Albania is mostly mountainous, with the first alpine regions forming towards the end of the Jurassic period. During the Cenozoic era, the malformation of the Albanides accelerated, causing the subterranean landscape to take its present form.[1] [2] The average altitude of the country is 714m (2,343feet), almost three times that of Europe. The highest summits are situated in the Albanian Alps and the eastern mountain range, with Korab being the highest peak, at 2764m (9,068feet) above sea level.
The country's geography is unique due to its location and varied relief, with landscapes ranging from mediterranean in the west to a more continental influence in the east and mountainous terrain in the interior and east. This combination of plains, hills, and mountains has resulted in a diverse range of geographical features, extending horizontally and vertically. However, this complexity has made regionalization challenging, as different authors have used alternating criteria and methods. In the 1920s, Herbert Louis proposed a scheme that divided Albania into two large regions: Inner Albania and Coastal Albania, each with specific subdivisions. His scheme was widely used until 1964, when it was to be replaced by Pandi Geço's proposed scheme which divided the country into four physiographic regions, listed as follows: Albanian Alps, Central Mountain Region, Southern Mountain Region, Albanian Coastal Lowlands and its hills. By 1990, Geço's scheme was improved through further research and consideration of ecological concerns, recapping all regions into 67 constituent subunits.[3] [4] [5]
The earliest written accounts on the mountains of Albania can be attributed to German geographer Kurt Hassert, who explored the northern region of the country in June 1897, carrying out his first expedition to Mount Cukal.[6]
Distaptur Editions published in 1941 a mountain guidebook titled "Montagne d'Albania", authored by renowned Italian alpinist Piero Ghiglione and printed by the "Geographical Institute De Agostini of Novara". The guidebook includes a study of the rhapsodes of Albanian mountains by Nicola Lo Russo Attoma and contains 118 pages, featuring 60 black and white illustrations from photographs taken by Ghiglione.[7]
The first post-war mountaineering expedition in Albania was organized by the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports and was held at Mount Tomorr on July 27-28, 1949. A different expedition in the same mountain took place the following year on May 21, 1950, with Minella Kapo, a delegate from the highest forum leadership of the Committee, and an experienced mountaineering instructor, in attendance to witness the name-changing ceremony of the main peak from Çuka e Tomorrit to Çuka Partizani. According to mounteneering expert Aleksandër Bojaxhi, the new designation of this mountain peak and others that followed, was not decided by party officials or institutions but by sports forums and even mountaineers themselves.[8]
The mountain peaks listed below are arranged by their massifs. Occasionally, the highest peak of the massif is listed instead, if it holds greater notability. The remaining mountains on the list are important landmarks of biodiversity, history, culture and economic impact.[9]
| No. | Image | Mountain | Range | Height | Prominence | Isolation | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Korab | Korab | 2764m (9,068feet) | 2167m (7,110feet) | 90m (300feet) | ||
| 2 | Jezercë | Blloku Jezercë | 2694m (8,839feet) | 2036m (6,680feet) | 93.3km (58miles) | ||
| 3 | Grykat e Hapëta | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2625m (8,612feet) | 822m (2,697feet) | 8.2km (05.1miles) | ||
| 4 | Maja e Popllukës | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2578m (8,458feet) | 171m (561feet) | 1.7km (01.1miles) | ||
| 5 | Radohina | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2568m (8,425feet) | 856m (2,808feet) | 6.2km (03.9miles) | ||
| 6 | Mali i Hekurave | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2560m (8,400feet) | 495m (1,624feet) | 5.9km (03.7miles) | ||
| 7 | Maja e Brijasit | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2557m (8,389feet) | 160m (530feet) | 1.4km (00.9miles) | ||
| 8 | Kollata | Shkëlzen Kollatë | 2553m (8,376feet) | 519m (1,703feet) | 8.1km (05miles) | ||
| 9 | Maja e Shnikut | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2552m (8,373feet) | 618m (2,028feet) | 17m (56feet) | ||
| 10 | Gramoz | Moravë Mali i Vashës | 2523m (8,278feet) | 107m (351feet) | 1.4km (00.9miles) | ||
| 11 | Maja e Gavnit | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2521m (8,271feet) | 338m (1,109feet) | 1.6km (01miles) | ||
| 12 | Gjallica e Lumës | Korab | 2489m (8,166feet) | 744m (2,441feet) | 24km (15miles) | ||
| 13 | Maja e Papingut | Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë | 2482m (8,143feet) | 1797m (5,896feet) | 33.2km (20.6miles) | ||
| 14 | Maja e Langojve | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2426m (7,959feet) | ||||
| 15 | Qetat e Arushës | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2421m (7,943feet) | 120m (390feet) | 765m (2,510feet) | ||
| 16 | Çuka Partizani | Tomorr Kulmak Miçan | 2416m (7,927feet) | 1448m (4,751feet) | 65.6km (40.8miles) | ||
| 17 | Maja e Thatë | Shkëlzen Kollatë | 2406m (7,894feet) | 302m (991feet) | 2km (01miles) | ||
| 18 | Shkëlzen | Shkëlzen Kollatë | 2405m (7,890feet) | 384m (1,260feet) | 6.9km (04.3miles) | ||
| 19 | Koritnik | Korab | 2395m (7,858feet) | 1400m (4,600feet) | 9.9km (06.2miles) | ||
| 20 | Valamarë | Polisi Lenie | 2373m (7,785feet) | 1525m (5,003feet) | 26.5km (16.5miles) | ||
| 21 | Deshat | Korab | 2372m (7,782feet) | 409m (1,342feet) | 51m (167feet) | ||
| 22 | Trekufiri | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2366m (7,762feet) | 65m (213feet) | 855m (2,805feet) | ||
| 23 | Maja e Kakisë | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2359m (7,740feet) | 506m (1,660feet) | 4.8km (03miles) | ||
| 24 | Ostrovicë | Ostrovicë Bofnjë | 2352m (7,717feet) | 153m (502feet) | 2.7km (01.7miles) | ||
| 25 | Gramë | Korab | 2344m (7,690feet) | 84m (276feet) | 1.7km (01.1miles) | ||
| 26 | Mali i Thatë | Mali i Thatë Rakicë Llapisht | 2288m (7,507feet) | 1121m (3,678feet) | 30.3km (18.8miles) | ||
| 27 | Shebenik | Shebenik Jabllanicë-Belicë | 2265m (7,431feet) | 1336m (4,383feet) | 30.3km (18.8miles) | ||
| 28 | Jabllanica | Shebenik Jabllanicë-Belicë | 2257m (7,405feet) | 456m (1,496feet) | 6km (04miles) | ||
| 29 | Dejë | Vargmalet e Lurës | 2244m (7,362feet) | 1403m (4,603feet) | 27.5km (17.1miles) | ||
| 30 | Biga e Gimajve | Maranaj Biga e Gimajve | 2230m (7,320feet) | 424m (1,391feet) | 5.9km (03.7miles) | ||
| 31 | Maja e Harapit | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2218m (7,277feet) | 297m (974feet) | 1.1km (00.7miles) | ||
| 32 | Maja e Pallavërcës | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2195m (7,201feet) | 430m (1,410feet) | 7.7km (04.8miles) | ||
| 33 | Trojan | Malësia e Vermoshit | 2194m (7,198feet) | 346m (1,135feet) | 6.1km (03.8miles) | ||
| 34 | Kallabak | Pllaja e Shishtavecit | 2174m (7,133feet) | 340m (1,120feet) | 8.3km (05.2miles) | ||
| 35 | Kulmak | Tomorr Kulmak Miçan | 2173m (7,129feet) | 721m (2,365feet) | 20m (70feet) | ||
| 36 | Lunxhëri | Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto | 2155m (7,070feet) | 1309m (4,295feet) | 10.3km (06.4miles) | ||
| 37 | Serakol | Pllaja e Shishtavecit | 2153m (7,064feet) | 5m (16feet) | 174m (571feet) | ||
| 38 | Maja e Gjarpërit | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 2142m (7,028feet) | 90m (300feet) | 842m (2,762feet) | ||
| 39 | Guri i Topit | Polisi Lenie | 2125m (6,972feet) | 134m (440feet) | 2.1km (01.3miles) | ||
| 40 | Griba | Malësia e Kurveleshit | 2122m (6,962feet) | 1662m (5,453feet) | 77.4km (48.1miles) | ||
| 41 | Kunora e Lurës | Vargmalet e Lurës | 2119m (6,952feet) | 549m (1,801feet) | 9.6km (06miles) | ||
| 42 | Mali i Balgjajt | Vargmalet e Lurës | 2101m (6,893feet) | 1141m (3,743feet) | 4.2km (02.6miles) | ||
| 43 | Dhëmbel | Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë | 2050m (6,730feet) | 593m (1,946feet) | 560m (1,840feet) | ||
| 44 | Kolesjan | Pllaja e Shishtavecit | 2047m (6,716feet) | 285m (935feet) | 5.4km (03.4miles) | ||
| 45 | Çikë | Çikë Lungarë | 2045m (6,709feet) | 1564m (5,131feet) | 19.1km (11.9miles) | ||
| 46 | Maja e Runjës | Vargmalet e Lurës | 2036m (6,680feet) | 539m (1,768feet) | 8.5km (05.3miles) | ||
| 47 | Maja e Qorres | Çikë Lungarë | 2018m (6,621feet) | 231m (758feet) | 3.27km (02.03miles) | ||
| 48 | Mali i Lopës | Martanesh | 2012m (6,601feet) | 65m (213feet) | 1.4km (00.9miles) | ||
| No. | Image | Mountain | Range | Height | Prominence | Isolation | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Munellë | Malësia Pukë-Mirditë | 1990m (6,530feet) | 1028m (3,373feet) | 56m (184feet) | ||
| 2 | Polisi | Polisi Lenie | 1974m (6,476feet) | 1423m (4,669feet) | 12.3km (07.6miles) | ||
| 3 | Trebeshinë | Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë | 1922m (6,306feet) | 1369m (4,491feet) | 13.9km (08.6miles) | ||
| 4 | Lungarë | Çikë Lungarë | 1854m (6,083feet) | 701m (2,300feet) | 6.6km (04.1miles) | ||
| 5 | Mali i Lucës | Fushëgropa e Delvinës | 1833m (6,014feet) | 828m (2,717feet) | 23.9km (14.9miles) | ||
| 6 | Mali i Shpatit | Polisi Lenie | 1823m (5,981feet) | 286m (938feet) | 9km (06miles) | ||
| 7 | Mali me Gropa | Skanderbeg Mountains | 1822m (5,978feet) | 436m (1,430feet) | 11.2km (07miles) | ||
| 8 | Stugarë | Mali i Gjerë Stugarë | 1806m (5,925feet) | 419m (1,375feet) | 1594m (5,230feet) | ||
| 9 | Shëndelli | Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto | 1802m (5,912feet) | 663m (2,175feet) | 18m (59feet) | ||
| 10 | Mali i Gjerë | Mali i Gjerë Stugarë | 1789m (5,869feet) | 972m (3,189feet) | 464m (1,522feet) | ||
| 11 | Bureto | Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto | 1763m (5,784feet) | 817m (2,680feet) | 428m (1,404feet) | ||
| 12 | Veleçik | Bjeshkët e Namuna | 1727m (5,666feet) | 266m (873feet) | 5.2km (03.2miles) | ||
| 13 | Mali i Skënderbeut | Skanderbeg Mountains | 1724m (5,656feet) | 499m (1,637feet) | 18.4km (11.4miles) | ||
| 14 | Cukal | Cukal Biga e Gimajve | 1721m (5,646feet) | 235m (771feet) | 2.3km (01.4miles) | ||
| 15 | Qelqëz | Malësia e Dangëllisë | 1662m (5,453feet) | 0m (00feet) | 53m (174feet) | ||
| 16 | Dajti | Skanderbeg Mountains | 1613m (5,292feet) | 939m (3,081feet) | 36m (118feet) | ||
| 17 | Miçan | Tomorr Kulmak Miçan | 1581m (5,187feet) | 33m (108feet) | 23m (75feet) | ||
| 18 | Maranaj | Maranaj Biga e Gimajve | 1576m (5,171feet) | 235m (771feet) | 4.8km (03miles) | ||
| 19 | Kokojka e Frashërit | Malësia e Dangëllisë | 1553m (5,095feet) | 108m (354feet) | 1.8km (01.1miles) | ||
| 20 | Guri i Capit | Morava Mali i Vashës | 1547m (5,075feet) | 26m (85feet) | 330m (1,080feet) | ||
| 21 | Rrëza e Kanalit | Vargmalet Bregdetare Jonike | 1499m (4,918feet) | 472m (1,549feet) | 5.9km (03.7miles) | ||
| 22 | Guri i Kamjes | Malësia e Gorës | 1455m (4,774feet) | 0m (00feet) | 14m (46feet) | ||
| 23 | Shpirag | Kodrat e Mallakastrës | 1198m (3,930feet) | 666m (2,185feet) | 20.9km (13miles) | ||
| 24 | Mali i Krujës | Skanderbeg Mountains | 1166m (3,825feet) | 398m (1,306feet) | |||
| 25 | Mali i Konjakut | Lavan Konjak Galisht | 1140m (3,740feet) | 1m (03feet) | 59m (194feet) | ||