * Maja e Hekurave (; in Albania) *
Rodi e Kollatës Kollata is a massif in the Albanian Alps, located between Kukaj stream and Valbonë pass in the west, the upper Valbonë Valley in the south, Cerem basin in the east and extending beyond the state border with Montenegro to the north. Its highest ...
(; in Albania) *
Maja e Shënikut Maja e Shnikut is a mountain with a height of in northern Albania - it is a part of the Accursed Mountains range.Soviet military maK-34-52-В(1:50,000) It is just one of the many mountains of the Accursed Mountains range in Albania which are hi ...
(; in Albania) * Maja Tat (; in Albania) * Gusan (; in Albania and Kosovo) * Zla Kolata/Kollata e Keqe (; in Albania and Montenegro) * Marijaš/Marijash (; in Albania and Montenegro) * Dobra Kolata/Kolata e Mirë (; in Albania and Montenegro) *
Maja e Rosit Maja e Rosit ( ''Montenegrin:'' Rosni Peak) is a mountain peak in the Accursed Mountains range, located on the Albanian–Montenegrin border. It is 2,524 m (8,280 feet) high, making it the tenth highest peak in Albania and the third highest in Mo ...
(; in Montenegro) *
Guri i Kuq Guri i Kuq ( or ''Guri i Verdhë''; , ''Žuti kamen'', translated as "red rock or yellow rock") is a mountain in the Accursed Mountains in Kosovo. Reaching a height of high, it is one of the highest mountains in the range.Maja e Vishnjes (; in Albania) * Maja Kokervhake (; in Albania) * Rops/Maja e Ropës (; in Kosovo) Peaks over * Maja Shkurt (; in Albania) * Maja Reshkullit (; in Albania) *
Maja e Malësores Maja e Malësores is an impressive mountain in Albania. At elevation,Soviet military maK-34-52-Г(1:50,000), indicated ''"г. Коляет"'' it is located in the central main part of the Accursed Mountains range, 1.5 km northwest of Maja Jezercë ...
(; in Albania) * Karanfili (Veliki Vrh, Kremeni Vrh, Maja Gurt e Zjarmit) (; in Montenegro) * Maja e Ragamit (; in Albania) * Maja Bojs (; in Albania) * Koprivnik/Kopranik (; in Kosovo) * Maja Vukoces (; in Albania) *
Veternik Veternik ( sr-cyr, Ветерник) is a suburban settlement of the city of Novi Sad, Serbia. Over the years, especially in the 1990s, it grew with size and inhabitants thus merging with Futog to the west and Novi Sad to the east. Name The set ...
(; in Albania) *
Shkëlzen Shkëlzen ( 'Shkëlzeni') is a mountain situated in the Albanian Alps, bounded by the Tropojë river valley to the northeast, the Gashi river valley to the southwest, and the Tropojë basin to the southeast. Its highest of the two peaks, ''Maja e ...
(; in Albania) *
Maja e Thatë Maja e Thatë () is a mountain peak of the Albanian Alps (Accursed Mountains) in Albania.Military topographic map of Albania (1:25 000): K-34-52-D-a (M. JEZERCES) It is located within Valbonë Valley National Park, roughly northwest of Valbon ...
(; in Albania) * Pasji Peak (; in Kosovo and Montenegro) * Maja Bogiçaj (; in Albania and Kosovo) *
Hajla Hajla ( or ''Hajla''; sr-Cyrl, Хајла) is a mountain located between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. It has several peaks that reach over , the tallest with a hight of . The northern slopes contains the spring formation of the Ibar ri ...
(; in Kosovo and Montenegro) Peaks under * Rusulija () * Strellc () * Tromeđa () *
Žljeb Žljeb (; ) is a mountain located between western Kosovo and the Rožaje Municipality of eastern Montenegro. It is a part of the Accursed Mountains, located between the mountains of Hajla and Mokna. The majority of the land within the mountain be ...
() * Maja e Kakisë () * Liqenat () * Rrasa e Zogut () * Hajla e Vëranocit () *
Junik Junik ( sq-definite, Juniku; sr-Cyrl, Јуник) is a town and municipality in the Gjakova District in western Kosovo. History During the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans, Junik and the Municipality of Junik were part of the Nahiya of Altun- ...
() * Maja Stogut (; in Albania) * Maja e Elbunit () *
Deçan Mountain Deçan Mountain () is a mountain in the west of Kosovo, in the Accursed Mountains range. Its highest point is above sea level. It shares its name with the nearby village of Deçan Deçan (, ; , ) is a town and municipality in the district of Gj ...
() * Maja Harapit () * Maja Trojan () * Pogled () * Maja Dramadol () * Beleg () * Maja e Ershellit () * Maja e Vjelakut () * Hajla e Shkrelit () * Maja e Madhe () * Maja e Grebenit () * Lice Mountain () * Maja e Veleçikut ()


Climate

The Accursed Mountains are on the whole the wettest area of Europe. In the village of Boga in the valley, precipitation is per year, and otherwise per year is normal. At higher elevations snow is found even in summer, except in very dry years.


Glaciation

There are at least five active glaciers that probably formed during the late
Holocene The Holocene () is the current geologic time scale, geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago. It follows the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene to ...
period, and some inactive glaciers between 1,980 and 2,420 meters high. The trough valleys of Ropojani, Grbaja and Valbona were carved by kilometres of glaciers during the last ice age. Detailed geomorphological mapping was used to reconstruct the positions of former glaciers. The longest glacier of Ropojana had a length of and a surface area of ; others include Valbona glacier at and , Grbaja Glacier at and and Bogićevića Glacier at and. In addition, there are about 20 small lakes of glacial origin as described above, including the Buni Jezercë group of lakes on the northern side of the Jezerca Peak, the Ridsko Lake, the Bukumirsko Lake and the Rikavačko Lake. A recent report from geographers at the
University of Manchester The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The University of Manchester is c ...
details the discovery of four previously unknown glaciers in the Albanian part of the mountain range at 1980–2100 m high, found in the area close to Maja e Jezerces. The glaciers, the largest of which is currently the size of six football pitches, vary in size every year according to the amount of winter snowfall and temperatures during the following summer. Their average total surface area is . Glacier-climate modeling suggests that these
glaciers A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...
require annual accumulation of between (rainfall equivalent) to balance melting, which would correspond to between of snow. A significant proportion of this accumulation is likely to be sourced from windblown snow and, in particular, avalanching snow. It is estimated that the total accumulation needed to balance melting is potentially up to twice the amount accumulated from direct precipitation. The presence of these glaciers, amongst the southernmost in Europe, at altitudes well below the regional
snow line The climatic snow line is the boundary between a snow-covered and snow-free surface. The actual snow line may adjust seasonally, and be either significantly higher in elevation, or lower. The permanent snow line is the level above which snow wil ...
highlights the importance of local controls on glacier development. The geographers think at least eight glaciers were present in neighbouring mountains during the 19th century, correlating with the culmination of the Little Ice Age in the European Alps.


Flora

The vegetation of the Accursed Mountains is among the richest on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the main central European regions for
flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...
. To date, 1,611 wild plants have been described in the Albanian part alone. 50 flora species are
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
, sub-endemic and
endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...
plant species. The southern edge of mountains have a sub-Mediterranean character. Various evergreen bushes are found in the deepest valleys of the canyons and sunny slopes, and in the higher valleys deciduous Shibljak shrubs are common. In the mountains over 100 medicinal herbs are found, including species of the genus ''
Primula ''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous plant, herbaceous flowering plants in the family (biology), family Primulaceae. They include the primrose (''Primula vulgaris, P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common specie ...
'', ''
Satureja ''Satureja'' is a genus of aromatic plants of the family (biology), family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to Southern Europe, southern and southeastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Historically, ...
'' and ''
Sideritis ''Sideritis'', also known as ironwort, mountain tea, Greek tea and shepherd's tea, is a genus of flowering plants known for their use as herbal medicine, commonly as a herbal tea. They are abundant in Mediterranean regions, the Balkans, the Iberi ...
''. Because of its altitude and its favored habitat, the range is one of the centers of arcto-alpine relict flora of the Balkan Peninsula. Out of 77 arcto-alpine species of former glacial flora on the Balkan Peninsula, a little over 50 species can be found in the Accursed Mountains. The levels of vegetation in the Accursed Mountains meet the
alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National P ...
level, from upland valleys through the montane mountain stage on forest-free alpine and subalpine mats and subnivale tundra caused by
permafrost Permafrost () is soil or underwater sediment which continuously remains below for two years or more; the oldest permafrost has been continuously frozen for around 700,000 years. Whilst the shallowest permafrost has a vertical extent of below ...
in vast heaps of rubble with raw soils. A real snow level is not widely spread, although in the high altitudes snow and fern fields can also keep during the summer on four very small glaciers at high altitudes, the highest one found in the shade of Jezerca.
Beech Beech (genus ''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to subtropical (accessory forest element) and temperate (as dominant element of Mesophyte, mesophytic forests) Eurasia and North America. There are 14 accepted ...
,
fir Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus ''Abies'' () in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Eurasia, and North Africa. The genu ...
and silicate spruce forests dominate the mountain areas. Rarely, however, the Northern Europe species are found, typically the Scots pine (''
Pinus sylvestris ''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native plant, native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly s ...
''). The drought-resistant Mediterranean-sized black pine (''
Pinus nigra ''Pinus nigra'', the Austrian pine or black pine, is a moderately variable species of pine, occurring across Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula and Lower Austria to the eastern Mediterranean, on the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, Corsica ...
'') is also common.
Aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species in the Populus sect. Populus, of the ''Populus'' (poplar) genus. Species These species are called aspens: * ''Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China, south of ''P. tremula'') * ''Populus da ...
s (''Populus tremula'') grow in damp sites alongside mountain maple (''
Acer pseudoplatanus ''Acer pseudoplatanus'', known as the sycamore in the British Isles and as the sycamore maple in the United States, is a species of maple native to Central Europe and Western Asia. It is a large deciduous, broad-leaved tree, tolerant of wind an ...
'') and Norway spruce (''
Picea abies ''Picea abies'', the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern Europe, Northern, Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It has branchlets that typically hang downwards, and the largest cones of any spruce, ...
''). The Accursed Mountains are one of the southernmost areas where
spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' ...
grow in Europe. The "combat zones" of the forest are formed with dense thickets of mountain pine (''
Pinus mugo ''Pinus mugo'', known as dwarf mountain pine, mountain pine, scrub mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine, bog pine, creeping pine, or mugo pine, is a species of conifer, native to high elevation habitats from southwestern to Central Europe and Sou ...
''. Conifers like the snakeskin pine (''
Pinus heldreichii ''Pinus heldreichii'', the Bosnian pine or Heldreich's pine, is a species of pine native to mountains of southeast Europe in the Balkans and southern Italy. Description It is an evergreen tree up to in height, and in trunk diameter. The bark i ...
'') are on
carbonate A carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, (), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula . The word "carbonate" may also refer to a carbonate ester, an organic compound containing the carbonate group ...
rocks and the Macedonian pine (''
Pinus peuce ''Pinus peuce'' (Macedonian pine or Balkan pine) (Serbo-Croatian and Macedonian: молика, molika; Bulgarian: бяла мура, byala mura) is a species of pine native to the mountains of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Montenegro, Kos ...
'') of silicates are typical elements of the endemic Balkan flora. A cushion-sedge and blue grass lawn of ('' Seslerion juncifoliae'') grows in alpine areas and, on shallow limestone soils, '' Oxytropidion dinaricae'', to which the alpine grass krumm grows as in the
Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...
. Other plants include Alpine aster '' Aster alpinus'', edelweiss '' Leontopodium alpinum'' and white mountain avens ''
Dryas octopetala ''Dryas octopetala'', the mountain avens, eightpetal mountain-avens, white dryas or white dryad, is an Arctic–alpine flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is a small prostrate evergreen subshrub forming large colonies. The specific epithe ...
''. These plants are atypical alpine plants specially adapted to the short growing season, UV radiation, cold and thin soils. The flora in the rocky areas of the Accursed Mountains are particularly noteworthy, because they are rare rich and endemic species, including the
Tertiary Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to: * Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago * Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...
relic '' Amphoricarpos neumayeri''. Many species of flora are either
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
or are mainly found in the Accursed Mountains. A plantain (''
Plantaginaceae Plantaginaceae, the plantain family or veronica family, is a large, diverse family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales that includes common flowers such as Antirrhinum, snapdragon and Digitalis, foxglove. It is unrelated ...
'') is found in the central Accursed Mountains as a variant of the alpine Wulfenie, but 700 km away it does not grow. ''
Petasites doerfleri ''Petasites'' is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, that are commonly referred to as butterburs and coltsfoots.Lilium albanicum'' and '' Viola ducagjinica'' are only found at the top of the
Maja Radohimës Radohina is a massif situated in the Albanian Alps, within the boundaries of Shkodër municipality. Its main peak, ''Maja e Radohinës'', reaches a height of . Geology Radohina lies between the valleys of Theth in the southeast and Cemi i Vukl ...
slope.Petrit Imeraj, Joost Smets, in: Gilian Gloyer: ''Albania Bradt Travel Guide'', Bucks 2006 (zweite Ausgabe), Also noteworthy is the '' Viola vilaensis''. '' Viola chelmea'' is a violet species that occur on the Montenegrin-Albanian border area, especially at the lake Bukumirsko Jezero at 2,100 meters, and are only found on
Asia Minor Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...
and the Balkans where they can grow due to woody, robust rhizome, cleistogamous flowers, and a lack of foothills. The Accursed Mountains are also the only European area where the Tertiary relic '' Forsythia europaea'' grow.


Fauna

Large mammal species that have long been extinct in other regions are found here, such as the
Eurasian brown bear The Eurasian brown bear (''Ursus arctos arctos'') is one of the most common subspecies of the brown bear, and is found in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European brown bear, common brown bear, common bear, European bear, and colloquial ...
,
grey wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gr ...
,
golden jackal The golden jackal (''Canis aureus''), also called the common jackal, is a wolf-like canid that is native to Eurasia. The golden jackal's coat varies in color from a pale creamy yellow in summer to a dark tawny beige in winter. It is smaller a ...
,
red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...
,
European wildcat The European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Great Britain, Turkey and the Caucasus. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a bl ...
, roe deer,
fallow deer Fallow deer is the common name for species of deer in the genus ''Dama'' of subfamily Cervinae. There are two living species, the European fallow deer (''Dama dama''), native to Europe and Anatolia, and the Persian fallow deer (''Dama mesopotamic ...
,
red deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or Hart (deer), hart, and a female is called a doe or hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Ir ...
,
wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
and
European otter The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. The most widely distributed member o ...
.Wolfgang Fremuth (Herausgeber): ''Albania – Guide to its Natural Treasures'', Verlag Herwig Klemp, Tirana 2000, The highly endangered Balkan lynx, a subspecies of the
Eurasian lynx The Eurasian lynx (''Lynx lynx'') is one of the four wikt:extant, extant species within the medium-sized wild Felidae, cat genus ''Lynx''. It is widely distributed from Northern Europe, Northern, Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe to Cent ...
, is mainly found in the Theth National Park where about roughly 20–50 individuals still roam, though
poaching Poaching is the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set against the huntin ...
is still a large threat.
Chamois The chamois (; ) (''Rupicapra rupicapra'') or Alpine chamois is a species of Caprinae, goat-antelope native to the mountains in Southern Europe, from the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Dinarides, the Tatra Mountains, Tatra to the Carpa ...
are found throughout the high altitudes; about 720 chamois live between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. There is speculation that the
mouflon The mouflon (''Ovis gmelini'') is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domest ...
roamed the Accursed Mountains until World War I, when it disappeared. Bird species include the
golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of pr ...
, snake eagle, honey buzzard,
peregrine falcon The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known simply as the peregrine, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (raptor) in the family (biology), family Falconidae renowned for its speed. A large, Corvus (genus), cro ...
,
capercaillie ''Tetrao'' is a genus of birds in the grouse subfamily known as capercaillies. They are some of the largest living grouse. Feathers from the bird were used to create the characteristic hat of the bersaglieri, an Italian ace infantry formation. ...
,
rock partridge The rock partridge or common rock partridge (''Alectoris graeca'') is a gamebird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae, of the order Galliformes (gallinaceous birds). It is native to southern Europe, and is closely related and very similar to its ...
,
scops owl Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus ''Otus'' and are restricted to the Old World. ''Otus'' is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighte ...
,
Eurasian eagle owl The Eurasian eagle-owl (''Bubo bubo'') is a species of eagle-owl, a type of bird that resides in much of Eurasia. It is often just called the eagle-owl in Europe and Asia. It is one of the largest species of owl. Females can grow to a total ...
and the snow finch. So far 140 species of butterflies have been found, which makes the Accursed Mountains the richest area in Europe for butterflies. The rivers are home to a growing number of
marble trout ''Salmo marmoratus'', the marble trout, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Salmonidae. It is characterized by a distinctive marbled color pattern and high growth capacity. The marble trout is found in only a handful of drainages and ...
. Among the amphibians are the
alpine salamander The alpine salamander (''Salamandra atra'') is a black salamander that can be found in the Alps, and through the mountainous range in Europe. It is a member of the genus ''Salamandra''. Their species name, ''atra'', may be derived from the Latin ...
(southernmost habitat),
fire salamander The fire salamander (''Salamandra salamandra'') is a common species of salamander found in Europe. It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree; some specimens can be nearly completely black while on others the yellow is dominant ...
,
yellow-bellied toad The yellow-bellied toad (''Bombina variegata'') belongs to the order Anura, the family Bombinatoridae, and the genus of fire-bellied toads. The toad is distributed mainly across western Europe as well as a handful of countries in eastern Eur ...
and
fire-bellied toad The fire-bellied toads are a group of six species of small frogs (most species typically no longer than ) belonging to the genus ''Bombina''. The name "fire-bellied" is derived from the brightly colored red- or yellow-and-black patterns on the ...
. The rich herpetofauna include the fence lizard,
green lizard The European green lizard (''Lacerta viridis'') is a large lizard distributed across European midlatitudes from Slovenia and eastern Austria to as far east as the Black Sea coasts of Ukraine and Turkey. It is often seen sunning on rocks or lawns, ...
,
Greek tortoise Greek tortoise (''Testudo graeca''), also known as the spur-thighed tortoise or Moorish tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. It is a medium sized herbivorous testudinae, widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, M ...
and snakes such as the true vipers, including the venomous
horned viper Horned viper may refer to: * ''Cerastes (genus)'', North African desert vipers, a group of small, venomous species found in the deserts and semi-deserts of northern North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran * ''Bitis caudalis'', the horned puff ...
and
adder ''Vipera berus'', also known as the common European adder Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. . and the common European viper, ...
. The Accursed Mountains have one endemic species of lizard, the Prokletije rock lizard or '' Dinarolacerta montenegrina'', named after the range.


Early climbing

British climbers Sleeman, Elmalie and Ellwood were the first to reach the summit of
Maja Jezercë Maja may refer to: People * Maja (given name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) * Charles Maja (1966–2020), South African actor * Josh Maja (born 1998), English footballer * Otto Maja (born 1987), Finnish stree ...
on 26 July 1929. Years later Austrian mountaineers also scaled the summit. Many explorers and scientists have visited the Accursed Mountains, collecting rocks and samples to display in museums. Before any of these expeditions, the highest peak of the range was believed to be
Shkëlzen Shkëlzen ( 'Shkëlzeni') is a mountain situated in the Albanian Alps, bounded by the Tropojë river valley to the northeast, the Gashi river valley to the southwest, and the Tropojë basin to the southeast. Its highest of the two peaks, ''Maja e ...
at high, followed by
Maja Radohimës Radohina is a massif situated in the Albanian Alps, within the boundaries of Shkodër municipality. Its main peak, ''Maja e Radohinës'', reaches a height of . Geology Radohina lies between the valleys of Theth in the southeast and Cemi i Vukl ...
at . By early summer 1929 all the summits were measured by Italian geodetes.


National parks

There are three national parks in the Accursed Mountains — one each in Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania. Illegal deforestation is a major problem. To some extent even the national parks are affected. In dry summers
forest fires A forest fire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire ( in Au ...
are common. All the large mammals including wolves, chamois, foxes,
badgers Badgers are medium-sized short-legged omnivores in the superfamily Musteloidea. Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united by their squat bodies and adaptions for fossorial activity rather than by their ...
and wild boar are hunted without regard to national park boundaries. In Albania, the new, enlarged
Alps of Albania National Park Alps of Albania National Park () is the largest national park in Albania. Established in 2022, the national park is located in northern Albania and covers an area of . The most prominent mountain range are the Albanian Alps (also called the Accurs ...
was created in 2022, merging the former
Theth National Park Alps of Albania National Park () is the largest national park in Albania. Established in 2022, the national park is located in northern Albania and covers an area of . The most prominent mountain range are the Albanian Alps (also called the Accurs ...
,
Valbona Valley National Park The Valbona Valley () is in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. It is part of Alps of Albania National Park, one of the most impressive and notable topographic features of Albania. Being the southernmost continuation of the Dinaric Alps, it f ...
and Gashi River Strict Nature Reserve, totaling a massive coverage area of . Theth National Park was designated in 1966 and covered area of along the Thethi River. The main attraction in the park is the Grunas Waterfall. The Valbona Valley National Park was designated in 1996 and covered , including the
Valbona Valley The Valbona Valley () is in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. It is part of Alps of Albania National Park, one of the most impressive and notable topographic features of Albania. Being the southernmost continuation of the Dinaric Alps, it f ...
and the
Valbona River The Valbona () is a river in northern Albania. It is still relatively untouched. Its source is in the Accursed Mountains, near the border with Montenegro. The Valbonë flows generally east through the municipality Margegaj (mountain villages Va ...
. The Montenegrin part of the mountain range was declared Prokletije National Park in 2009, comprising an area of . The
Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park () is a national park in the districts of Gjakovë and Pejë in western Kosovo. It encompasses of mountainous terrain, with numerous lakes, dense deciduous and coniferous forests and alpine landscapes. The park ...
on the Kosovar side was established in 2012 with an area of , covering the high alpine areas as well as the Rugova Canyon and important rivers. A part of
Maja e Ropës Rops is a mountain in Kosovo with a height of . It is a part of Bogićevica area in the Accursed Mountains. It is the second highest mountain in the Bogićevica area after Marijash at . References

Mountains of Kosovo Accursed Mountains Tw ...
mountain was declared a floral mountain reserve by Yugoslavia in 1955, covering an area of of mainly Macedonian pine, pine and beech. In the same year the Kozhnjar area was declared a fauna reserve in particular to protect the chamois, covering an area of . As of 2010, Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro are planning to create another tri-state park in the area that will be called the Balkans Peace Park.


Settlement, economy and transport

The Accursed Mountains are home to
Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...
,
Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...
,
Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...
and
Bosniaks The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...
, but they are only very sparsely populated. At the edges there are some settlements: the Albanian
Koplik Koplik (also known as Koplik i Poshtëm) is a town and former municipality in the northwestern tip of Albania. At the 2015 local government reform, it became a subdivision, and the seat of the municipality Malësi e Madhe. It was the seat of the ...
and the Montenegrin
Tuzi Tuzi (, ; or ''Tuzi'') is a small town in the central region of Montenegro, and the seat of Tuzi Municipality. It is located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake S ...
in the west near the Skadar Lake; Plav and
Gusinje Gusinje (, ; ) is a small town in Montenegro in the northern region. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 1,673 and is the administrative center of Gusinje Municipality. Name Two alternative etymologies have been proposed ...
in of the northern valley of the upper Lim river in Montenegro and
Bajram Curri Bajram Curri (16 January 1862 – 29 March 1925) was an Albanian chieftain, politician and activist who struggled for the independence of Albania, later struggling for Kosovo's incorporation into it following the 1913 Treaty of London. He w ...
, the main town of the district Tropoja, in the eastern part of the mountain range. Even the somewhat more distant, larger cities of Shkodra,
Podgorica Podgorica ( cnr-Cyrl, Подгорица; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. Histor ...
,
Gjakova Gjakova or Đakovica, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the sixth largest city of Kosovo and seat of the Gjakova Municipality and the District of Gjakova, Gjakova District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjakov ...
and
Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...
create their sphere of influence and are frequently visited by inhabitants of the highlands for errands, administrative procedures and market sales. In the mountains, villages only have up to a few hundred inhabitants. They are often scattered settlements without a clear core. Among the biggest are Tamara and Selca, both in the valley of the Cem and belonging to the community of the Kelmend. The community of eight villages – including Vermosh – comprises 6,600 inhabitants. Tamara is currently the only place in the central mountains with infrastructure such as a secondary school. Tamara and Vermosh share a maternity hospital. Until the collapse of communism there were such facilities, for example, in the Shala Valley. Many residents of the villages in the interior such as Boga, Theth or Valbona live there only in the summer months, as the villages are cut off for many weeks during winter. In addition to the seasonal migration, the whole mountain area is suffering from a severe " brain drain", as its income from agriculture is low. Many leave to seek work and a little more comfort in the region of Shkodra and Koplik,
Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...
or abroad.Renate Ndarurinze: ''Albanien entdecken'', Trescher Verlag, Berlin 2006, As the year-round population dwindles as the terrain becomes less accessible, there are few state or local government employees such as teachers. Local income comes from agriculture, semi-illegal forestry and tourism. In a few places like
Theth Theth () is a small village within Shkodër County, Albania. Following the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Shkodër, and has been declared a Protected Historic Center and a National Park by the Albanian Government. ...
tourism has been revitalized by recreational hiking. With the help of GTZ, 40 private houses (also referred to as guest houses, or ''han'' in Albanian) have been transformed into tourist accommodations or B&Bs. In 2010 there were 130 beds available in total – 100 more than in 2007. Additionally, hiking trails have been marked and trails maps and travel guides published. From 2006 to 2009, the number of tourists rose from 300 to around 7,500 per year. Unlike in the rest of Albania, the increase was due to foreign tourists. Lakes such as Plav and Hrid also receive many tourists during the summer months. In many villages there are small
hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...
power plants that supply the village with electricity. The 192 km Peaks of the Balkans Trail connects all three countries. Many villages were already settled by the 15th century, and some valleys have been inhabited since the
Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistory, prehistoric period during which Rock (geology), stone was widely used to make stone tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years and ended b ...
. At the end of communism, however, several thousand people emigrated and depopulated the area.


Transport in Albania

SH20 road crosses the Accursed Mountains in the Kelmend region of northwestern Albania, stretching from the eastern shore of
Lake Scutari Lake Skadar or Lake Scutari (, ; cnr-Cyrl-Latn, Скадарско језеро, Skadarsko jezero, )also called Lake Shkodra (and ''Lake Shkodër'')lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern Europe. It is n ...
at the Han i Hotit border crossing with Montenegro, to the first pass into the valley of Cem. It then leads to the source elevation of the Qafa e Predelecit after Vermosh, followed by another border crossing, ending at Gusinje. the SH20 stretch between Hani Hotit and Tamare has been paved and upgraded to European standards. From west to east, there is only the SH21 road recently paved from Koplik to Boga. The road from Qafa Thores leading to Theth has been recently paved with crash barriers and guard rails added, but is still steep, winding and narrow in places. From Theth, there is a bad track down to the Shala Valley Church and only a walking path along the river leads to Shkodra. SH22 road over the Qafa e Morinës at
Bajram Curri Bajram Curri (16 January 1862 – 29 March 1925) was an Albanian chieftain, politician and activist who struggled for the independence of Albania, later struggling for Kosovo's incorporation into it following the 1913 Treaty of London. He w ...
after
Gjakova Gjakova or Đakovica, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the sixth largest city of Kosovo and seat of the Gjakova Municipality and the District of Gjakova, Gjakova District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjakov ...
has been reconstructed. In the past, the only route for crossing the border between Montenegro and Kosovo was via
Rugova Canyon Rugova Canyon (; , ''Rugovska klisura'') or Rugova Gorge () is a river canyon near Peja in western Kosovo. The canyon is located in the Albanian Alps, close to the border with Montenegro. With a length of and a depth up to 1,000 meters, Rugova ...
, which was very dangerous and steep. With the construction of the
Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...
–
Rožaje Rožaje ( Bosnian: ''Rožaje''; , ; , ) is a town located in the Northern Region of Montenegro, situated along the Ibar river. The town is the cultural center of the Bosniaks in Montenegro. As of 2023, the town has a population of 13,608 inhabi ...
highway the situation has greatly improved.Volker Grundmann: ''Albanien: Das komplette Reisehandbuch'', Unterwegs-Verlag, Singen 2008, In addition, SH42 road leading to Razem from SH21 has also been recently reconstructed. Historically, a caravan route between Podgorica and Plav crossed the mountains along the Lim and Cem rivers.Shala Valley Project – Final Report of the 2006 Field Season
James Pettifer: ''Albania & Kosovo – Blue Guide'', A & C Black, London 2001,


References


Further reading

*Boenzi Federico, Giovanni Palmentola: "Glacial Features and Snow-Line Trend During the Last Glacial Age in the Southern Apennines (Italy) and on Albanian and Greek Mountains", in: ''Journal of Geomorphology'', 41, 21–29, Berlin 1997. *Cook, Steve and Marash Rakaj. "Social Changes in the Albanian Alps During Communism". ''Middle States Geographer'' 28, 1995:84–90. *
Jovan Cvijić Jovan Cvijić ( sr-Cyrl, Јован Цвијић, ; 1865 – 16 January 1927) was a Serbs, Serbian geographer, Ethnology, ethnologist, university professor and academic. He was the president of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, S ...
: "Ice Age in Prokletije and Surrounding Mountains". The – Glass SKAN, XCI, Belgrade 1913th (Original: Cvijic, J. 1921: Ledeno doba u i Prokletijama okolnim planinama .- Glasnik Srpske Akad Kraljevske XCL, 1913, XCIII.) *Jovan Cvijić: ''Geomorphology I-II'', Belgrade 1924/26. *
Edith Durham Edith Durham, (8 December 1863 – 15 November 1944) was a British artist, anthropologist and writer who is best known for her anthropological accounts of life in Albania in the early 20th century. Her advocacy on behalf of the Albanian cause a ...
: ''High Albania'', London 1909 *Helmut Eberhart, Karl Kaser (Editor): ''Albania – Tribal Life between Tradition and Modernity'', Böhlau Verlag, Wien 1995, *
Rose Wilder Lane Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886 – October 30, 1968) was an American writer and daughter of American writer Laura Ingalls Wilder. Along with two other female writers, Ayn Rand and Isabel Paterson, Lane is one of the more influential advoca ...
: ''Peaks of Shala'', Harper & Brothers: New York, 1923. *Milovan Milivojevića, Ljubomir Menkovića and Jelena Calic: "Pleistocene Glacial Relief of the Central Part of Mt Prokletije". In: ''Quaternary International'', v. 190, 1, November 2008, 112–122 *
Franz Nopcsa Franz may refer to: People * Franz (given name) * Franz (surname) Places * Franz (crater), a lunar crater * Franz, Ontario, a railway junction and unorganized town in Canada * Franz Lake, in the state of Washington, United States – see Fran ...
: ''Geography and Geology of Northern Albania'', Institutum Regni Hungariae Geologicum, Budapest 1929 *Christian Zindel, Barbara House Amman: ''Hiking North Albania – Thethi and Kelmend'', Huber Verlag, Munich 2008,


Alpinist bibliography

*


External links

* *
Peace parks of Prokletije

Montenegrin Prokletije


at summitpost.org
GTZ. ''Successful Cooperation – Sustainable Results: Examples from Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia'', Berlin, 2010

Peaks of the Balkans Trail


News articles

* * * (French) {{Authority control Dinaric Mountains mixed forests Mountain ranges of Albania Mountain ranges of Europe Mountain ranges of Kosovo Mountains of Montenegro National parks of Montenegro Two-thousanders of Kosovo Two-thousanders of Montenegro Valbonë Valley National Park Geography of Europe