Çika
Encyclopedia
Mount Çika is a mountain in the south-western region of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...

 bordering the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...

. The highest peaks of Çika are Maja e Çikës standing at 2,045m above sea level and Maja e Qorrës at 2,018m. Since the mountain is situated bordering the Ionian sea, it appears to be very high as it begins to rise at sea level(0m). The northern part of Çika is part of Llogara National Park. The port city of Vlora is 40 km north-west of Çika. On the peaks of Çika mountain there is a magnificent view of the northern Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...

 as well as the Italian coast of Puglia (Otranto
Otranto
Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce , in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses.It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and Italy with Albania...

). On the foot of the western side of the mountain there are small beaches which attract tourists during the summer months. These beaches include: Himarë
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....

, Palasa, Dhermi and Jala.

Llogara National Park

Llogara National Park lies between the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...

 and Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...

. The park begins at 470m above sea level and rises to 2,018m at Maja e Qorrës which includes the northern part of Çika Mountain, forming Llogara Pass. Air currents at the Llogara Pass have caused trees to bend into many interesting shapes. For example Flag Pine, Pisha e Flamurit has the shape of the eagle on the Albanian flag.
The stony surface of the Lightning Mountain, Vetëtima borders the park. The park has many opportunities for outdoor activities. The flora and fauna of Llogara National Park is very diverse consisting of both animals that live in the park's forests and mountain cliffs. Some of the best known animals include:
  • Griffon Vulture
    Griffon Vulture
    The Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...

  • Golden Eagle
    Golden Eagle
    The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...

  • Fallow Deer
    Fallow Deer
    The Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It often includes the rarer Persian Fallow Deer as a subspecies , while others treat it as an entirely different species The Fallow...

    , tame
  • Roe Deer
    Roe Deer
    The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...

  • European Wildcat
    European Wildcat
    The European Wildcat is a subspecies of the wildcat that inhabits forests of Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus Mountains; it has been extirpated from Scandinavia, England, and Wales. Some authorities restrict F. s...

  • Chamois
    Chamois
    The chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the European Alps, the Tatra Mountains, the Balkans, parts of Turkey, and the Caucasus. The chamois has also been introduced to the South Island of New Zealand...

  • Red Squirrel
    Red Squirrel
    The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...

  • Eurasian Otter
  • European Badger
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