Misplaced Pages

#50949

84-612: Vermosh is part of the Bjeshkët e Namuna ("Accursed Mountains") or Albanian Alps , a mountain range in Northern Albania that extends to western Kosovo and Eastern Montenegro and the highest point of which, Maja Jezercë , lies 18.8 kilometers (12 miles) south of Vermosh, in the Theth and Valbona National Park. Vermosh comprises the quarters of Pjetroja (also known as Qendra, "the center"), Velan, Bashkim ("junction", incl.

168-550: 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

252-519: A limited, cautious basis, reform from above threatened to turn into reform from below, largely because of the increasingly vocal demands of Albania's youth. On 9 December 1990, student demonstrators marched from the Enver Hoxha University (now University of Tirana ) at Tirana through the streets of the capital shouting slogans and demanding reforms. By 11 December, the number of participants had reached almost 3,000. In an effort to quell

336-452: A nine-year sentence. A court of appeals subsequently reduced some of the sentences, notably Alia's to five years. Alia, Myftiu, Carçani, Stefani and Isai were also ordered to repay various sums to the state. On 30 November, the Court of Cassation reduced Alia's term by an additional three years. On 7 July 1995, Ramiz Alia was freed from jail. However, his freedom was short-lived and in 1996 he

420-431: 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 , Satureja and Sideritis . Because of its altitude and its favored habitat, the range is one of the centers of arcto-alpine relict flora of

504-622: A subspecies of the Eurasian lynx , is mainly found in the Theth National Park where about roughly 20–50 individuals still roam, though poaching is still a large threat. Chamois are found throughout the high altitudes; about 720 chamois live between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. There is speculation that the mouflon roamed the Accursed Mountains until World War I, when it disappeared. Bird species include

588-707: A variant of the alpine Wulfenie, but 700 km away it does not grow. Petasites doerfleri is only found on the Jezerca peaks, and the Albanian lily Lilium albanicum and Viola ducagjinica are only found at the top of the Maja Radohimës slope. Also noteworthy is the Viola vilaensis Hayek . Viola chelmea belong to a violet species that occur on the Montenegrin-Albanian border area, especially at

672-476: Is also common. Aspens ( Populus tremula ) grow in damp sites alongside mountain maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus ) and Norway spruce ( Picea abies ). The Accursed Mountains are one of the southernmost areas where spruce grow in Europe. The "combat zones" of the forest are formed with dense thickets of mountain pine ( Pinus mugos) . Conifers like the snakeskin pine ( Pinus heldreichii ) are on carbonate rocks and

756-574: Is based mainly on agriculture, immigrant remittances and tourism. Families from Vermosh include: Vushaj, Beqi, Bujaj, Vukaj, Cali, Dukaj, Gjoni (Gjonaj), Hasanaj, Hysaj, Koçaj, Lekutanaj, Lelçaj, Lumaj, Maçaj, Mernaçaj, Mitaj, Nacaj, Pepaj, Peraj, Pllumaj, Preljocaj, Rexhaj, Selmanaj, Smajlaj, Shqutaj, Staka, Tinaj, Volaj, and Vuktilaj Albanian Alps The Accursed Mountains ( Albanian : Bjeshkët e Nemuna ; Serbo-Croatian : Проклетије , Prokletije , pronounced [prɔklɛ̌tijɛ] ; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as

840-554: 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 5 hectares (0.019 sq mi). Glacier-climate modeling suggests that these glaciers require annual accumulation of between 4,137 and 5,531 mm (162.9 and 217.8 in) (rainfall equivalent) to balance melting, which would correspond to between 49.7 and 66.4 metres (163.1 and 217.8 ft) of snow. A significant proportion of this accumulation

924-508: 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 highlights the importance of local controls on glacier development. The geographers think at least eight glaciers were present in neighbouring mountains during

SECTION 10

#1732776527051

1008-409: Is normal. At higher elevations snow is found even in summer, except in very dry years. There are at least five active glaciers that probably formed during the late Holocene 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

1092-758: Is not the best it could be. Younger comrades, like this one [Alia], will step in." After World War II, Alia resumed his duties in the Communist Youth Organisation, and at the First Congress of the Albanian Party of Labour in November 1948, he was elected to its Central Committee and was assigned to the department of agitation and propaganda. As late as 1988, Alia had continued insisting that Hoxha

1176-566: 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 , fir and silicate spruce forests dominate the mountain areas. Rarely, however, the Northern Europe species are found, typically the Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ). The drought-resistant Mediterranean-sized black pine ( Pinus nigra )

1260-531: 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 after Gjakova has been reconstructed. In the past, the only route for crossing the border between Montenegro and Kosovo was via Rugova Canyon , which was very dangerous and steep. With

1344-701: 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 , which, at 2,534 m (8,314 ft), is the tallest mountain in Montenegro. The range also includes the mountain Gjeravica , which, at 2,656 m (8,714 ft), is the second tallest mountain in Kosovo. One of the southernmost glacial masses in Europe

1428-565: The Albanian Alps ( Albanian : Alpet Shqiptare ; Serbo-Croatian : Албански Алпи , Albanski Alpi ), is a mountain range in coastal Southeast Europe adjacent to the Adriatic Sea . It is the southernmost subrange of the 1,000-kilometre-long (621 mi) Dinaric Alps range (Dinarides), extending from northern Albania to western Kosovo and northeastern Montenegro . Maja Jezercë , standing at 2,694 m (8,839 ft),

1512-644: The Alps , these mountains are the most glaciated in Europe south of the Scandinavian ice sheet . 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 , Albania and Kosovo. This tectonic crash produced

1596-772: 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 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

1680-726: The Ljuča for a few more kilometers where it empties into the Lake Plav , creating a small delta. There it flows out of the lake to the north, next to the mountain Visitor , under the name Lim for the remaining 197 kilometers (122 miles) through Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina , where it joins the Drina at the Višegrad reservoir . According to folklore, the three brothers Seli, Vuli and Nili founded Vermosh, and they are eponymous to

1764-730: The Maja Harapit is 800 metres (2,600 ft) 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. 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

SECTION 20

#1732776527051

1848-737: The Politburo . By 1961, he was made a full member of the Politburo ( Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania ). Alia distinguished himself as the chief ideologist in the social and cultural fields for the Party of Labour of Albania, specifically during the years of the Cultural and Ideological Revolution . Although Hoxha never designated an official successor, there were clear signs that he favoured Alia. In introducing Alia to one of his doctors, Hoxha said "My friend, I'm getting old, and my health

1932-510: The Suva Planina (1,750 metres (5,740 ft)) 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 ( Hoti , Gruda , Kelmendi , Kastrati , Dukagjini , Shkreli , Shala , Nikaj , Krasniqi , Gashi , Kuci and Rugova) refer to their geographical locations within

2016-510: The fence lizard , green lizard , Greek tortoise and snakes such as the true vipers, including the venomous horned viper and adder . The Accursed Mountains have one endemic species of lizard, the Prokletije rock lizard or Dinarolacerta montenegrina , named after the range. British climbers Sleeman, Elmalie and Ellwood were the first to reach the summit of Maja Jezercë on 26 July 1929. Years later Austrian mountaineers also scaled

2100-523: The golden eagle , snake eagle , honey buzzard , peregrine falcon , capercaillie , rock partridge , scops owl , Eurasian eagle owl 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 . Among the amphibians are the alpine salamander (southernmost habitat), fire salamander , yellow-bellied toad and fire-bellied toad . The rich herpetofauna include

2184-485: The "Miss Bjeshka" ("Miss Mountains") pageant. Vermosh started being settled in the mid-19th century, first for the 4–6 months of the Spring and Summer because of the harsh winters (up to 3 feet of snow regularly). Most of the families living there originate from Selca , 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) south of Vermosh. In the 19th century, some Muslim Albanian families had settled from Guci , and Peja . The regional economy

2268-735: The 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the Vermosh river ( Lumi i Vermoshit in Albanian) which belong to Albania. The Vermosh river appears under the Montenegrin name of Vrmoša below the Maglič peak in the Kuči area of eastern Montenegro, just before running into Albania. It re-enters Montenegro at Vjeternik under the name of Grnčar . Receiving the stream Vruje from the right in Gusinje , it continues as

2352-585: The 15th century, and some valleys have been inhabited since the Stone Age . At the end of communism, however, several thousand people emigrated and depopulated the area. SH20 road crosses the Accursed Mountains in the Kelmend region of northwestern Albania, stretching from the eastern shore of Lake Scutari at the Han i Hotit border crossing with Montenegro, to the first pass into the valley of Cem. It then leads to

2436-569: The 19th century, correlating with the culmination of the Little Ice Age in the European Alps. The vegetation of the Accursed Mountains is among the richest on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the main central European regions for flora . To date, 1,611 wild plants have been described in the Albanian part alone. As of 2013 50 flora species are endemic , sub-endemic and endangered plant species. The southern edge of mountains have

2520-615: The Accursed Mountains and the Visitor range . Waterfalls are found in some parts of the range. The White Drin Waterfall in Kosovo reaches a height of 25 m (82 ft). Because it is not far from Peja , it is easily accessible and frequented by many visitors. The Grunas Waterfall in Albania is 30 m (98 ft) high and is in the Theth National Park . The Ali Pasha natural springs in Montenegro near Gusinje are

2604-405: 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 are common. All the large mammals including wolves, chamois, foxes, badgers and wild boar are hunted without regard to national park boundaries. In Albania, the new, enlarged Alps of Albania National Park

Vermosh - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-588: 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 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

2772-476: The Albanian people, Alia welcomed the changes that had been occurring in the country and claimed that 1991 would be a turning point in terms of the economy. Alia was a crucial figure in the peaceful political transition of the early 1990s. Many believe that he helped the rise to power of the anti-communist opposition forces, thus eliminating possible bloodshed. He managed to remain a key political figure throughout several political crises. Nonetheless, with Albania in

2856-444: 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 level, from upland valleys through the montane mountain stage on forest-free alpine and subalpine mats and subnivale tundra caused by permafrost in vast heaps of rubble with raw soils. A real snow level

2940-678: 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

3024-875: The Kakinjes group at 2,359 m (7,740 ft), the Shkëlzen group at 2,407 m (7,897 ft), the Bogićevica group at 2,533 m (8,310 ft), the Horolac group at 2,199 m (7,215 ft), the Kershi Kocaj group at 2,399 m (7,871 ft), the Maja e Zezë group at 2,400 m (7,900 ft), the Lumbardhit group at 2,522 m (8,274 ft), the Kopranik group at 2,460 m (8,070 ft),

3108-471: The Lepushë valley), Velipojë, and Maliaj. When first explored it was called Bjeshkët e Seljanave . Its mountain pastures are called Seferçe , Smutirogë , Lugu i Dolit , Përbicë , Greben , etc. Vermosh is the place of the border crossing with Montenegro near Vjeternik on the road from Shkodër (95 km (59 mi) away) and Koplik to Gusinje and Plav in Montenegro. Vermosh extends around

3192-629: The Lim and those that enter the White Drin and meet the Black Drin 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

3276-560: The Macedonian pine ( Pinus peuce ) 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 . Other plants include Alpine aster Aster alpinus , edelweiss Leontopodium alpinum and white mountain avens Dryas octopetala . These plants are atypical alpine plants specially adapted to

3360-528: The Mediterranean zone of the western Balkans . 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 massifs. Some authors, however, see the river Lim as the northern boundary of the Accursed Mountains in geological terms. From Lake Skadar,

3444-622: The People's Assembly elected DPA leader Sali Berisha as Albania's new head of state. On 21 May 1994, senior officials from the Communist government, including Ramiz Alia, went on trial. Alia was charged with abuse of power and misappropriation of state funds, as was prime minister Adil Çarçani , deputy prime minister Manush Myftiu , and Rita Marko who was a vice-president. Alia had been placed under house arrest in August 1992 and his detention

Vermosh - Misplaced Pages Continue

3528-882: The Popluks group with a height of 2,694 m (8,839 ft), the Shkurt group at 2,554 m (8,379 ft), the Radohimës group at 2,570 m (8,430 ft), the Zaborës e Krasniçës at 2,625 m (8,612 ft), the Bjelic group at 2,556 m (8,386 ft), the Karanfili-Brada group at 2,554 m (8,379 ft), the Rabës group at 2,232 m (7,323 ft), the Ershellit group at 2,066 m (6,778 ft),

3612-451: 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 or abroad. As

3696-427: The Strellc group at 2,377 m (7,799 ft), the Gjeravica group at 2,656 m (8,714 ft), the Junik group at 2,296 m (7,533 ft), the Starac-Qokorr group 2,426 m (7,959 ft), the Hajla group at 2,403 m (7,884 ft), the Stedim-Ahmica group at 2,272 m (7,454 ft), the Zleb-Rusulija group at 2,382 m (7,815 ft), the Mokna group at 2,155 m (7,070 ft) and

3780-489: The Suva Planina group at 1,750 m (5,740 ft). Erosion during glaciation left many telltale features behind. Deep river canyons and flat valleys wind around the ridges of the mountains. The largest canyon is Rugova Canyon . It is situated in Kosovo and is 25 km (16 mi) long from the border with Montenegro to Peja and is 1,000 m (3,281 ft) deep. It has very steep vertical mountain slopes on both sides. Valleys common at lower altitudes are found at

3864-462: 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 Valleys in the Accursed Mountains The Accursed Mountains contain several notable rivers of the region. Rivers in this range fall roughly into two main categories, those that flow into

3948-416: The area that will be called the Balkans Peace Park. The Accursed Mountains are home to Albanians , Montenegrins , Serbs and Bosniaks , but they are only very sparsely populated. At the edges there are some settlements: the Albanian Koplik and the Montenegrin Tuzi in the west near the Skadar Lake; Plav and Gusinje in of the northern valley of the upper Lim river in Montenegro and Bajram Curri ,

4032-407: The ascent on 18 June 1972, needing three and a half days to finish this first ascent. The Accursed Mountains are a typical Dinaric karst high mountain range with a pronounced steep topography and glacial features. Maximum relief differences of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) are found in the Valbona , Grbaja and Ropojani and Cem valleys. Overhanging walls and ridges forming pointed peaks are typical of

4116-413: The border with Albania. As a tributary of the Drina it drains into the Danube and then into the Black Sea . The Lim flows through the Plav lake. The Ibar , which originates on the slopes of the Hajla , takes a similar route into the Danube via the West Morava in Serbia. In the southern Accursed Mountains, the Drin dominates. It drains most of the ranges with its tributaries and when measured from

4200-438: The communist party, he was badly defeated by a surprising majority of 61% by the renowned mining engineer in the country, Franko Kroqi. Kroqi ran as a candidate of the newly formed Democratic Party of Albania, although he never became a party member. After this loss, and later on the Democratic Party of Albania 's (DPA) landslide victory in the spring 1992 general election , he resigned as president on 3 April 1992. On 9 April

4284-422: The construction of the Peja – Rožaje highway the situation has greatly improved. 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. Ramiz Alia Ramiz Alia ( Albanian pronunciation: [ɾaˈmiz aˈlia] ; 18 October 1925 – 7 October 2011)

SECTION 50

#1732776527051

4368-423: The country. Most were caught by the Communists and brought to Shkodër. A noted event was the murder of 17-year-old Pëllumb Pëllumbaj, who had tried to cross the Yugoslav border through Hani i Hotit , but was caught by the Albanian border police and dragged through Shkodër tied to a truck. The event sparked a riot, in which the local government was forced to contact Ramiz Alia , and Hoxha's wife Nexhmije Hoxha . In

4452-411: The early part of World War II , Alia was a member of a fascist youth organisation known as the Fascist Lictor Youth Organisation but joined the underground Albanian Communist Youth Organisation in 1941. In 1943, he became a member of the Albanian Communist Party . He had risen rapidly under Hoxha's patronage, and was elected to the Central Committee in 1948, and in 1956, was named a candidate member of

4536-496: The high alpine areas as well as the Rugova Canyon and important rivers. A part of Maja e Ropës mountain was declared a floral mountain reserve by Yugoslavia in 1955, covering an area of 25 ha (62 acres) 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 161 ha (400 acres). As of 2010, Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro are planning to create another tri-state park in

4620-590: The lake Bukumirsko Jezero at 2,100 meters, and are only found on Asia Minor 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. Large mammal species that have long been extinct in other regions are found here, such as the Eurasian brown bear , grey wolf , golden jackal , red fox , European wildcat , roe deer , fallow deer , red deer , wild boar and European otter . The highly endangered Balkan lynx,

4704-568: The late Palaeozoic and Triassic periods, medium-Triassic volcanic rocks and Jurassic metamorphic rocks . 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 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) deep. The south wall of

4788-538: The locality of the Monastery of Saint Naum, despite the decision of the Delimitation Commission. The Yugoslav minister renewed the protest regarding the issue. On July 28, 1925, the areas of the Monastery of Saint Naum and Vermosh were ceded to Yugoslavia. Zog I ceded the territories, as a friendly gesture and payment for the Yugoslav assistance to Zog's return to the throne, and in the agreement, Albania received Peshkopi and other minor concessions. After Enver Hoxha died in 1985, many people from Vermosh tried to escape

4872-443: 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 , Gjakova and Peja 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

4956-401: The mountains stretch northeast along the Cem river then curve slightly to the east in the direction of Gjeravica summit above the western Kosovo (450m) basin. From here, the Accursed Mountains turn northwards over the Bogićevica massif and Čakor pass and continue with another row of mountains. The Accursed Mountains finish in the area of upper Ibar River valley near Mitrovica , just after

5040-446: The mountains their name as they struggled to march through them. Both the Albanian ( Bjeshkët e Nemuna ) and Serbo-Croatian ( Prokletije ) names mean "cursed (mountains)". The Accursed Mountains, the southernmost part of the Dinaric Alps , stretch more than 60 kilometres (40 mi) from Lake Skadar along the Montenegrin–Albanian border in the southwest to Kosovo in the northeast. These points are at 42°45' and 42°15' N in

5124-437: 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 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

SECTION 60

#1732776527051

5208-451: The premium attraction for the town. Peaks over 2,600 m (8,530 ft) Peaks over 2,500 m (8,202 ft) Peaks over 2,400 m (7,874 ft) Peaks under 2,400 m (7,874 ft) The Accursed Mountains are on the whole the wettest area of Europe. In the village of Boga in the valley, precipitation is 3,033 millimetres (119.4 in) per year, and otherwise 2,000 to 2,500 millimetres (79 to 98 in) per year

5292-444: 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 , Macedonia and Ante Bedalov (1952-1974) from Kaštel Kambelovac , Croatia . The two climbed this route starting from 15 June 1972, and finishing

5376-434: The same year, a group of people from Bajzë attempted to cross the border in Vermosh, but were caught by the Albanian border police, which once again dragged their corpses throughout the Kelmend municipality, then to Shkodër. Most tourists come to Vermosh for its mountain views. There are also more than 30 kinds of medicinal and endemic plants. Popular activities in Vermosh include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and

5460-422: 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 relic Amphoricarpos neumayeri . Many species of flora are either endemic or are mainly found in the Accursed Mountains. A plantain plant Plantaginaceae is found in the central Accursed Mountains as

5544-425: The source elevation of the Qafa e Predelecit after Vermosh, followed by another border crossing, ending at Gusinje. As of 2015 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

5628-435: The source of the White Drin in Radavc to the mouth of the Drin near Lezha , it is 335 km (208 mi) 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 , and its eastern tributary the Gashi River. To the west of the mountains is the Cem , which drains the northwestern part of the Montenegrin-Albanian border area to

5712-399: The southwestern and western lake shore. The lake is 295 m (968 ft) long, 110 m (360 ft) wide and about 5 m (16 ft) deep on average. In addition to precipitation, it receives water from sources near its shores. The largest lake is Lake Plav in Montenegro. The lake lies at an altitude of 906 m (2,972 ft) above sea level in the Plav valley, nestled between

5796-404: The student unrest, which had led to clashes with riot police, Alia met with the students and agreed to take further steps toward democratization . The students informed Alia that they wanted to create an independent political organisation of students and youth. Alia's response was that such an organisation had to be registered with the Ministry of Justice. In his traditional New Year's message to

5880-431: 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 at 2,407 m (7,897 ft) high, followed by Maja Radohimës at 2,570 m (8,432 ft). By early summer 1929 all the summits were measured by Italian geodetes. There are three national parks in

5964-407: The throes of a grave economic crisis, Alia had to face challenges that he could not surmount. On 12 December 1990, he signed a law allowing political pluralism, on which he would later comment as his life's greatest failure. In the 1991 elections , the first democratic elections in the country, where Alia ran for Member of National Parliament in a constituency in the capital, which was a stronghold of

6048-497: 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 limestones and dolomites of the Jurassic and Cretaceous ages. In the eastern Accursed Mountains in addition to the limestone and dolomite series, there are rocks from

6132-682: The villages of Selca, Vukli and Nikci. The border was drawn in 1878 by the Berlin Congress which gave Plav , Gusinje , Tuzi and Ulcinj to the Principality of Montenegro at the expense of the Ottoman Empire . Part of the Malësor highlanders, the local Kelmendi mountain tribe has been known for its warring tradition, mostly against foreign occupiers. It has been traditionally Catholic . The Principality of Albania

6216-557: 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 karstic areas in the western parts. The range was formed by the folding resulting from the collision of the African and Eurasian plates . Nowhere in the Balkans have glaciers left so much evidence of erosion. After

6300-641: 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 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,

6384-795: Was an Albanian politician serving as the second and last leader of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania from 1985 to 1991, serving as First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania . He was also the country's head of state from 1982 to 1992. He had been seen as a successor by Enver Hoxha and took power after Hoxha died. Alia was born on October 18, 1925, in Shkodër to Gheg Albanian parents who were Muslim . They fled persecution in Yugoslavia . He grew up and spent his childhood in Tirana . In

6468-495: Was charged with committing crimes against humanity during his term, and was imprisoned anew in March. The trial against him began on 18 February 1997, but he escaped from the prison following the unrest in the country and the desertion of the guards. Amid the unrest he appeared on state TV in an exclusive interview with Blendi Fevziu . In December 1997 he returned to Albania after escaping briefly to France to join his family during

6552-455: Was converted into imprisonment in August 1993. In court he claimed he was the victim of a political show trial and demanded that the trial be broadcast on television, a request denied by the presiding judge. The trial was monitored by a Human Rights Watch representative and proceeded with only minor due process irregularities. The ten defendants were found guilty as charged and sentenced to between three and nine years in prison; Alia received

6636-552: Was created in 2022, merging the former Theth National Park , Valbona Valley National Park and Gashi River Strict Nature Reserve, totaling a massive coverage area of 86,000 ha (330 sq mi). Theth National Park was designated in 1966 and covered area of 2,630 ha (10.2 sq mi) along the Thethi River. The main attraction in the park is the Grunas Waterfall. The Valbona Valley National Park

6720-606: Was designated in 1996 and covered 8,000 ha (31 sq mi), including the Valbona Valley and the Valbona River . The Montenegrin part of the mountain range was declared Prokletije National Park in 2009, comprising an area of 16,000 ha (62 sq mi). The Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park on the Kosovar side was established in 2012 with an area of 50,000 ha (190 sq mi), covering

6804-429: Was discovered in the Albanian part of the range in 2009. The origin of the name "Accursed Mountains" is disputed. According to one local legend, the devil escaped from hell and created the jagged glacial karsts 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

6888-473: Was established in 1914. In 1925, Albania was declared a republic . On September 13, 1914, Montenegrin troops entered Kelmendi and fought for three hours, sacked and burnt Selcë, Vukël, Tamarë, and Nikç, only Vermosh managed to save itself. A total of 90 men were executed, and the Montenegrin troops took with them 10,000 sheep, goats, and cattle. On May 23, 1923, Yugoslavia refused to evacuate Vermosh and

6972-506: Was the only statesman in decades who stayed loyal to Marxism-Leninism, claiming in his speech at the unveiling of Hoxha's statue in Skanderbeg Square : "Enver Hoxha has been and remains to this day the only name among the communist leaders of the last 4–5 decades who defended the teachings of Marxism-Leninism, the ideals of the revolution and socialism, both in theory and practice." Despite Alia's efforts to proceed with change on

7056-601: Was used to reconstruct the positions of former glaciers. The longest glacier of Ropojana had a length of 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) and a surface area of 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi); others include Valbona glacier at 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) and 10.5 square kilometres (4.1 sq mi), Grbaja Glacier at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) and 6.7 square kilometres (2.6 sq mi) and Bogićevića Glacier at 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) and6.9 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi). In addition, there are about 20 small lakes of glacial origin as described above, including

#50949