Central Mountain Region (Albania)

Further informations: Korab; See also: Korab Mountains at Wikimedia Commons

Mali i Bardhë, typical karstic landscape inside the Korab mountains.

The Korab Mountains are the highest and longest mountain range within the central mountain range. The relief is varied and endowed with many glacial lakes, mountain passes, canyons, gorges and depressions. It extend some 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the north to the south between the lower section of the Black Drin and its tributary Radika. The mountain range are largely composed Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of dolomite, limestone, sand and conglomerates.[6][7]

The Korab massif is the fourth highest peak in the Balkans, the highest peak of Albania and North Macedonia and also one of only two summits in Europe, which are the highest point for more than one country.[8] Furthermore, Korab is the 18th most prominent mountain summit in the Europe.[9] Other peaks include Maja e Moravës 2,718 m (8,917 ft), Mali i Gramës 2,345 m (7,694 ft) Korab II 2,756 m (9,042 ft), Korab III 2,724 m (8,937 ft), Korab Gates 2,727 m (8,947 ft), Maja e Moravës 2,718 m (8,917 ft), Shulani i Radomirës 2,716 m (8,911 ft) and Small Korab 2,683 m (8,802 ft). Korab encompasses 562 square kilometres (217 sq mi), 63.5% within the Albanian territory.[10] The Albanian part of the mountain range is a protected nature park.

The Eurasian lynx[11] can be found in the central range.

Korab is renowned for its 39 glacial lakes located between 2,340 metres elevation above the Adriatic, the largest and the deepest of them being Gramë.[12] The forests are composed of diverse species of deciduous and coniferous trees and a variety of wildflowers. They are abundant in species such as beech, austrian pine, silver fir, bosnian pine, macedonian pine, and black alder. The fauna is represented of numerous species of large mammals such as brown bears, wolves, lynxes, golden eagles, goshawks, and many others.

Further informations: Jabllanicë & Shebenik; See also: Jabllanicë Mountains & Shebenik Mountains at Wikimedia Commons

Jabllanicë mountain in Albania near Qarrishte.

The Jabllanicë Mountains (Albanian: Jabllanicë) lies on the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, with over 50% of its area in Albania and the remaining in North Macedonia. It runs 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the Ohrid Lake on the border between Albania and North Macedonia in north–south direction through the boundary of both countries to the city of Debar next to the Debar Lake. In the east, the mountains falls down into the valleys of the Black Drin and the Ohrid Lake. In the west, the Shebenik mountains are located, which reaches nearly an equal height as the Jabllanica mountain range. Within the Shebenik mountains, there are around nine small glacial lakes with Rajca Lake being the largest with a length of 220 metres (720 ft) and a width of 160 kilometres (99 mi). It is located on the eastern slopes and the most southern lake on Shebenik. Maja e Shebenikut is the highest peak at 2,251 metres (7,385 ft) above the Adriatic.

The mountains are the source of the name of the Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park.[13] Large areas are covered with beech, oak, and conifer forests. Due to its natural heritage and remarkable flora and fauna, the Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park forms a part of the Primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe, that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. Most of Europe's large mammals inhabit the area such as the brown bear, wolf, boar, chamois and deer. Furthermore, the endangered Balkan lynx still survives in the mountains.

Further informations: Valamara; See also: Valamara Mountain at Wikimedia Commons

Panoramic view from the Maja e Valamarës (Mount Valamara).

The Valamara Mountains lies between the Shkumbin valley in the north and Devoll valley in the south. Moreover, the Shkumbin river originates in the mountains.[14] The mountains are situated on the territory of three districts such as Gramsh, Pogradec and Korçë. The summit of the Valamara range in southwestern Albania, Maja e Valamarës is the highest peak with an elevation 2,373 metres (7,785 ft). They are formed of Mesozoic and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of dolomite, limestone, sand and conglomerates formed by seas and lakes that had once covered the area. In addition to that, several glacial lakes can be found on the eastern part. The total length of the Valamarians is over 13 km (8 mi) and the mountain chain's width varies between 10 and 15 km (6 and 9 mi). The highest altitudes occur where they are widest.

Shkopet Gorge, the Mat river flowing through the gorge.

The Skanderbeg Mountains (Albanian: Vargmalet e Skënderbeut) forms the border between the Central Mountain Range and Western Lowlands in the west.[15] Although the range curves a lot, its main direction is from the north to south, extending about 80 kilometres (50 mi) in north–south direction from Vau i Dejës in the north to the city of Elbasan in the south. In the west, the mountains fall steeply into the coastal plain, running along the Adriatic Sea. In the east, it is characterized by highlands and the Mat river basin; to the north the Mirditë and to the south the mountains of Martanesh.[16] It was formed by strong tectonic uplifts and folds during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The peaks are composed of limestone, while the slopes of flysch.

The northern section south of Vau i Dejës, the mountains reaches an altitude of 614 metres (2,014 ft) elevation above the Adriatic in Maja e Shitës.[17] Some kilometres, the peaks gradually become higher at Mali i Velës standing at 1,172 metres (3,845 ft), in the northeast of Lezhë.[18] The mountains have abundant water reserves with a dense network of mountain springs and rivers. The 94 kilometres (58 mi) long Fan river flows from Mirdita and crosses the mountains south of Mali i Velës through narrow gorges and canyons into the Mat river. The western section, or Kruja Chain, is an anticline structure composed of carbonate core from the Cretaceous-Eocene period.[19] It begins at the confluence of the rivers of Fan and Mat, rising quickly than the eastern section. At Mali i Krujës, it starts reaching an elevation of more than thousand, to be precise 1,176 metres (3,858 ft). On its western slopes the city of Krujë is located. However, it continues to rise further south of Krujë towards Tirana at Dajti Mountains with deep canyons and gorges, which cuts the mountains into a long series of blocks. The highest peak is Dajti with 1,613 metres (5,292 ft). Afterwards, the Mali i Priskës 1,365 metres (4,478 ft) and a series of mountains under 900 metres (3,000 ft) above the Adriatic follows.

The central mountain range contains extraordinary biological diversity and a vast array of ecosystems. In terms of phytogeography, the central mountain range falls within the Dinaric Mountains mixed forests, Balkan mixed forests and Pindus Mountains mixed forests terrestrial ecoregions of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forest and Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biomes, respectively.

The forests are composed of different species of deciduous and coniferous trees including a great variety of plants of european and mediterranean type. Of particular importance is the presence of the fir; 74 percent of the entire forests composed with fir in Albania can be largely found in the central mountain range.[23] In some cases, it forms mixed forests with beech (european beech),[24] pine (black pine), and oak (european oak). Outstanding is the black pine which grows mainly in the northern region of the central mountain range such as in Mali i Bardhë.[25]

The fauna is poorly studied, but within the Albanian Korab mountains it is represented by 37 species of mammals, among which are included the brown bear, grey wolf, balkan lynx,[26] roe deer, wild boar, weasel, pine marten, and red squirrel.

The central mountain range provide exceptional watching opportunities for bird species, that are threatened in the country, throughout the year. The golden eagle and peregrine falcon nest in rocky and forested areas adjacent to bodies of water, staying away from heavily human activity when possible such as in Korab-Koritnik Nature Park.[27] The western capercaillie lives predominantly in the conifer forests in old rocky areas throughout the region. The griffon vulture is outstandingly rare and breeds on cliffs associated with the rugged and mountainous area.[28] The white and dalmatian pelican, which is one of the largest bird species in the world, spend the summer season in the lakes of the Prespa National Park associated with the undisturbed wetlands, freshwater marshes and permanent streams.[29]

The area of Shebenik and Jabllanicë is home to the endangered Balkan lynx that lives at the deciduous and mixed forests of the mountains.[30] It is also the southernmost point of their European habitat.