Nemërçka Mountains (Albanian: Nemërçkë, Greek: Doúsko, Nemértsika or Aeropós Δούσκο, Νεμέρτσικα or Αεροπός) are a mountain range in southern Albania between Përmet and Gjirokastër District, which extends from a northwest direction to the southeast near the border between Albania and Greece. Geologically, Nemërçkë is a limestone-flysch forming a massive anticline situated between the graben valley of Vjosë river. The mountain forms the southern section of the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçka mountain chain. To the north, Nemërçkë is separated from the Albanian Pindus mountains, by the Vjosë river. The mountains are characterized by steep cliffs and wooden mountain slopes. The eastern scarps falls on the Vjosë river, 2000 metres down.
Nemërçka | |
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![]() Southern Nemërçka Mountains. | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,485 m (8,153 ft)[1][2][3] |
Prominence | 1,792 m (5,879 ft)[4] |
Listing | Ultra |
Coordinates | 40°7′27″N 20°25′57″E |
Geography | |
Parent range | Trëbëshinj-Dhëmbel-Nëmerçka |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Triassic |
Mountain type | Limestone |
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Nemërçka falls within the Pindus Mountains mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. Its forests are renowned for housing European beech (Fagus sylvatica). It is the southernmost point where European beech can be found in Albania.[5]
Maja e Papingut, (formerly Albanian: Maja e Dritës), is the highest peak within the mountain range. With an elevation of 2,482 m (8,143 ft) and a prominence of 1,792 m (5,879 ft) above sea level, it is the 44th most prominent mountain peak in Europe.[6] Other peaks in Nemërçkë includes Maja e Gatakut 2,269 m (7,444 ft), Maja e Qesarit 2,253 m (7,392 ft), and Maja e Poliçanit 2,138 m (7,014 ft).
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