Shar Mountain

Shar Mountain or abbreviated Shara (Albanian: Bjeshkët e Sharrit or Sharra, Latin: Mont Skardus) – one of the largest and highest mountain massifs in Macedonia. It is located in the north-western part of the country, on the borders with Kosovo and Albania.

The mountain itself covers an area of ​​1,600 km2. 56.25% of the massif belongs to Macedonia, 43.12% to Kosovo, and the remaining 0.63% to Albania.

Its length is 80 km and width from 10 to 25 km. The spacious mountain ridge consists of two large and spacious plateaus – Vratsa and Rudoka.

Shar Mountain is located in the north-western part of Macedonia. Shar massif extends in the direction northeast – west – southwest in a length of 76 km. It starts from the river Lepenec and the Kachanichka Gorge in the north-east, in the east the border is determined by the Polog valley, in the south-west Stirovichka River and the springs of Radika, in the south the source of the river Vardar – Vrutok, and in the west – outside the territory of Macedonia, with the Syrian , the river Prizrenska Bistrica and its valley, and the counties of Gora and Opole in Kosovo; while in Albania it stretches from Mount Kalabak to Cherupa. The total width is from 10 to 25 km, and the total area covered by the Shar Mountain area is 1,600 km2.

The peak Ljuboten occupies the most prominent position of the entire Shar region, and the highest is the peak Titov Vrv – 2,748 m. The most famous peaks of Shar Mountain are: Titov Vrv (2748 m), Mal Turchin (2702 m), Bakrdan (2700 m), Ljuboten (2499 m), Livadica (2491 m), Piribeg (2524 m), Ezerca (2604 m), Chausica (2640 m), Bistrica (2540 m), Crn Vrv (2580 m), Vrtop (2555 m), Kobilica (2526 m), Golemo Shilidze (2502 m), Karanikola (2479 m), Karatas (2478 m), Skakalo (2494 m), Golem Srt (2520 m), Plocha (2467 m), Ceripashina (2525 m), Karabunar (2565 m), Sin Vrv (2550 m), Kazani (2567 m), Jinibeg (2610 m), Trapeznica (2599 m), Brustovec (2675 m), Rasengul (2383 m), Lera (2197 m) etc.

There are a huge number of springs on Shar Mountain. The most important are the springs of Pena River, and the most attractive are the springs of Kamenjanska River which make up a system of 8 springs, and the whole width of the spring is 28 m, which are located at an altitude of 2100 m. However, the most famous and strongest is the source of the river Vardar – Vrutok. (700 m above sea level and 50 m wide).

The most famous and largest waterfall is that on Belovishka River which has a drop of 43 m. The second is the waterfall near valley of Leshnica with a drop of 25 m near Titov Vrv.

Bogovinje Lake is the largest and is located near the peak Borislavec at 1936 m. c., has an area of ​​66,800 m2, width of 225 m, length of 452.5 m., depth of 4.5 m., and at reduced water level, the depth decreases to 2.2 m. It is located in an area called Mala Spruce. The second is the Black Lake, located at 2,122 m above sea level, has a volume of 825 m, covers an area of ​​33520 m2, is 248 long and 185 m wide. It is located in a rocky pool, with low and passable shores and calm lines, with the exception of the northern part. Third is Lake Karanikolic or also known as Golem Gjol. It is one of the most pronounced lakes on the Shar Mountain, and is located in the Karanikol area of ​​ 2,180 m. above sea level. It has an area of ​​26,240 m2, is 290 long, 115 wide and 5.5 m deep.

On the Kosovo side, the most famous are Lake Livadica (2173 m) near the peak Livadica, Lake Jazino (2180 m) near the peak Ezerska Chuka, Golemoto Ezero (2400 m) near the peak Bistrica and others.

Source: Wikipedia