Jablanica (mountain Range)
Its highest peak, Black Rock (Albanian: Guri i Zi; Macedonian: Црн Камен), reaches a height of 2,257 m (7,405 ft), marking the delineation point for both countries.
Geology
Composed primarily of Triassic-Jurassic limestones, the range features a complex anticlinal structure with tectonic detachments. It resembles a large elevated horst surrounded by tectonic-erosive slopes, the most prominent of which are found on the western and eastern edges, near Rrethi i Kurorës and Rajcë, respectively. As the mountain range descends southeastward, it becomes less elevated due to subsidence in the Ohrid graben. The northwestern section of the range is rugged and shaped by glacial and karst processes, while the southeastern side contains predominantly flat and pitted surfaces bounded by steep slopes.
The ridge features several karst plateaus, namely Rrethi i Kurorës and Trishilka, that display various karst formations, predominantly small-sized karst pits. Glacial forms like cirques are fewer and less developed on the western slope, while the eastern slope includes numerous complex ones that transition into glacial troughs.
Biodiversity
Forest vegetation is sparse, mainly covered by beech trees and summer pastures. Jablanica serves as a rare habitat for the Balkan lynx, a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, whose vulnerable population is estimated to be less than 100, making this area particularly significant for their conservation.
See also
References
- ^ Kabo, Mevlan (1991). Gjeografia Fizike e Shqipërisë (1.2 ed.). Tiranë: Qendra e Studimeve Gjeografike. p. 278-279.
- ^ Buda, Aleks (1985). Fjalori Enciklopedik Shqiptar. Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e RPSSH. p. 433.
- ^ Spangenberg, Annette; et al. "Jablanica-Shebenik Working towards a transboundary protected area for the Balkan lynx" (PDF). Euronatur. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.