Lura National Park

About

Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park is a natural sanctuary that has captured the essence of the country's beauty since it was established in 1966. This sanctuary covers 78 square miles (202 km2) in northeastern Albania and has an extraordinary landscape of twelve glacial lakes, dense forests, and breathtaking mountain terrain ranging from 1,500 to 2,300 meters in elevation. This diverse natural reserve is home to rare species, including European brown bears, Eurasian lynxes, and grey wolves. The ecosystem also features a stunning array of trees, with European beech, silver fir, and the critically endangered Balkan pine. After the chaos of the 1990s, much of Lura was damaged due to illegal logging and deforestation, but ongoing conservation efforts by local NGOs are helping restore the park's natural splendor. In 2018, a renewed push for reforestation, new hiking trails, and better camping facilities has brought much of the natural beauty back to Lura.