The Šar Mountains (; ; colloquially also Šara, ) or Sharr Mountains (, ) is a mountain range in Southeast Europe, extending into several countries from southern Kosovo, to northwestern North Macedonia, to northeastern Albania. The sections in Kosovo (Sharr Mountains National Park) and North Macedonia (Šar Planina National Park) are national parks. Rugged and barren, the mountains are among the highest in the Balkans, with 30 peaks higher than .

Etymology

In antiquity, the mountains were known as Scardus, Scodrus, or Scordus (το Σκάρδον ὂρος in Polybius and Ptolemy). It is considered of Indo-European origin (cf. 'steep'),

The theory according to which the modern Sharr/Šar represents an evolution of the ancient name Scardus through Albanian sound changes is untenable on the basis of current historical-linguistic research. Sharr/Šar rather can be traced to meaning 'saw', denoting the jagged peaks and 'saw-toothed ridge'. In the early 16th century, it was recorded that the mountain was called "Catena Mundi" (Latin for "the chains of the world"). In the medieval period, Serbs called the mountain "Mlečni" (), because of the major milk production on the mountain and the vast herds of cattle, goats and sheep. In the golden bull issued by Emperor Dušan on 20 September 1349, he says: "I also bequest all of mine estates and areas around the Mlečni Mountain ("Milk Mountain"), the Durlev estates and all the metochions and all the wealth and treasure of that region". The bull is kept in the Dubrovnik Archive.

Borders

The mountain borders extend from the city of Prizren, following the two rivers of the Prizren Bistrica and the Lepenac. In the east, it passes by the town of Kaçanik through the Kaçanik Gorge and into North Macedonia via the Polog Valley. The border passes near the Vardar spring called Vrutok and enters near the Mavrovo Valley. There the Radika river separates the mountain massif from the higher Mount Korab. After that, the border is mounting, reaching the point of junction of three state borders: Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania. The border now follows the road to the small, mountainous, town of Restelicë, the rivers of Globocica, Plava and the White Drin and finally reaches the city of Prizren.

Geographical characteristics

thumb|alt=Šar Mountains|right|200px|Anteni peak (2 531m), Šar Mountains, North Macedonia

thumb|alt=Bogovinje Lake overview|right|200px|[[Bogovinje Lake]]

thumb|alt=Konjushka lake|200px|[[Konjushka (lake)|Konjushka lake is the highest lake in this mountain chain at an altitude of .]]

thumb|alt=Peaks|right|200px|Šar Mountains peak Kobilica

thumb|right|200px|Wild horses spotted near [[Dragash at Kosovo's Sharr Mountains National Park]]

The Šar Mountains have a total area of 1,600&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. 56,25% of that area is in North Macedonia, 43.12% in Kosovo, and 0,63% in Albania. There are three plains: Sirinić, Vraca and Rudoka.

The system is about long and wide.

The mountain massif was formed in the Tertiary Period. The peaks are covered with ice and snow.

It includes several high peaks:

  • Titov Vrv ()
  • Mal Turčin ()
  • Bakardan ()
  • Borislavec ()
  • Velika Rudoka () – the highest mountain of Kosovo, and also the highest mountain of Serbia according to the view held by the government of Serbia.
  • Peskovi – east summit ()
  • Peskovi – west summit ()
  • Mala Rudoka ()
  • Džini Beg ()
  • Ezerski Vrv ()
  • Karabunar ()
  • Trpeznica ()
  • Maja e zezë ()
  • Golema Vraca ()
  • Konjushka ()
  • Guzhbaba ()
  • Isa Aga ()
  • Black Peak ()
  • Kobilica ()
  • Piribeg ()
  • Ljuboten ()
  • Maja Livadh ()
  • Maja e Begut ()
  • Zallina ()
  • Mala Vraca ()
  • Guri i Çarë ()
  • Kleç ()
  • Kara Nikolla ()
  • Maja Koritnik ()
  • Tumba Peak ()
  • Bardhalevë ()
  • Kulla Peak ()
  • Oshlak ()
  • Gemitash ()
  • Kallabak ()
  • Kamenkullë ()
  • Ksulje e Priftit Peak () – tripoint
  • Pashallora ()

There are 30 peaks higher than and 70 above the .

History

The remains of the Shiroka complex are located near Mushtishtë. The complex originates from the period between the 10th and the 7th century BC, but also has medieval remnants. In Roman period, the mountain was a tripoint between the provinces of Dalmatia, Moesia and Macedonia. The route of an ancient road crossed the Scardus from 169 BC. The road was later named Velji ("Great") or Prizren road. Lisinski road was built. Remnants of the fort on the Kradište hill, near Prizren, dates from the 2nd to the 6th century and testifies the change of civilizations in this region: it started in the pre-Roman period, then became a Roman town and later a Byzantine one. Locality of Ravna Gora, predating the 6th century, where Slavs later cremated their dead, is situated in the area. Medieval military complex of Petrič Fortress, which consists of two fortresses, Little Petrič and Great Petrič, is also preserved. Remains of the Višegrad Fort, older part of the Prizren Fortress, are located in the gorge of the Bistrica river. When King Milutin donated lands to the Our Lady of Ljeviš church, he also donated the Višegrad Fort to serve as an Prizren's defence outpost. Emperor Dušan later expanded the fort to the river and built his endowment, the Monastery of the Holy Archangels. and opened in 1995. The final boundaries of the Park were expanded in 2012 to cover an area of .

Geography

The park occupies the northwest sections of the mountain's main massif, including the highest peak, Bistra, an spreads over the sections of Prevalla, Oshlak, Ostrovica and Kodža Balkan. The park encompasses several different types of topographic relief: glacial (cirques, moraines and glacial lakes), periglacial (snow cirques, sliding blocks, "tundra mosaic" type of micro-shapes in the deposits of silt), karstic and fluvial. There are numerous rivers, springs, creeks, bogs and lakes.