Valbonë Valley National Park, National park in Kukës County, Albania
The park covers a high mountain region in the Albanian Alps with forested slopes, rock faces, and a long valley shaped by the river. The landscape ranges from deep sections to ridges above the tree line, where only rock and grass remain.
The valley was protected as Valbona Valley National Park in 1996 under Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 102 of 15 January 1996, covering 80 km2. In 2022 the park was amalgamated with Theth National Park to form Alps of Albania National Park. Its Gashi River section is listed within the UNESCO Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.
Valbonë takes its name from the river that has supplied the community with water for centuries. Locals live here in small numbers but still maintain knowledge of alpine farming and use the surrounding meadows as grazing land for sheep and goats.
Access usually involves a ferry ride on Lake Koman followed by a drive through the Valbonë valley on narrow roads. Weather shifts quickly, so visitors should prepare for rain or sudden cooling even in summer.
During spring months, snowmelt transforms small streams into rushing water that fills the valley with a constant background roar. On clear days, you can spot the jagged peaks of the Radohima range in the distance from higher ground.
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