Nemërçka (, gr, Νεμέρτσικα or Δούσκο or Μερόπη, translit=Nemértsika or Doύsko or Merópi) is a
mountain chain
A mountain chain is a row of high mountain summits, a linear sequence of interconnected or related mountains,Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, p 87. . or a contiguous ridge of mountains within a larger m ...
situated along the boundary between
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and th ...
and
Përmet
Përmet (; sq-definite, Permeti) is a city and municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë and Përmet. The total popul ...
municipalities, in southern
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
. Part of the
Trebeshinë-
Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...
, its highest peak, ''
Maja e Papingut
Maja e Papingut is a peak of the Nemërçkë mountain ridge located in the south of Albania, near the Vjosë river. Maja e Papingut is the highest point of Nemerçkë and the highest unshared peak in southern Albania at high. From the rocky su ...
'', reaches a height of , making it the highest peak in the
Southern Mountain Region. Other notable peaks include Maja e Gatakut , Maja e Qesarit , Maja e Poliçanit , etc.
The chain extends about from Qafa e Dhëmbelit in the north to the state border with
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
in the south, stretching at a width of .
Geology
Composed primarily of
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretace ...
and
Paleogene limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
s, Nemërçka features a heavily karstified
ridge, formed by an elongated anticlinal structure, embanking the
graben valley of
Vjosë. The eastern slope descends steeply, often presenting as cliffs that are impassable, while the western slope is more gradual.
Quaternary glaciations have left visible traces in the relief pattern, manifesting as
cirques on the eastern slope, above , where large amounts of snow accumulates.
From these heights, numerous rapid streams emerge, such as the Kazan and Draçovë streams. Snow blankets the chain from November to April and avalanches are frequent on the western slope.
Biodiversity
Vegetation mainly consists of shrubs and a limited distribution of conifers. Forests are scarce. Summer pastures are plentiful throughout the mountain ridge and the western slope.
A diverse species of wildlife inhabit the area, namely the
mountain partridge,
wild turkey
The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland ground bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey, which was originally d ...
,
wild goat
The wild goat (''Capra aegagrus'') is a wild goat species, inhabiting forests, shrublands and rocky areas ranging from Turkey and the Caucasus in the west to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east. It has been listed as near threate ...
,
wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...
, and others.
See also
*
Geography of Albania
Albania is a small country in Southern, Southeastern Europe and Western Balkans strategically positioned on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea inside the Mediterranean Sea, with a coastline of about . It is bounded by Montenegro to the northwest, Koso ...
*
List of mountains in Albania
References
{{reflist
Mountains of Albania
Geography of Gjirokastër County
Two-thousanders of Albania