Šar Mountains

The Šar Mountains (Albanian: Malet e Sharrit, Serbian: Шар Планина, Šar planina, Macedonian: (·)) is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from southern Kosovo[a] and the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia to northeastern Albania.

Etymology

During Antiquity the mountains were known as Scardus Oros, Scordi montis and Scordus, it is believed that the modern name derives from these ancient ones. Sometimes they are also called Carska planina ("Tzar`s mountain"), as a reference to the capitals (Prizren and Skopje), courts (Nerodimlje, Pauni, Svrčin, etc.) and monasteries (Sveti Arhangeli) of Serbian Tsardom located around them; the Serbian word šar (шар) means "orb" (globus cruciger). The Macedonian word šara (шара) means "texture".

Geographical characteristics

The Šar Mountains have a total area of 1600 km. 56,25% of that area is in the Republic of Macedonia, 43.12% in Kosovo, and 0,63% in Albania. There are three plains Sirinic, Vraca and Rudoka. The system is about 80 km (50 mi) long and 10–20 km (6–12 mi) wide.

It includes several high peaks:

  • Titov Vrv (2,747 m/9,012 ft), the highest peak
  • Mal Turčin (2,702 m/8,865 ft)
  • Borislavec (2,662 m/8,734 ft)
  • Peskovi (2,651 m/8,698 ft)
  • Dzini Beg (2,610 m/8,563 ft)
  • Lake Peak (2,604 m/8,543 ft)
  • White Lake Peak (2,590 m/8,497 ft)
  • Maja e Zezë (2,585 m/8,481 ft)
  • Big Vraca (2,582 m/8,471 ft)
  • Isa Aga (2,555 m/8,383 ft)
  • Black Peak (2,536 m/8,320 ft)
  • Kobilica (2,528 m/8,294 ft)
  • Piribeg (2,524 m/8,281 ft)
  • Ljuboten (2,498 m/8,196 ft)
  • Maja Livadh (2,497 m/8,192 ft)
  • Zallina (2,493 m (8,179 ft))
  • Small Vraca (2,483 m/8,146 ft)
  • Kara Nikolla (2,409 m/7,904 ft)
  • Tumba Peak (2,346 m/7,697 ft) only in Kosovo
  • Gemitash (2,183 m/7,162 ft) only in Kosovo
  • Kalabak (2,174 m/7,133 ft)
  • Maja Ksulje e Priftit (2,092 m/6,864 ft) tri-point

The Šar Mountains extend to Mount Korab (2,764 m/9,068 ft) in the southwest, and pass into northeastern Albania with very small part (O.63% of the entire length).

Vegetation on the mountains includes crops up to around 1,000 m (3,281 ft), forests up to 1,700 m (5,577 ft), and above that lie high pastures which encompass around 550 km2 (212 sq mi). The Šar Mountains are the largest compact area covered with pastures on the European continent. They are most known as the origin of the dog breed Šarplaninac, which was bred on these pastures.

The snowy peaks of the Šar Mountains are depicted on the coat of arms of the city of Skopje, which in turn is incorporated in the city's flag.

Šar Mountains in Kosovo

peak in Kosovo.]]

The Šar Mountains are located in the south and south-east of Kosovo , where 43.12% of the range is located. Many alpine and glacial mountain lakes are found on the Kosovan part of the Šar Mountains, especially south of the village of Dragaš, the area of Shutman and the region north of Vraca. The ski resort of Brezovica, with an elevation of 900 m (2,953 ft) to 2,524 m (8,281 ft) above sea level, is located north-east of the mountains.

The mountain range in Kosovo is divided into three main zones:The zone of Ljuboten and Brezovica, the central zone of Prizren and the zone of Opoja and Gora.

The mountains border the Kosovo Plain to the north-east and the Dukagjini Valley in the north- west. Kosovo consists of the most eastern tip and the most northern part of the Mountain ridge. The Ljuboten peak and the mountain of Skopska Crna Gora create the Kačanik Gorge in Kosovo. The Šar Mountains are split from the Nerodimka Mountain by the Sirinić Valley. The Šar National Park is located in Kosovo. Villages and towns that are found near the mountain are:

. The highest peak in the south is Peskovi at 2,651 m (8,698 ft) and the largest lake also in the south is Jazhincë Lake.]]

  • Prizren largest city located at the foot of the mountains.
  • Kačanik
  • Dragaš
  • Brezovica
  • Štrpce

Lakes in the Kosovan part of the Šar Mountains are:

  • Big Jažinačko Lake
  • Small Jažinačko Lake
  • Šutmansko Lake
  • Lower Defsko Lake
  • Štrbačko Lake
  • Black Vir Lake
  • Donji Vir Lake
  • Blateško Lake
  • Upper Defsko Lake
  • Dinivodno Lake

in Kosovo.This photo was taken by Haxinexha a member of Qemd Finch, an organisation set up to protect wild birds in Kosovo]]

National Park

Šar Mountains National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Šar Mountains National Park landscape.
Location Southern Kosovo
Nearest city Štrpce
Coordinates Coordinates:
Area 390 km²(39,000h)
Established 1986
Governing body Serbia

The Šar Mountains National Park is in the territory of Kosovo, and spreads on 380 km2 (147 sq mi), on the northern slopes of the Šar Mountains as well as the mountains of Oshllak and Jezerce mountains. The National Park “Šar-Planina Mt.” was proclaimed in 1993 within the temporary boundaries of 39,000 ha. It is planned that the definite boundaries of the Park would enclose an area of around 97,000 ha. What this national park boasts in particular are the endemic relict Macedonian Pine and white-bark pine, as well as the Alpine rose. As for game, this is the habitat of the lynx, bear, chamois, wolf, roe deer, wild boar and other species including this areas richness in bird species. The national park contains 720 chamois while the Opoja and Gora region contains 600 chamois.

Gallery

See also

  • List of mountains in Albania
  • List of mountains in Kosovo
  • Mountains of the Republic of Macedonia

Notes and references

Notes:

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence on 17 February 2008, a move that is recognised by 64 of the 192 UN member states and the Republic of China (Taiwan), but not by other UN member states. Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory.

References:

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