Mount Dajt

Mount Dajt
Mount Dajt seen from the Dajti Ekspres Cable Car, July 2007
Elevation	1,613 m (5,292 ft)
Location
Mount Dajt Albanian mountains
Location	Albania
Range	Kruja chain
Coordinates	41°21′57″N 19°55′32″E / 41.36583°N 19.92556°E / 41.36583; 19.92556Coordinates: 41°21′57″N 19°55′32″E / 41.36583°N 19.92556°E / 41.36583; 19.92556

Mount Dajt (Albanian: Mali i Dajtit) is a mountain in central Albania, to the east of Tirana. Its highest peak is at 1,613 m (5,292 ft). In winter, the mountain is often covered with snow, and it is a popular retreat to the local population of Tirana that rarely sees snow falls. Its slopes have forests of pines, oak and beech.

Dajti Mountain declared “National Park” is today an area of about 3333 ha. It is under the jurisdiction and administration of Tirana Forest Service Department.

Flora and Fauna

Flora

The big similarity of this park vegetation to that of Central Europe big heights is the first thing that strikes the eye in the stretch characterized by oak forest. Vegetation types found in Dajti National Park are oak forest, pine forest, composed of Balkan pine, found in rocky slopes in the middle of oak forest. While broad-leaved forests appear in the northwest foothills. The plane forest lies along Tirana river. Whereas Mediterranean forest appears in lower heights. The Central Park has a great variety with about 44 species of forest trees and shrubs, which cover about 80% of the territory, herbaceous plants, animals and wild birds, two dominant peaks, the “balconies”, standing on steep rocks, winter snow and a relatively high altitude from sea level, ranging from 300 meters to the highest peak of 1613 meters, in the 4 phyto-climatic areas and a counter direction providing abundance of sunny days, and consequently, a fresher climate and cleaner air than the plateau on which Tirana lies.

Fauna

There are distinguish among the species with natural and conservation values: amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Some of these species appear only in limited areas, to be mentioned are several amphibious species that appear in several basins of eastern slope of Priske Mountain. Even Tirana Mountain gorge presents an importance from fauna viewpoint. Birds such as mountains eagle and sparrow hawk build their nest in this area. This habitat represents also a possible area for carnivores as the gray bear and the wolf, which are often found in the area. While rivers of Tirana, Terkuze and Erzeni, where they flow on flat surfaces, are favorable for the growth of many species of fish and vertebrates. We can mention here the rare otter, which is threatened throughout Europe. This type is found rarer exemplars in this basin. Dajti National Park is considered a park with original well administered Flora and fauna of the.

Environmental Problems

A serious environmental problem on mountain Dajt is how to deal with garbage. In recent years the garbage phenomenon has destroyed the environment and the beauty of the mountain. For this responsible are the big hotels and restaurants built on the mountain for the benefit of the rich. The first thing the Ministry of Environmental Protection should do is to put heavy fines on the shopkeepers so as to force them not to throw rubbish everywhere but, instead, place garbage bins in the region. Another major problem on the mountain is deforestation. For this responsible are the Ministry of the Environment, the Municipality of the region, the foresters (rangers) and the people who live in the area. The Ministry should take strict measures to prevent the cutting of trees, such as heavy fines or even imprisonment for the culprits, which might scare people. Finally, some more environmental problems on mountain Dajt is the pollution of the lake and the roads that have been opened there, as air pollution is caused by cars crossing the mountain roads.

Mount Dajti National Park

Mount Dajti National Park
River on Dajti
Location	Central Albania
Nearest city	Tirana
Area	3,300 ha

Tirana with Mount Dajt in the background

Mount Dajti National Park (also Dajti/Dajt Mount/Mountain National Park) (Albanian:Parku Kombëtar i Malit të Dajtit or Parku Kombëtar i Dajtit) is situated 26 km east of the capital and 50 km east of Tirana International Airport Mother Teresa. The park has a surface area of 3,300 hectares, is highly frequented by day and considered the 'Natural Balcony of Tirana'. Dajti Mountain together with Priska Mountain (1353m) to the south and Brari Mountain to the North consists of the national park which has an exact coverage area of 29,216.9 hectares.^[1] The 3,300 acres (13 km²) protection area was expanded on 21 June 2006 by many more times with the core zone now being 9,000 acres (36 km²). In addition to the forests and beautiful mountain landscapes with many wild flowers, numerous mammals are protected as well. In the park there exist wild boar, eurasian wolf, red fox, European hare, brown bears and wildcats. In the lower part of the mountains the vegetation is scrub determined with much heath, myrtle and fragaria. Oak dominates at around the 1,000 metres altitude zone following with beech forests with some conifers. Perched on the top there is almost no vegetation. Brari Mountain to the north is also part of the protected area located near Brar village and containg the panoramic Brari Canyon, Brari Ottoman Bridge and a cave. One of Tirana's main water sources, Bovilla Lake is located to the northeast of Brar village.

Dajti Mountain can be reached through a narrow asphalted mountain road onto an area known as Fusha e Dajtit. This was the location of a summer camp but now is the site of many restaurants and radio/TV transmitters. From this small area there is an excellent view of Tirana and its plain. This is the reason this place has been named as the Balcony of Tirana. From June 2005, hikers and visitors of the mountain can use an Austrian built gondola lift from the eastern outskirts of Tirana to Fusha e Dajtit (Plain of Dajti) at 1050 meters altitude. On the summit of Mount Dajti there exist several transmitters of radio and television.

Lately, traces of prehistoric settlements and fortifications from later periods have been discovered in the area.

Tirana as seen from Dajti

See also

• List of mountains in Albania
• Dajti Castle
• Dajt Municipality
• Tourism in Albania

References

1. ^ "RRJETI I ZONAVE TE MBROJTURA NE SHQIPERI". Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration. http://www.moe.gov.al/upload/zona%20te%20mbrojtura/Tabela-ZM-Maj-2010.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-06. 

External links

• Dajti Ekpres Cable Car
• Dajti Mt National Park on Lonely Planet
• Dajti Municipality