Highest Mountains In Serbia And Kosovo

The country of Serbia and the disputed territory and partially recognized state of Kosovo are both located in the southeastern area of Europe's Balkan Peninsula. Both countries have landscapes that are covered in plateaus and mountains and that are landlocked. This article will discuss some of the highest mountains in both Serbia and Kosovo.

Highest Mountains in Serbia

Midžor is the highest mountain in Serbia, standing at 7,116 feet (2,169 meters) above sea level in elevation. Midžor is located in the Pirot administrative district of the country and sits on Serbia's border with Bulgaria. The parent range of the mountain is the Balkan Mountains and Midžor is the highest peak in the western part of the Balkan Mountains. Before the early 1990s access to the mountain was forbidden by Serbia and Bulgaria due to it being in the border area, which has left the nature around the site very well preserved. For tourists that visit the mountain to enjoy the sceneic view or to rock climb there is the Banin Zub hotel that is located on the slopes of the mountain, as well as a border marker identify where Serbia and Bulgaria meet. Pogled is the fifth highest mountain in Serbia, standing at 6,855 feet (2,089 meters) tall. Pogled is located in the Raška administrative district of the country and sits on Serbia's border with Kosovo and Montenegro. The parent range of the mountain is the Mokra Gora mountain, which is part of the Prokletije mountain range.

Highest Mountains in Kosovo

Đeravica is the highest mountain in Kosovo, standing at 8,714 feet (2,656 meters) above sea level in elevation. Đeravica is located in the District of Gjakova and sits near Kosovo's border with Albania. The parent range of the mountain is the Prokletije mountain range, of which Đeravica is the second highest peak. Unlike other mountains in the Prokletije mountain range, Đeravica lacks a stony limestone texture. Near the summit of the mountain there any different sized glacial lakes, of which the largest is Đeravica Lake, the origin of the Erenik River that flows through Kosovo. The mountain is part of the Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park in Kosovo and the area around the mountain is also noted for growing chestnuts and wild strawberries. Zuti Kamen, also known as Guri i Kuq, is the sixth highest mountain in Kosovo, standing at 8,274 feet (2,522 meters) tall. Zuti Kamen is located in the District of Peć and sits close to Kosovo's border with Montenegro. The parent range of the mountain is the Prokletije mountain range. The Guri i Kuq Lake is found near the summit of the mountain and is surrounded by large meadows.

Shaky Relations Between Serbia and Kosovo

In 2008, the Republic of Kosovo declared their independence from Serbia, a move that has been strongly opposed by Serbia and has received a divided response by the international community. At the beginning Serbia and Kosovo had no relations at all, but recently there has been more dialogue and cooperation between the governments, although Serbia still flatly rejects an independent Kosovo. In April of this year Kosovo and the European Union (EU) signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which is an important step a country must take in the process of joining the EU. While most of the EU recognizes Kosovo as an independent nation, Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Greece and Cyprus do not.