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onuzi, k. Fruehmann, p., imeraJ, p. & leGisi, m. (2008): Geo-Touristic aspects of the Albanian Alps. – In: röhlinG, h.-G. & zellmer, H. (Hrsg.): GeoTop 2008 „Landschaften lesen lernen“, 12. Internationale Jahrestagung der Fachsektion GeoTop der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 30. April – 4. Mai �008 in Königslutter im Geopark Harz . Braunschweiger Land . Ostfalen. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, Heft 56, S. 15�-162; Hannover.

Geo-touristic aspects of the Albanian Alpskaytim onuzi,1,2 peter Fruhemann,2,3 petrit imeraJ 2 & martin leGisi1

1 Institute for Geology, Blloku ”Vasil Shanto” Tirana, Albania, onuzi@yahoo.com� SHKSM, AAV, Rr. Pjeter Bogdani, Tirana, Albania, P.20/4, Ap. 2B.Sh.2, onuzi@yahoo.com3 OMV Exploration & Production GmbH, Gerasdorferstraße 151, 1�10 Vienna, Austria, peter.fruehmann@ omv.com

Introduction

The Albanian Alps (Fig.1) are situated in the most northern part of Albania and represent the highest and most beautiful regions of this country. Towards the north their geographic and geological structures extend beyond the national border to Montenegro. In the south the Alps reach to the Drini valley (Fierzë,

Vau i Dejës area). In the east and south-east the Shko-dra-Pejë -Fault separates them from the neighbouring regions, whereas in the west the Alps border to the Mbishkodra plain. They have a width of 60 km and a length of 64 km and occupy an area of about �0�0 km�. The Albanian Alps give shelter to some ecosystems of rare natural beauty. The wonderful mountainous landscape with its diversified flora that developed

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Fig. 1: Relief map of the Albanian Alps

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mainly in carbonate areas, the typical cataracts and plenty of water sources in form of rivers, lakes and springs compose the base and enable the existence of these systems. The Albanian Alps with a big variety of natural landscape, their folklore and history offer an extraordinary opportunity for geo-tourism.

Geology

The oldest sediments in the Albanian Alps originating from Permian age are schist, sandstones, conglomera-tes and limestones with fuzilinidae. They are followed by Triassic sediments such as terrigeno-carbonate rocks, limestones, radiolarians, tuffs and tuffits, al-gae limestones and dolomites, slate limestones with siliceous lenses, limestones with megalodonte and stromatolite limestones. At Valbona valley, Markajt

lake, Shtyllen e Grise, Vidhgare, etc. funnels and bau-xite lenses or bauxitic clays are imbedded in the algae limestones and dolomites and Triassic limestones.The tectonic map of the Albanian Alps (Fig.�) shows numerous microblocks.The Kelmendi Microblock at the north of the tectonic fault of Grabom-Boge is mainly composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments. Generally, it represents a monocline gently dipping (10°-�5°) towards N. In its southern part, it meets the asymmetric anticline of Boçani. The northern side dips in northern direction with an angle of 10°-15°, while the southern side has a steep dip (60°-70°) southwards and flattens out with distance. The relief, very craggy at Cemi and Boga Valley induces massive rockfalls, often with blocks of rocks of considerable size, particularly at Tamara and Boga.

Fig. 2: Tectonic map of the Albanian Alps

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Fig. 3: Thethi

Fig. 4: Koman Lake

Fig. 5: Thethi

Fig. 6: Koman Lake

Fig. 7: Nderlysaj

Fig. 8: Tamare

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The Kastrati Microblock - south of the Grabom-Boge Fault - is composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous sedi-ments. In the south, in direct contact with this fault is the overturned anticline of Fusha e Zeze (40°-50° NE-dip). Further to the south this block represents again a fragmented monocline, with a gentle SW-dip. The tectonic faults that fragment the block strike in SW-NE and SE-NW directions. They create secondary horst and graben structures. The Kastrati Microblock is dipping towards Shkodra lake.

The Reçi Microblock is composed of Triassic, Juras-sic and Cretaceous sediments. It is southwest-northeast elongated and confined by tectonic faults. Like the other microblocks it is fragmented by parallel and transversal tectonic faults. The northern part (Mar-domi) represents a monocline with a north-western dip (�0°-�5°). Further towards S are the Kurrila syn-cline and the Reçi anticline with very gentle slopes (5°-15°). The south-western slope of the Reci anticline dips towards the Shkodra lake forming the Kopliku lowland.

The Valbona Microblock is composed of Triassic and of a condensated facies of Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments. In the SW it is limited by the Bishkaz - Mardomit and Thethi Microblocks along the fault of Ragami – Qafa e Kolshit. This block, although very fragmented clearly represents a big anticline striking nearly east-west. Its nucleus is composed of rocks of Upper and Middle Triassic while the flanks consist of Jurassic-Cretaceous and Maastrichtian flysch

The Bishkaz - Shales Microblock is composed of Permian and Triassic sediments. It strikes from Dris-hti (SW) to Qafa e Kolshit - Currajn e Eperm (NE). In the east and northeast it overthrusts the “Rresh-pet Xhani”, Cukali subzone. In the northwest it is confined by tectonic faults, with the Reç – Mardomit Microblock (Malesia e Madhe subzone) and the Thethi Microblock. From Gjuraj-Boksi to Qafa e Kolshit it represents a monocline dipping N-NE (15°-30°). In the southwest of Gjuraj - Boksit the Bishkazi syncline with very gently dipping flanks is encountered.

The Thethi Microblock is tectonically placed over the Bishkazi - Shala block. It is composed of Middle Triassic formations, black tabulated limestones of La-dinian - Karnianit and limestones with Megalodonte of Upper Triassic. It represents a positive flexure with the flanks dipping towards northwest and southeast (�0°-�5° dip angle). The overthrust plane is very gently dipping and can be observed in Qafa e Thores and followed until the north of Currajt te Eperm. Evidence for its gentle angle and cover nature is the clip of the Maja e Zorzit block itself.

Hydrography

The Albanian Alps are characterized by a highly de-veloped hydrographic system represented by the lake of Shkodra and the rivers Cemi, Vermoshi, Shala and Valbona.

The Lake of Shkodra situated southwest of the Alps is of a tectonic-carstic origin. It is 48 km long and �6 km wide and has an area of 368 km� whereof about 60% belong to Montenegro. At the time of the highest water level the area of the lake can extend to 542 km�. Since the lake’s bed and its surrounding area consist of carstic limestone, gravels and pebbles, the hydro-graphic system round the lake is not distinct. However subsurface huge reserves of high quality water are stored in the gravel deposits. The lake of Shkodra is fed by the river Moraça, rain, snowfalls and underg-round waters.

The Drini River is the longest river of Albania and is formed by the confluence of Drini i Zi and Drini i Bardhë. It offers wonderful scenery in the place where it meets the Buna River.

The waters of the Cemi River flow into the Moraça River. The Cemi River is formed by two tributaries: Cemi i Vuklit and Cemi i Selcës. It is rich in trout.

The Vermoshi River feeding the lake of Plava is the only Albanian river draining into the Black Sea.

The Valbona River is the longest river of the Albanian Alps. It has its source at Qafa e Valbonës at an eleva-tion of 1,450 m. After passing the Valbona waterfall, the water flows in morenore and proluviale deposits to the village of Rragam. Within a distance of about 7 km it totally disappears to show up again near the village of Valbona.

Flora, Fauna

Albanian Alps represent an area of unique biodiversity in the mediterranean montainous part of the country. They are the core of a biosphere reserve.

It is characterized by high diversity of habitats, plants and animal species. It is rich in endemic species. It is the only region in Albania where spruce ( ) grows. The Albanian Alps are floristic linked with the sur-rounding countries.

They shelter the following habitats: Scrubland and pastures, forests, rocks and sandy terrain.

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Fig. 9: Lepushe Fig. 10: Selca Region

Fig. 11: Valbona River

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Fig. 12: Vegatation of the Alba-nian Alps

Fig. 13: At the Valbona pass

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Geo-touristic aspects

Besides their impressive flora and fauna the Albanian Alps offer a beautiful landscape with numerous geo-touristic highlights:

The following figures 16 – 20 show mountains higher than 2000 m;.

Fig. 14: At Thethi

Fig. 15: At Selca

Fig. 16: Jezerca

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Spring of VrakaOlistolites of the Hill of TepeTectonic Overlap of ShirokaGravity block of the Black StoneWaterfall of ThethiPlate of PalajLeka’s stoneCave of GjecoviGates of ShalaCave of ThethiCave of Gajtani Plate of CurrajFluvial-glacial depositions of ShoshajFluvial-glacial depositions of the UglyFir wood of RagamiThe Willow GridSpring of Quku of DunishaSource of ShoshaniSources of ValbonaCave of HadziIce CaveSuspended ice valley of KukajIce Valley of Motina Lake of Peja

Chestnuts of Mgullit Canyon of ShoshaniLinden trees of MarkajOak woods of Qafe LuzheLake of PonarsBirch tree of Black TroughOak wood of the Spring of Hasan Gashi (Mertur) Bosnian Pine at the lake of the PonarsWalnut of DragobiaCave of DragobiaHormoq of ValbonaOak wood of VranicaThreshold of KapreiCave of JubaniCircus of the Beautiful Hole of JezercaSprings of ShtarzaLake of JezercaFlag Pine of the Pass of PejaRocky bridge of MarkzagoraSprings of Okoli -ThethiCave of the Mount of ArapiCanyon of the expensive bridge

Fig. 17: Lepusha

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Fig. 18: Mount Trojani

Fig. 19: Thethi

Fig. 20: Jezerca

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The Albanian Alps are si-tuated between the cities of Shkodra (south-west) and Bajram Curri (north-east) (Fig. �1)

The area of the Alps is touristicly almost unde-veloped. There are diffe-rent reasons for it:• Most of Albanian peo-

ple have other priori-ties than recreational activities

• The beauty and the potential of this area have not been promot-ed abroad in a proper manner

• The infrastructure (road network, accom-modation, gastronomy, shopping facilities, medical care, assistance in case of emergency) is very poor; by the migration from the villages it worsens further-more

• Security problems• Communication problems

In �003 the SHKSM (Albanian Alps Association) has been founded. Its main objectives are the initiation of

Fig. 21: Map of communes in northern Albania

Fig. 22: Map of trails

Fig. 23: CD

Fig. 24: Accompanying booklet

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a gentle tourism, thus improving the living conditions of the inhabitants, and the preservation of this area.

The SHKSM organizes guided tours with groups of maximum 10 people.

In �006 the SHKSM published a map of trails, a CD and an accompanying booklet (Fig. �� – �5).

Fig. 25: Detail of the map of trails

Literatureonuzi, k., dyrmishi, Ç., Bushati, s. & Fruheman, P. (2006):

Top Tour Albanian Alps. – Albanian Excelence 1, 38-40,�007.

onuzi, k. & Fruehmann, P. (2006): Geotouristic Aspects of the Albanian Alps (SHKSM, AAV, 1-�0,Tirana,�006)

onuzi, k. & imeraJ, p. (2007): Razmaonuzi, k &. ymeraJ, P. (Schesin,Poloni 2007): Lepusha Vil-

lage onuzi, K. (2007): Geo-Touren in den Albanischen Alpen.

- (GeoTop 2007,Wien)