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Jezercë
Jezercë
Maja e Rinisë
	Maja Jezercë as seen from Karanfili peak
Highest point
Elevation	2,694 m (8,839 ft)
Prominence	2,036 m (6,680 ft)
Parent peak	Jezercë
Isolation	93.3 km (58.0 mi)
Listing	Ultra-prominent
Coordinates	42°26′31″N 19°48′45″E / 42.441956°N 19.812632°E
Naming
English translation	Lakes Peak
Geography
	Jezercë
Country	Albania
Region	Northern Mountain Region
Municipality	Shkodër, Tropojë
Parent range	Accursed Mountains
Geology
Rock age	Triassic
Mountain type	massif
Rock type(s)	limestone, dolomite
Climbing
First ascent	1929 by Sleeman, Elmslie and Ellwood
Easiest route	North slope

Jezercë (Albanian definite form: Jezerca) is the highest peak in the Dinaric Alps, the second highest in Albania and the sixth highest in Southeast Europe, standing at 2,694 m (8,839 ft) above sea level. It is the 28th most prominent mountain peak in Europe, and is regarded as one of the toughest and most dangerous climbs in the Albanian Alps.^[1]

Etymology

The toponym Jezerca derives from the Slavic word jezero 'lake', in reference to the cirque lakes in the lower part of the Buni i Jezercës on the northern side of the mountain. During communist rule, it was given the name Maja e Rinisë (lit. 'Mountain of Youth'), which never stuck.^[2]

Geology

Jezercë is situated within the Accursed Mountains range, which is noted for several small glaciers - among the southernmost glacial masses in Europe^[3] after Snezhnika glacier (latitude of 41°46′09″ N)^[4] and Banski Suhodol Glacier in Pirin mountain in Bulgaria. Apart from certain areas north of the peak, the limestone mountain massif is part of the Alps of Albania National Park. It can be climbed from the north; most climbers come from Gusinje in Montenegro as well as from Theth.

The summit is 5 km (3.1 mi) from the border with Montenegro, between the valleys of Valbonë to the east and the Shala to the west. In part, the whole floor between the valley of Valbonë, Shala, Ropojana and Maja e Roshit 2,522 m (8,274 ft) is known as the Jezercë Block. Additionally, Jezercë borders other peaks such as Maja e Popllukës 2,569 m (8,428 ft) and Maja e Alies 2,471 m (8,107 ft) to the west, Maja a Rragamit 2,478 m (8,130 ft) to the east, Maja Kolaj 2,498 m (8,196 ft), Maja e Malësores 2,490 m (8,170 ft), Maja e Bojës 2,461 m (8,074 ft) in the northwest, Maja e Kokërdhakut 2,508 m (8,228 ft) and Maja e Etheve 2,393 m (7,851 ft) in the north.

Jezerca is a large rocky peak of dolomitic limestone. There is almost no vegetation there. North, east and west of the mountain top is in great cirque from that in the glacial periods when glaciers were more extensive than today. Today the northern cirque is called Buni i Jezercës at a height of 1,980 metres (6,500 ft) and 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) in height around 400 metres (1,300 ft). Because it is located in the wettest region of Europe with around 6 metres (240 in) of rainfall^{[dubious – discuss]} equivalent believed to fall on the western slopes, snowfall is so great that only in dry years do even the less exposed sections melt away.^[5]

References

^ "EUROPE ULTRA-PROMINENCES 99 Peaks with Prominence of 1,500 metres or greater". peaklist.org.
^ "Summipost: Jezerca". Retrieved 2 August 2009.
^ "Feasibility Study on Establishing a Transboundary Protected Area Prokletije / Bjeshkët E Nemuna Mountains" (PDF). condesan.org. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2017-07-12. The number of glacial ponds in this area is rare for the European mainland and can only be compared to the Alps.
^ Grunewald, K; Scheithauer, J (2010). "Europe's southernmost glaciers: response and adaptation to climate change" (PDF). Journal of Glaciology. 56 (195): 129–142. doi:10.3189/002214310791190947. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
^ Milivojević, Milovan; Menković, Ljubomir; Ćalić, Jelena (2008), "Pleistocene glacial relief of the central part of Mt. Prokletije (Albanian Alps)", Quaternary International, 190: 112–122, doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2008.04.006