View source for Nemërçka

{{Short description|Mountain chain in Albania}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name                  = Nemërçka / Dousko
| other_name            =
| photo                 = Nemercka mountains, Albania.jpg
| photo_size            =
| photo_caption         = View of the Nemërçka chain
| map                   = Albania
| highest               =
| elevation             = {{convert|2482|m|abbr=on}}
| prominence            = {{convert|1797|m|abbr=on}}
| listing               = [[Ultra-prominent peak|Ultra-prominent]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The European 100 Finest Mountains ranked by primary factor.|url=https://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/europe_finest.html|website=ii.uib.no|language=en}}</ref>
| parent_peak           =
| isolation             = {{convert|33.2|km|abbr=on}}
| coordinates           = {{coord|40.123457|N|20.432495|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| length                =
| width                 =
| area                  =
| volume                =
| etymology             =
| nickname              =
| translation           =
| location              =
| country               = {{ALB}}<br />{{GRE}}
| region                = [[Southern Mountain Region (Albania)|Southern Mountain Region]]
| settlement_type       = Municipality
| settlement            = [[Përmet]], [[Gjirokastër]]
| range                 = [[Trebeshinë (mountain)|Trebeshinë]]-[[Dhëmbel]]–Nemërçkë
| borders_on            =
| formed_by             =
| age                   = [[Mesozoic]], [[Paleogene]]
| type                  = [[mountain chain|chain]]
| geology               = [[limestone]]
| first_ascent          =
| normal_route          =
}}
'''Nemërçka''' ({{Langx|sq|Nemërçkë}}, {{langx|el|Νεμέρτσικα or Δούσκο or Μερόπη|translit=Nemértsika or Doύsko or Merópi}}) is a [[mountain chain]] situated along the boundary between [[Gjirokastër]] and [[Përmet]] municipalities, in southern [[Albania]] and northern [[Greece]]. Part of the [[Trebeshinë (mountain)|Trebeshinë]]-[[Dhëmbel]]-Nemërçkë [[mountain range]], its highest peak, ''[[Maja e Papingut]]'', reaches a height of {{convert|2482|m|abbr=on}}, making it the highest peak in the [[Southern Mountain Region (Albania)|Southern Mountain Region]]. Other notable peaks include Maja e Gatakut {{convert|2269|m|abbr=on}}, Maja e Qesarit {{convert|2253|m|abbr=on}}, Maja e Poliçanit {{convert|2138|m|abbr=on}}, etc.
The chain extends about {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} from Qafa e Dhëmbelit in the north to the state border with [[Greece]] in the south, stretching at a width of {{convert|4-10|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kabo |first1=Mevlan |title=Gjeografia Fizike e Shqipërisë |date=1991 |publisher=Qendra e Studimeve Gjeografike |location=Tiranë |pages=592 |edition=1.2}}</ref>
== Geology ==
Composed primarily of [[Mesozoic]] and [[Paleogene]] [[limestone]]s, Nemërçka features a heavily karstified [[ridge]], formed by an elongated anticlinal structure, embanking the [[graben]] valley of [[Vjosa|Vjosë]]. The eastern slope descends steeply, often presenting as cliffs that are impassable, while the western slope is more gradual. [[Quaternary]] glaciations have left visible traces in the relief pattern, manifesting as [[cirque]]s on the eastern slope, above {{convert|1700|m|abbr=on}}, where large amounts of snow accumulates.
From these heights, numerous rapid streams emerge, such as the Kazan and Draçovë streams. Snow blankets the chain from November to April and avalanches are frequent on the western slope.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Buda |first1=Aleks |title=Fjalori Enciklopedik Shqiptar |date=1985 |publisher=Akademia e Shkencave e RPSSH |location=Tiranë |pages=1245}}</ref>
== Biodiversity ==
Vegetation mainly consists of shrubs and a limited distribution of conifers. Forests are scarce. Summer pastures are plentiful throughout the mountain ridge and the western slope.
A diverse species of wildlife inhabit the area, namely the [[partridge|mountain partridge]], [[wild turkey]], [[wild goat]], [[wild boar]], and others.<ref>{{cite web|title=The genus Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) in Albania – a critical review|url=https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Wulfenia_14_0015-0065.pdf|website=zobodat.at|page=1|language=en|format=PDF}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Geography of Albania]]
* [[List of mountains in Albania]]
* [[Geography of Greece]]
* [[List of mountains in Greece]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Mountains of Albania]]
[[Category:Mountains of Greece]]
[[Category:Geography of Gjirokastër County]]
[[Category:Two-thousanders of Albania]]
[[Category:Two-thousanders of Greece]]