Naturpark Korab-Koritnik

Korab-Koritnik Nature Park (Vorlage:Lang-sq) is a nature park in eastern Albania forming the European Green Belt, which serves as a retreat for endangered mammals and plant species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the park as Category IV. It encompasses Vorlage:Convert of alpine mountainous terrain, with valleys, rivers, glacial lakes, caves, canyons, dense coniferous and deciduous forest. It contains the Luma, Grama and Drin Valley, Koritnik mountain, Mali i Gramës, Gryka e Shejes, and as well the Gryka e Vanajve.

The nature park extends on the frontier with Kosovo, running along the border with the Republic of Macedonia to the Desha mountains in the eastern corner of the country. It is named after the Korab mountain range and Koritnik mountain. The Korab mountain is the highest summit of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia with an elevation of Vorlage:Convert. It is also one of only two summits in Europe, which are the highest point for more than one country and as well the 18th most prominent mountain peak in the Europe. The summit is a very rugged mountain massif and consists mainly of shale and limestone of the Paleozoic period with block structures, and also severely damaged gypsum rocks of Permo Triassic. On the west side, the mountain falls steeply over rock walls. The north side consists of craggy rocks.

The area has a moderate Humid continental climate with wet cold winters and dry hot summers. Due to a great variability in elevation, a rich diversity of climates, flora and fauna can be found within the nature park. Korab-Koritnik falls within the Dinaric Mountains mixed forests and Balkan mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest. The forests of Korab-Koritnik are composed of diverse species of deciduous and coniferous trees and a great variety of wildflowers. The levels of the vegetation are distinguished based on different altitudes, oak forests from 400 to 900 metres, conifers and beech forests with mixed broadleaved forestss from 1000 up to 2000 metres above sea level. The slopes of the mountain meadows are mostly covered with deciduous forests. The most common type of tree in the park are silver fir, austrian pine, bosnian pine, macedonian pine, and black alder. Oak forests can be found on the lower alitudes including the oriental hornbeam, downy oak, macedonian oak, and field maple.

The fauna is represented by 37 species of mammals. Large mammals such as the brown bear, grey wolf, balkan lynx, roe deer, wild boar, weasel, pine marten, and red squirrel can be found in the area. It also contains a variety of suitable habitats that support dense populations of birds such as the golden eagle, western capercaillie, peregrine falcon, common buzzard, accipiter, eagle-owl, griffon vulture, hazel grouse and many other.

Mount Korab

Gryka së Shejes Canyon

Mali i Gramës

See also

• Korab & Mount Korab
• Protected areas of Albania
• Geography of Albania
• Krahina Malore Qëndrore