Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park
| Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park | |
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A view of mountains within the park | |
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| Location | Central Albania |
| Nearest city | Librazhd |
| Coordinates | 41°11′55.40″N 20°28′25.91″E / 41.1987222°N 20.4738639°ECoordinates: 41°11′55.40″N 20°28′25.91″E / 41.1987222°N 20.4738639°E |
| Area | 33,927.7 ha |
| Established | May 21, 2008 |
Shebenik – Jabllanice National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar Shebenik-Jabllanicë) is a protected national park located in the eastern part of the Elbasan County in central Albania. The park covers an area of 33,927.7 hectares and shares a border with the Republic of Macedonia.[1] Elevations in the park vary from 300m to over 2,200m at the peak of Shebenik mountain, which, along with Jablanica give name to the park. The park is one of Albania’s newest, created in 2008. Within the park region dwell a number of different species that are fast becoming rare in Albania, including the brown bear, gray wolf and the endangered Balkan Lynx.[2] Further, the park is home to a number of endemic and rare plants. The nearest towns to the park are Librazhd and Prrenjas.
On 21 April 2011, the PPNEA (Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania) research team got the first photo of an alive Balkan lynx living within the boundaries of the national park.[3]
History
The area was declared a National Park by the government on May 21, 2008.
Park management
The project is managed by the local Forest Directorates in Librazhd and Prrenjas, as a part of the Ministry of the Environment.
Geography and geology
Geology
Two rivers flow and multiple smaller water sources flow through the park's area including the Qarrishte River and Bushtrice River, both of which are 22 km long.
Glacial Lakes
The area is home to at least 14 glacial lakes, the highest of which are around 1900 meters.[4]
Climate
The climate of most of the park falls into the Mediterranean climate category, with average annual temperatures between 7°C and 10°C. Annual average precipitation is between 1,300mm and 1,800 mm dependent on location within the park[5]
Wildlife and ecology
The park area is home to a number of different rare and endemic species of plants, animals and fungi.
Flora
The park contains beech, fir, pines, and oak species as well as species such as Purple Willow, Norway Maple, Silver birch, and European silver fir in the northern slopes of the Park area. There are a number of rare and endemic plant species such as Albanian rock rose (endemic species), greenwed (subendemic species), Albanian pansy (subendemic species), Dukagjini pansy (subendemic species) and Rock grevillea (subendemic species).
Fauna
The park area is thought to contain one of the primary remaining ranges of the Balkan Lynx subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. On 21 April 2011, the PPNEA (Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania) research team got the first photo of an alive Balkan lynx living within the boundaries of the national park. It is also a natural range for the brown bear, gray wolf, chamois, wild boar, European otter and brown trout. Avian populations include the Golden Eagle, Western Capercaillie, and Hazel Grouse.
Recreation
There are numerous hiking trails throughout the park of varying difficulty with markings of varying quality. See the Librazhd Forest Directorate for a map.
Gallery
References
- ↑ "RRJETI I ZONAVE TE MBROJTURA NE SHQIPERI" (PDF). Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ↑ "Proclamation of the natural ecosystem of Shebenik – Jabllanica as a "National Park"". Cat Specialist Group.
- ↑ http://www.kora.ch/news/archiv/20110503.htm
- ↑ Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment of Albania (2009). Shebeniku Jabllanica Hiking Map
- ↑ Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment of Albania (2009). Shebeniku Jabllanica Hiking Map
External links
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Shebenik-Jabllanice_National_Park. |
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