Nikaj-Mërtur Regional Nature Park, Regional nature park in Kukës County, Albania
Nikaj-Mërtur Regional Nature Park is a protected area in northern Albania, in Tropojë district, covering high mountain terrain with steep cliffs, dense forests, deep river valleys, and glacial lakes. The park sits along the border with Kosovo and Montenegro, forming part of a wider corridor of protected land across the western Balkans.
The land was home to the Nikaj and Mërturi tribes for centuries, and their names are still used to identify the region and the park itself. These communities lived under a customary code known as the Kanun, which governed daily life and social order in the mountains.
The communities living inside the park still rely on herding and mountain farming as their main way of life, and visitors can see grazing animals on the high pastures during summer. Stone houses and old paths connect the scattered settlements across the valleys.
Reaching the park takes careful planning since mountain roads can be rough and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly advisable for most routes. Simple guesthouses are available in nearby villages, but booking ahead is recommended as options are limited.
The park forms an ecological bridge between Valbona Valley National Park and protected areas in Kosovo and Montenegro, which makes it a key passage for large animals like lynx and brown bears moving across the region. Without this connection, animal populations on either side would be cut off from each other.
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