Deshat ( 'Deshati'; mk, Dešat or Дешат) is a
massif situated in the
Korab mountain range, on the border between
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 ...
and
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
. Positioned at the southeastern tip of the range, it is bounded by the
Dibër basin to the south (known as Gryka e Radikës), Banja stream valley to the north,
Black Drin valley to the west, and Radikë valley (the right branch of the Black Drin) to the east.
The Deshat watershed serves as a dividing line between both countries. The larger section of the massif is located within Albania proper, including the two highest peaks, ''Velivar'' and ''Kërçinë'' .
Geology
Composed predominantly of
flysch and partially 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 Cretaceo ...
limestone, the massif presents a rugged structure with a combination of scaly and blocky formations. It has an elongated shape, aligned in a nearly north-south orientation, featuring a relatively gentle relief. Its two prominent peaks showcase typical dome-like shapes. The slopes of the mountain bear the marks of glacial
cirque
A (; from the Latin word ') is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from Scottish Gaelic , meaning a pot or cauldron) and (; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform ...
s, particularly on the eastern side.
Biodiversity
Vegetation on Deshat varies with altitude, encompassing oak forests from , with beech forests extending up to , and lush alpine meadows rising above . Additionally, sulfur deposits can be found at the foothills of Kërçinë, in the area known as Kërçisht.
See also
*
List of mountains in Albania
With an average elevation of above sea level, Albania is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. It has a mountainous terrain that covers more than 70% of its total territory. There are many peaks reaching heights of more than .
Alban ...
References
{{reflist
Mountains of Albania
Two-thousanders of Albania
Korab