Valbonë Valley National Park - Transfer & Transportation Guides

The Valbona Valley National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar in Luginës Së Valbonës) is a national park inside the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. The park covers a total area of ​​80 km2 (31 sq mi) encompassing Valbona River and its surrounding areas of mountainous terrain, alpine landscape, glacial springs, deep depressions, various rock formations, waterfalls and Valbona valley with its dense coniferous and deciduous woods. It is characterized by its very remote areas that have a large preserved ecosystem of which is primarily untouched by the sheer quality. This large pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been called the Albanian Miracle in the Alps. The park borders Montenegro to the north, Gashi nature reserve in the east, Nikaj-Mërtur Regional Nature Park in the south and Theth National Park in the west. It is proposed to expand the park's boundaries and merge it with Theth and Gashi. In addition, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro plan to establish a cross-border national park, which will be called the Balkan Peace Park. Fred park would include Valbone Valley with Theth National Park, Gashi nature reserve, Nikaj-Mërtur Nature Park, Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in Kosovo and Prokletije National Park in Montenegro.The Albanian Alps is one of the most impressive and notable topographic features Albania. Being the southernmost extension of the Dinaric Alps, it forms part of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt, which stretches from the Atlantic to the Himalaya Mountains. The mountains are characterized by limestone and dolomite rocks and shows major karst features. Maja Jezerce sprawls in the western part of the park and is the highest mountain in the Dinaric Alps, with an altitude of 2694 meters (8.839 ft). The Valbona River originates from several karst springs along the southern Maja Jezerce and east of Valbona Pass. It is the largest river in the Albanian Alps and empties the entire eastern part of the range. Over the past few million years, glaciers have at times covered most of the park. During Würm period, glacier of Valbona reached a total length of 9.5 kilometers. Nowadays, there are two very small active glaciers close to the northeastern edge of the Maja Jezerce. Park's remote and relatively small population, coupled with the great variety of ecosystems and climate conditions favor the existence of a rich flora and fauna distributed throughout the land area. Most of the park is forest, covering 89% of the total surface area. Brown bear, gray wolf, lynx, deer, chamoises and wild goats are the primary predator in the park. The park's forests are characterized by the dominance of different species, with beech, pine and oak. Notably, the main tree species used to be fir; It is one of the few regions in Albania where this type can be found.Valbonë Valley National Park was established in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers # 102, January 15, 1996 to preserve the natural ecosystems and landscapes with their vegetation and communities, biodiversity and habitats. An expansion plan to increase the park's boundaries to cover Theth National Park and Gashi nature reserve is under consideration. With this expansion, the park will be the largest protected area not only in Albania but also in Balkans.The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has listed the park as Category II. The Gashi River is located in the park, included in the UNESCO Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and other parts of Europe. It is also part of the European Green Belt, which serves as a refuge for endangered and endemic species. The park also applied to join the EUROPARC Federation. Plantlife has recognized the park as well as the Albanian Alps, as an important plant area of ​​international importance, because it supports large plants. The region is part of the Emerald Network, an ecological network of areas of special conservation interest designated under the Bern Convention. .... Learn more at Wikipedia