List of mountains in Albania

Albania is mostly mountainous, with the first alpine regions forming towards the end of the Jurassic period. During the Cenozoic era, the malformation of the Albanides accelerated, causing the subterranean landscape to take its present form.^[1][2] The average altitude of the country is 714 m (2,343 ft), almost three times that of Europe. The highest summits are situated in the Albanian Alps and the eastern mountain range, with Korab being the highest peak, at 2,764 m (9,068 ft) above sea level.

Tectonic Map of Albania
Source: Ministry of Mines and Energy Resources (1999)

The country's geography is unique due to its location and varied relief, with landscapes ranging from mediterranean in the west to a more continental influence in the east and mountainous terrain in the interior and east. This combination of plains, hills, and mountains has resulted in a diverse range of geographical features, extending horizontally and vertically. However, this complexity has made regionalization challenging, as different authors have used alternating criteria and methods. In the 1920s, Herbert Louis proposed a scheme that divided Albania into two large regions: Inner Albania and Coastal Albania, each with specific subdivisions. His scheme was widely used until 1964, when it was to be replaced by Pandi Geço's proposed scheme which divided the country into four physiographic regions, listed as follows: Albanian Alps, Central Mountain Region, Southern Mountain Region, Albanian Coastal Lowlands and its hills. By 1990, Geço's scheme was improved through further research and consideration of ecological concerns, recapping all regions into 67 constituent subunits.^[3][4][5]

The earliest written accounts on the mountains of Albania can be attributed to German geographer Kurt Hassert, who explored the northern region of the country in June 1897, carrying out his first expedition to Mount Cukal.^[6]

Distaptur Editions published in 1941 a mountain guidebook titled "Montagne d'Albania", authored by renowned Italian alpinist Piero Ghiglione and printed by the "Geographical Institute De Agostini of Novara". The guidebook includes a study of the rhapsodes of Albanian mountains by Nicola Lo Russo Attoma and contains 118 pages, featuring 60 black and white illustrations from photographs taken by Ghiglione.^[7]

The first post-war mountaineering expedition in Albania was organized by the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports and was held at Mount Tomorr on July 27-28, 1949. A different expedition in the same mountain took place the following year on May 21, 1950, with Minella Kapo, a delegate from the highest forum leadership of the Committee, and an experienced mountaineering instructor, in attendance to witness the name-changing ceremony of the main peak from Çuka e Tomorrit to Çuka Partizani. According to mounteneering expert Aleksandër Bojaxhi, the new designation of this mountain peak and others that followed, was not decided by party officials or institutions but by sports forums and even mountaineers themselves.^[8]

The mountain peaks listed below are arranged by their massifs. Occasionally, the highest peak of the massif is listed instead, if it holds greater notability. The remaining mountains on the list are important landmarks of biodiversity, history, culture and economic impact.^[9]

Main peaks (+2,000 m)

No.	Image	Mountain	Range	Height	Prominence	Isolation	Map
1		Korab	Korab	2,764 m (9,068 ft)	2,167 m (7,110 ft)	90 m (300 ft)
2		Jezercë	Blloku Jezercë	2,694 m (8,839 ft)	2,036 m (6,680 ft)	93.3 km (58.0 mi)
3		Grykat e Hapëta	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,625 m (8,612 ft)	822 m (2,697 ft)	8.2 km (5.1 mi)
4		Maja e Popllukës	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,578 m (8,458 ft)	171 m (561 ft)	1.7 km (1.1 mi)
5		Radohina	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,568 m (8,425 ft)	856 m (2,808 ft)	6.2 km (3.9 mi)
6		Mali i Hekurave	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,560 m (8,400 ft)	495 m (1,624 ft)	5.9 km (3.7 mi)
7		Maja e Brijasit	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,557 m (8,389 ft)	160 m (520 ft)	1.4 km (0.87 mi)
8		Kollata	Shkëlzen Kollatë	2,553 m (8,376 ft)	519 m (1,703 ft)	8.1 km (5.0 mi)
9		Maja e Shnikut	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,552 m (8,373 ft)	618 m (2,028 ft)	17 m (56 ft)
10		Gramoz	Moravë Mali i Vashës	2,523 m (8,278 ft)	107 m (351 ft)	1.4 km (0.87 mi)
11		Maja e Gavnit	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,521 m (8,271 ft)	338 m (1,109 ft)	1.6 km (0.99 mi)
12		Gjallica e Lumës	Korab	2,489 m (8,166 ft)	744 m (2,441 ft)	24.0 km (14.9 mi)
13		Maja e Papingut	Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë	2,482 m (8,143 ft)	1,797 m (5,896 ft)	33.2 km (20.6 mi)
14		Maja e Langojve	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,426 m (7,959 ft)
15		Qetat e Arushës	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,421 m (7,943 ft)	120 m (390 ft)	765 m (2,510 ft)
16		Çuka Partizani	Tomorr Kulmak Miçan	2,416 m (7,927 ft)	1,448 m (4,751 ft)	65.6 km (40.8 mi)
17		Maja e Thatë	Shkëlzen Kollatë	2,406 m (7,894 ft)	302 m (991 ft)	2.0 km (1.2 mi)
18		Shkëlzen	Shkëlzen Kollatë	2,405 m (7,890 ft)	384 m (1,260 ft)	6.9 km (4.3 mi)
19		Koritnik	Korab	2,395 m (7,858 ft)	1,400 m (4,600 ft)	9.9 km (6.2 mi)
20		Valamarë	Polisi Lenie	2,373 m (7,785 ft)	1,525 m (5,003 ft)	26.5 km (16.5 mi)
21		Deshat	Korab	2,372 m (7,782 ft)	409 m (1,342 ft)	51 m (167 ft)
22		Trekufiri	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,366 m (7,762 ft)	65 m (213 ft)	855 m (2,805 ft)
23		Maja e Kakisë	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,359 m (7,740 ft)	506 m (1,660 ft)	4.8 km (3.0 mi)
24		Ostrovicë	Ostrovicë Bofnjë	2,352 m (7,717 ft)	153 m (502 ft)	2.7 km (1.7 mi)
25		Gramë	Korab	2,344 m (7,690 ft)	84 m (276 ft)	1.7 km (1.1 mi)
26		Mali i Thatë	Mali i Thatë Rakicë Llapisht	2,288 m (7,507 ft)	1,121 m (3,678 ft)	30.3 km (18.8 mi)
27		Shebenik	Shebenik Jabllanicë-Belicë	2,265 m (7,431 ft)	1,336 m (4,383 ft)	30.3 km (18.8 mi)
28		Jabllanica	Shebenik Jabllanicë-Belicë	2,257 m (7,405 ft)	456 m (1,496 ft)	6.0 km (3.7 mi)
29		Dejë	Vargmalet e Lurës	2,244 m (7,362 ft)	1,403 m (4,603 ft)	27.5 km (17.1 mi)
30		Biga e Gimajve	Maranaj Biga e Gimajve	2,230 m (7,320 ft)	424 m (1,391 ft)	5.9 km (3.7 mi)
31		Maja e Harapit	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,218 m (7,277 ft)	297 m (974 ft)	1.1 km (0.68 mi)
32		Maja e Pallavërcës	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,195 m (7,201 ft)	430 m (1,410 ft)	7.7 km (4.8 mi)
33		Trojan	Malësia e Vermoshit	2,194 m (7,198 ft)	346 m (1,135 ft)	6.1 km (3.8 mi)
34		Kallabak	Pllaja e Shishtavecit	2,174 m (7,133 ft)	340 m (1,120 ft)	8.3 km (5.2 mi)
35		Kulmak	Tomorr Kulmak Miçan	2,173 m (7,129 ft)	721 m (2,365 ft)	20 m (66 ft)
36		Lunxhëri	Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto	2,155 m (7,070 ft)	1,309 m (4,295 ft)	10.3 km (6.4 mi)
37		Serakol	Pllaja e Shishtavecit	2,153 m (7,064 ft)	5 m (16 ft)	174 m (571 ft)
38		Maja e Gjarpërit	Bjeshkët e Namuna	2,142 m (7,028 ft)	90 m (300 ft)	842 m (2,762 ft)
39		Guri i Topit	Polisi Lenie	2,125 m (6,972 ft)	134 m (440 ft)	2.1 km (1.3 mi)
40		Griba	Malësia e Kurveleshit	2,122 m (6,962 ft)	1,662 m (5,453 ft)	77.4 km (48.1 mi)
41		Kunora e Lurës	Vargmalet e Lurës	2,119 m (6,952 ft)	549 m (1,801 ft)	9.6 km (6.0 mi)
42		Mali i Balgjajt	Vargmalet e Lurës	2,101 m (6,893 ft)	1,141 m (3,743 ft)	4.2 km (2.6 mi)
43		Dhëmbel	Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë	2,050 m (6,730 ft)	593 m (1,946 ft)	560 m (1,840 ft)
44		Kolesjan	Pllaja e Shishtavecit	2,047 m (6,716 ft)	285 m (935 ft)	5.4 km (3.4 mi)
45		Çikë	Çikë Lungarë	2,045 m (6,709 ft)	1,564 m (5,131 ft)	19.1 km (11.9 mi)
46		Maja e Runjës	Vargmalet e Lurës	2,036 m (6,680 ft)	539 m (1,768 ft)	8.5 km (5.3 mi)
47		Maja e Qorres	Çikë Lungarë	2,018 m (6,621 ft)	231 m (758 ft)	3.27 km (2.03 mi)
48		Mali i Lopës	Martanesh	2,012 m (6,601 ft)	65 m (213 ft)	1.4 km (0.87 mi)

Main peaks (+1,000 m)

No.	Image	Mountain	Range	Height	Prominence	Isolation	Map
1		Munellë	Malësia Pukë-Mirditë	1,990 m (6,530 ft)	1,028 m (3,373 ft)	56 m (184 ft)
2		Polisi	Polisi Lenie	1,974 m (6,476 ft)	1,423 m (4,669 ft)	12.3 km (7.6 mi)
3		Trebeshinë	Trebeshinë Dhëmbel Nemërçkë	1,922 m (6,306 ft)	1,369 m (4,491 ft)	13.9 km (8.6 mi)
4		Lungarë	Çikë Lungarë	1,854 m (6,083 ft)	701 m (2,300 ft)	6.6 km (4.1 mi)
5		Mali i Lucës	Fushëgropa e Delvinës	1,833 m (6,014 ft)	828 m (2,717 ft)	23.9 km (14.9 mi)
6		Mali i Shpatit	Polisi Lenie	1,823 m (5,981 ft)	286 m (938 ft)	9.0 km (5.6 mi)
7		Mali me Gropa	Skanderbeg Mountains	1,822 m (5,978 ft)	436 m (1,430 ft)	11.2 km (7.0 mi)
8		Stugarë	Mali i Gjerë Stugarë	1,806 m (5,925 ft)	419 m (1,375 ft)	1,594 m (5,230 ft)
9		Shëndelli	Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto	1,802 m (5,912 ft)	663 m (2,175 ft)	18 m (59 ft)
10		Mali i Gjerë	Mali i Gjerë Stugarë	1,789 m (5,869 ft)	972 m (3,189 ft)	464 m (1,522 ft)
11		Bureto	Shëndelli Lunxhëri Bureto	1,763 m (5,784 ft)	817 m (2,680 ft)	428 m (1,404 ft)
12		Veleçik	Bjeshkët e Namuna	1,727 m (5,666 ft)	266 m (873 ft)	5.2 km (3.2 mi)
13		Mali i Skënderbeut	Skanderbeg Mountains	1,724 m (5,656 ft)	499 m (1,637 ft)	18.4 km (11.4 mi)
14		Cukal	Cukal Biga e Gimajve	1,721 m (5,646 ft)	235 m (771 ft)	2.3 km (1.4 mi)
15		Qelqëz	Malësia e Dangëllisë	1,662 m (5,453 ft)	0 m (0 ft)	53 m (174 ft)
16		Dajti	Skanderbeg Mountains	1,613 m (5,292 ft)	939 m (3,081 ft)	36 m (118 ft)
17		Miçan	Tomorr Kulmak Miçan	1,581 m (5,187 ft)	33 m (108 ft)	23 m (75 ft)
18		Maranaj	Maranaj Biga e Gimajve	1,576 m (5,171 ft)	235 m (771 ft)	4.8 km (3.0 mi)
19		Kokojka e Frashërit	Malësia e Dangëllisë	1,553 m (5,095 ft)	108 m (354 ft)	1.8 km (1.1 mi)
20		Guri i Capit	Morava Mali i Vashës	1,547 m (5,075 ft)	26 m (85 ft)	330 m (1,080 ft)
21		Rrëza e Kanalit	Vargmalet Bregdetare Jonike	1,499 m (4,918 ft)	472 m (1,549 ft)	5.9 km (3.7 mi)
22		Guri i Kamjes	Malësia e Gorës	1,455 m (4,774 ft)	0 m (0 ft)	14 m (46 ft)
23		Shpirag	Kodrat e Mallakastrës	1,198 m (3,930 ft)	666 m (2,185 ft)	20.9 km (13.0 mi)
24		Mali i Krujës	Skanderbeg Mountains	1,166 m (3,825 ft)	398 m (1,306 ft)
25		Mali i Konjakut	Lavan Konjak Galisht	1,140 m (3,740 ft)	1 m (3 ft 3 in)	59 m (194 ft)

See also

• Protected areas of Albania
• Geography of Albania

References

1. Kabo, Mevlan (1991). Gjeografia Fizike e Shqipërisë (1.2 ed.). Tiranë: Qendra e Studimeve Gjeografike. p. 1038.
2. Pumo, Eshref (1982). Buletini i Shkencave Gjeologjike (3 ed.). Tiranë: ISPGJM. p. 7.
3. Lack, Hans Walter (2020). "The early botanical exploration of Albania (1839–1945)" (PDF). Willdenowia. 50 (3). doi:10.3372/wi.50.50304. S2CID 229304802.
4. Ely, John (2002). "Rock Climbing and Mountaineering in Albania" (PDF). bigwalls.net.
5. Buda, Aleks (1985). Fjalori Enciklopedik Shqiptar. Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e RPSSH. p. 1248.
6. "Streifzüge in Ober-Albanien". Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde. 24: 529-544. 1897.
7. "Buletini Mujor i Turizmit Shqiptar". Revista Drini (8). 1 October 1941.
8. Polovina, Ylli (2020). Qyteti pranë qiellit. Emal. p. 225. ISBN 9789928046277.
9. "Malet më të larta të Shqipërisë". shbat.org. Shoqata Bjeshkatarë dhe Alpinistë Tirana. Retrieved 16 March 2016.