Kollata is a

massif A massif () is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central). In mountaineering literature, ''massif'' is frequently used to denote the main mass of an ...

in the

Albanian Alps 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=" / ", li ...

, located between Kukaj stream and Valbonë pass in the west, the upper

Valbonë 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 ...

in the south, Cerem basin in the east and extending beyond the state border with

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 ...

to the north. Its highest peak, ''Maja e Kollatës'', reaches a height of . On the Montenegrin side rise two smaller peaks that overlap into the Albanian territory,

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 ...

and Dobra Kolata .

Geology

The massif is composed entirely of a

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 ...

structure, with its surrounding slopes representing the plains of tectonic faults, cutting into the nearby valleys. The highest peak, Maja e Kollatës, stands at 2,553 meters tall and features a triangular shape, with a nearly flat surface called Podi i Kollatës, made up of flaky formations that are remnants of the

Neogene The Neogene ( ,) is a geologic period and system that spans 20.45 million years from the end of the Paleogene Period million years ago ( Mya) to the beginning of the present Quaternary Period million years ago. It is the second period of th ...

era. After breaking at the tectonic-erosion pass of Rrethi i Bardhë, it continues to

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 ...

where it makes a sharp sudden turn from the northwest, breaking again at Qafa e Rupes , finally culminating at the border peak of Maja e Rosit . The western slope, wedged between Maja e Thatë and Maja e Rosit, has been shaped by intense frost activity, resulting in a relatively gentle relief called Pllana e Kukajt, which gradually descends into the glacial valley of Kukaj. The eastern slope is more fragmented, mainly due to its positioning at the forefront of the overpass. Here, where the

cirque A (; from the Latin word ) is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by Glacier#Erosion, glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from , meaning a pot or cauldron) and ; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform a ...

s of the northeastern and eastern slopes end, two glacial-karst pits form, Mijusha and Lugu i Madh, both hanging over the Cerem basin. The peak section of the massif between Kollata and Maja e Rosit is divided by three

trough Trough may refer to: In science * Trough (geology), a long depression less steep than a trench * Trough (meteorology), an elongated region of low atmospheric pressure * Trough (physics), the lowest point on a wave * Trough level (medicine), the l ...

s which have been shaped by glacial activity and formed along normal tectonic faults. The troughs of Perslopi and Vijat e Ujit flaunt in an almost parallel orientation between them (northeast-southwest), while the trough of Qafa e Rupes runs transversely.

Biodiversity

The rugged terrain offers limited vegetation cover. A narrow beech belt grows at heights of . As the altitude increases, the landscape transitions to alpine pastures, filling the higher reaches of the massif.

References

{{reflist Mountains of Albania Mountains of Montenegro Two-thousanders of Albania International mountains of Europe

Geology

Biodiversity

See also

References