Lura Mountain
Encyclopedia
Lura Mountain is a mountain located in the north-eastern part of Albania
. The highest peak of Lura Mountain is Kunora e Lurës
which reaches a height of 2119 m (6,952 ft) above sea level. Lura Mountain has many forests. The most common type of tree is the Beech
which is found on altitudes between 900 and 1000 m (2,952.8 and 3,280.8 ft) to 1900 and 2000 m (6,233.6 and 6,561.7 ft). On altitudes between 1600 and 1700 m (5,249.3 and 5,577.4 ft) Black Pine
are abundant and on altitudes between 1700 and 2000 m (5,577.4 and 6,561.7 ft) separate Red Pine
and White Pine
are found on rocky slopes. These forests are home to the rare European Brown Bear, Eurasian Lynx
, Eurasian wolf
, European Pine Marten, Roe Deer
and Capercaillie
.
What really attracts visitors to Lura Mountain is not its forests and animals but its many lakes. Lura Mountain contains twelve glacial lakes which were formed during the Würm glacial period. These 12 lakes are home to the Smooth Newt
and the Great Crested Newt
. These lakes are found between 1200 and 1500 m (3,937 and 4,921.3 ft).
The four principal lakes are:
Lura National Park (Parku Kombëtar i Lurës in Albanian
) is situated on the eastern slopes of Lura Mountain. It was established in the year 1966 by a decision of the Council of Ministers of Albania. The national park covers an area of around 1280h. The town of Peshkopi
is about 25 kilometres east of the National Park while villages such as Fushë-Lurë
and Sina e Epërme are even closer to the National Park. The National Park is home to many rare animals such as those mentioned above. But once again the real attractions are its 12 lakes which attract many visitors year round.
With a surface of 1.280 hectares it is situated in the eastern side of the mountain massive of "Kunora e Lures". Its 12 icy lakes offer picturesque and attractive environments at an altitude of 1.350-1.720 m. Among the many lakes the one that stand out are the Big Lake 32 hectares, Lake of Pines 13 hectares, Black Lake 8 hectares and Lake of Flowers 4 hectares.
In the southern part of the park there is a meadow called "Field of Mares" which offers a relaxing view, since its vegetation is miscellaneous with multi-color flowers and full of coniferous trees. This park offers various possibilities for developing eco-tourism, winter sports, equitation, horse riding etc.
The glacial complex of Lura lakes are one of the most beautiful pearls of Albanian nature. The glacial lakes of Lura have a general surface of 100 ha. They are located in the northeastern part of the country in the district of Dibra. In winter these lakes freeze , taking the view of natural skiing lanes. The lake of Flowers is really astonishing with the big white water lilies in summer, leaving the impression of a big garden created by the hand of a mastermind. However, after the fall of Communism, the area suffered from massive deforestation from illegal logging
that has severely affected ecosystems around the many glacial lakes.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The highest peak of Lura Mountain is Kunora e Lurës
Kunora e Lurës
Kunora e Lurës is a mountain in Albania. Kunora e Lurës reaches a height of above sea level and is the highest peak of the Lura Mountain. Kunora e Lurës has a rocky face and is included in the Lura National Park which was established in the year 1966. On average Kunora e Lurës has 1-1.5m of snow...
which reaches a height of 2119 m (6,952 ft) above sea level. Lura Mountain has many forests. The most common type of tree is the Beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
which is found on altitudes between 900 and 1000 m (2,952.8 and 3,280.8 ft) to 1900 and 2000 m (6,233.6 and 6,561.7 ft). On altitudes between 1600 and 1700 m (5,249.3 and 5,577.4 ft) Black Pine
Black Pine
Several trees are referred to as black pine:* The European Black Pine.* The Japanese Black Pine.* The Jeffrey Pine in North America.* Matai, a New Zealand conifer.* Miro, also a New Zealand conifer.The band The Black Pine...
are abundant and on altitudes between 1700 and 2000 m (5,577.4 and 6,561.7 ft) separate Red Pine
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa, commonly known as the red pine or Norway pine, is pine native to North America. The Red Pine occurs from Newfoundland west to Manitoba, and south to Pennsylvania, with several smaller, disjunct populations occurring in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia, as well...
and White Pine
White Pine
-Trees:* Trees in the pine subgenus Pinus subgenus Strobus** Eastern White Pine , one of these species, native to northeastern North America...
are found on rocky slopes. These forests are home to the rare European Brown Bear, Eurasian Lynx
Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx...
, Eurasian wolf
Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian Wolf , also known as the, European, Common or Forest Wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf which has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Mongolia, China, Russia, Scandinavia, Western Europe and the Himalayan Mountains...
, European Pine Marten, Roe Deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
and Capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
.
What really attracts visitors to Lura Mountain is not its forests and animals but its many lakes. Lura Mountain contains twelve glacial lakes which were formed during the Würm glacial period. These 12 lakes are home to the Smooth Newt
Smooth Newt
The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...
and the Great Crested Newt
Great Crested Newt
The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...
. These lakes are found between 1200 and 1500 m (3,937 and 4,921.3 ft).
The four principal lakes are:
- Great Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Madh)
- Black Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Zi)
- Lake of Flowers (Alb.: Liqeni i Luleve)
- Cow's Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Lopeve)
Lura National Park
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
) is situated on the eastern slopes of Lura Mountain. It was established in the year 1966 by a decision of the Council of Ministers of Albania. The national park covers an area of around 1280h. The town of Peshkopi
Peshkopi
Peshkopi is a city in Dibër District, Dibër County, northeastern Albania.It is located away from Tirana, the capital of Albania, and from the Macedonian border. It is situated at 41°40'N and 20°25'. It sits above sea level. In the 2004 census, there were approximately 14,100 residents. It is...
is about 25 kilometres east of the National Park while villages such as Fushë-Lurë
Lurë
Lurë is a municipality in the Dibër District, Dibër County, northeastern Albania.Old Lurë , Lurë Plain and Borie Lurë , are the three neighborhoods of Lurë. More villages are in the municipality of Lurë such as Krej Lurë, Pregj Lurë, Arrmall, Vlashe and Gur Lure. With an area of 1.280 hectares,...
and Sina e Epërme are even closer to the National Park. The National Park is home to many rare animals such as those mentioned above. But once again the real attractions are its 12 lakes which attract many visitors year round.
With a surface of 1.280 hectares it is situated in the eastern side of the mountain massive of "Kunora e Lures". Its 12 icy lakes offer picturesque and attractive environments at an altitude of 1.350-1.720 m. Among the many lakes the one that stand out are the Big Lake 32 hectares, Lake of Pines 13 hectares, Black Lake 8 hectares and Lake of Flowers 4 hectares.
In the southern part of the park there is a meadow called "Field of Mares" which offers a relaxing view, since its vegetation is miscellaneous with multi-color flowers and full of coniferous trees. This park offers various possibilities for developing eco-tourism, winter sports, equitation, horse riding etc.
The glacial complex of Lura lakes are one of the most beautiful pearls of Albanian nature. The glacial lakes of Lura have a general surface of 100 ha. They are located in the northeastern part of the country in the district of Dibra. In winter these lakes freeze , taking the view of natural skiing lanes. The lake of Flowers is really astonishing with the big white water lilies in summer, leaving the impression of a big garden created by the hand of a mastermind. However, after the fall of Communism, the area suffered from massive deforestation from illegal logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
that has severely affected ecosystems around the many glacial lakes.
External links
- Lura National Park on Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/Lura_National_Park