Šar Mountains
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| Šar Mountains | |
| Range | |
 Šar Mountains overview
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| Region | Balkans |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Titov Vrv  |
| - elevation | 2,747 m (9,012 ft) |
The Šar Mountains (Serbian: Шар Планина, Šar planina, Albanian: Malet e Sharrit, Macedonian: 
Шар Планина, Šar planina (help·info)) is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from southern Serbia[a] and the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia to northeastern Albania.
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[edit] Etymology
During Antiquity the mountains were known as Scardus Oros, Scordi montis and Scordus, it is believed that the modern name derives from these ancient ones.[1] Sometimes they are also called Carska planina ("Tzar`s mountain")[2][3], as a reference to the capitals (Prizren and Skopje), courts (Nerodimlje, Pauni, Svrčin, etc.) and monasteries (Sveti Arhangeli) of Serbian Tsardom located around them; the Serbian word šar (шар) means "orb" (globus cruciger).[4] The Macedonian word šara (шара) means "texture".[citation needed]
[edit] Geographical characteristics
The Šar Mountains have a total area of 1600 km. 56,25% of that area is in the Republic of Macedonia, 43.12% in Kosovo, and 0,63% in Albania.[5] There are three plains Sirinic, Vraca and Rudoka.[6] The system is about 80 km (50 mi) long and 10–20 km (6–12 mi) wide.
It includes several high peaks:
- Titov Vrv (2,747 m/9,012 ft), the highest peak
- Mal Turčin (2,702 m/8,865 ft)
- Borislavec (2,662 m/8,734 ft)
- Peskovi (2,651 m/8,698 ft)
- Dzini Beg (2,610 m/8,563 ft)
- Lake Peak (2,604 m/8,543 ft)
- White Lake Peak (2,590 m/8,497 ft)
- Maja e Zezë (2,585 m/8,481 ft)
- Big Vraca (2,582 m/8,471 ft)
- Isa Aga (2,555 m/8,383 ft)
- Black Peak (2,536 m/8,320 ft)
- Kobilica (2,528 m/8,294 ft)
- Piribeg (2,524 m/8,281 ft)
- Ljuboten (2,498 m/8,196 ft)
- Maja Livadh (2,497 m/8,192 ft)
- Zallina (2,493 m (8,179 ft))
- Small Vraca (2,483 m/8,146 ft)
- Kara Nikolla (2,409 m/7,904 ft)
- Tumba Peak (2,346 m/7,697 ft) only in Kosovo
- Gemitash (2,183 m/7,162 ft) only in Kosovo
- Kalabak (2,174 m/7,133 ft)
- Maja Ksulje e Priftit (2,092 m/6,864 ft) tri-point
The Šar Mountains extend to Mount Korab (2,764 m/9,068 ft) in the southwest, and pass into northeastern Albania with very small part (O.63% of the entire length).
Vegetation on the mountains includes crops up to around 1,000 m (3,281 ft), forests up to 1,700 m (5,577 ft), and above that lie high pastures which encompass around 550 km2 (212 sq mi). The Šar Mountains are the largest compact area covered with pastures on the European continent. They are most known as the origin of the dog breed Šarplaninac, which was bred on these pastures.
The snowy peaks of the Šar Mountains are depicted on the coat of arms of the city of Skopje, which in turn is incorporated in the city's flag.[7]
[edit] Šar Mountains in Kosovo
The Šar Mountains are located in the south and south-east of Kosovo, where 43.12% of the range is located. Many mountain lakes are found on the Kosovan part of the Šar Mountains, especially south of the village of Dragaš. The ski resort of Brezovica, with an elevation of 900 m (2,953 ft) to 2,524 m (8,281 ft) above sea level, is located north-east of the mountains.
The Ljuboten peak and the mountain of Skopska Crna Gora create the Kačanik Gorge in Kosovo. The Šar Mountains are split from the Nerodimka Mountain by the Sirinić Valley. The Šar National Park is located in Kosovo. Villages and towns that are found near the mountain are:
Lakes in the Kosovan part of the Šar Mountains are:
- Big Jažinačko Lake
- Small Jažinačko Lake
- Šutmansko Lake
- Lower Defsko Lake
- Štrbačko Lake
- Black Vir Lake
- Donji Vir Lake
- Blateško Lake
- Upper Defsko Lake
- Dinivodno Lake
[edit] National Park
| Šar Mountains National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Location | Southern Kosovo |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Štrpce |
| Coordinates | 42°00′00″N 20°44′00″E / 42°N 20.733333°ECoordinates: 42°00′00″N 20°44′00″E / 42°N 20.733333°E |
| Area | 390 km² |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | Serbia |
The Šar Mountains National Park is in the territory of Kosovo, and spreads on 380 km2 (147 sq mi), on the northern slopes of the Šar Mountains. What this national park boasts in particular are the endemic relict Macedonian Pine and white-bark pine, as well as the Alpine rose. As for game, this is the habitat of the lynx, bear, chamois, wolf, roe deer, wild boar and other species.
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[edit] Gallery
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[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
Notes:
| a. | ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between Serbia and the local Albanian majority. The Assembly of Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008, a move that is recognised by 61 UN member states and the Republic of China (Taiwan), but not by Serbia, which claims it as part of its sovereign territory. |
References:
- ^ PRIRODNE ODLIKE GORE (in Serbian)
- ^ Nacionalni park Šar-planina (in Serbian)
- ^ Šar planina (in Serbian)
- ^ Veselinović, Andrija; Radoš Ljušić (in Serbian). Srpske dinastije. Novi Sad. ISBN 86-83639-01-0.
- ^ Rista Nikolić: "Glacijacija Šar Planine i Koraba“, Beograd, 1912 godina.
- ^ Šar Planina, Živko Stefanovski, Napredok- Tetovo
- ^ Official portal of the city of Skopje: City symbols. – Retrieved on 13 May 2009.
