The Wonders of Kosovo Trivia Quiz

Answer: Accursed Mountains

Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park is a large protected area in western Kosovo. It covers over 150,000 acres and borders both Albania and Montenegro. It contains mountain peaks, dense forests, alpine meadows, and glacial lakes.

The mountains there are called the "Accursed Mountains" due to their rugged, wild, and largely inaccessible nature, which makes them difficult for travel and settlement. There are several legends that exist to explain the name. One says the devil escaped from hell and created the jagged glacial karsts in a single day of mischief. Others say a woman cursed them when her sons died there in a fight over a fairy. A third legend claims Slavic soldiers gave the mountains their name as they had a rough time trying to hike through the area.

Answer: 12

The waterfalls are found in Mirusha Park in central Kosovo. They are made up of 16 lakes connected by 12 waterfalls. This chain of lakes and falls is located in a canyon formed by the Mirusha River. The waterfalls are known for their beauty, cascading over tiered limestone formations into various pools. The highest single waterfall drop, located between the sixth and seventh lake, is approximately 22 meters (72 feet) high.

Several caves within the canyon, like the Great Church and Small Church caves, are believed to have been shelters for Orthodox monks during the Ottoman period (starting around 1455 AD). Visitors also come to view these falls and the ecosystem in the winter when the waterfalls freeze over, forming unusual and beautiful ice formations.

Answer: Glacial

The Sharr Mountain range features a large number of high peaks, with 30 peaks exceeding 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). The mountains were subject to local glaciation during the ice ages. As the glacier moved, its immense weight and the rocks embedded within the ice scoured the underlying land. This process carved out the distinctive U-shaped valleys, steep-sided fjords, and bowl-shaped depressions seen in the Sharr area.

A large variety of plants and animals live in the mountain area, including the critically endangered species like the Balkan lynx. The area is also known for its traditional herding culture, including the production of the unique Sharr cheese (made from a mix of sheep and cow's milk).

Answer: Caves

A significant portion of the Balkans region, including Kosovo, is composed of limestone and marble. Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and soil, forming a weak acid. This acidic water penetrates into the limestone, slowly dissolving the rock over millions of years and creating underground channels, passages, and large caverns. Thus, there are multiple cave systems in the area.

Gadime Cave, for example, is unique because it is primarily formed within marble limestone, rather than regular limestone, giving it a distinctive appearance. Sleeping Beauty Cave is home to a thousand bats across eight different species and has had significant archaeological findings, including Neolithic human remains. Grand Canyon Cave features an extensive network of tunnels, corridors, and galleries, some of which are only accessible to experienced cavers.

Answer: Pristina

Batllava Lake has a surface area of approximately 3.27 square kilometers (1.26 square miles) and a maximum depth of 48 meters (157 feet). It was created in 1970 and serves as the primary source of drinking water for Pristina. It has a sophisticated water extraction system to ensure purity. The lake is also a very popular recreation spot for swimming, boating, and fishing.

Located approximately 30 to 32 kilometers (19 to 20 miles) away from the lake is Kosovo's capital, Pristina. As the seat of the Government of Kosovo, Pristina hosts the Parliament, the President's and Prime Minister's offices. Historically, the nearby settlement of Ulpiana (located southeast of the modern city) became a significant Roman city and a major economic hub in the 2nd century AD. It was then under multiple rules, such as Byzantine, Ottoman, and Serbian until February 2008, when Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, with Pristina as its official capital.

Answer: Recognized as the highest peak in the country

Gjeravica stands at an elevation of 2,656 meters (8,714 feet) and is recognized as the highest peak in Kosovo. Interestingly, while it is the officially recognized highest peak by the government of Kosovo, the peak of Velika Rudoka is actually several meters higher. The discrepancy stems from historically unclear boundary lines between Kosovo (previously part of Serbia) and North Macedonia (previously Macedonia).

Several large and small glacial lakes are found near the summit. The largest is Gjeravica Lake which is the source of the Erenik river. Another famous lake, Zemra Lake, is known for its heart shape. The mountain's high snow levels make it suitable for winter sports like skiing.

Answer: Wind

The Bajgora region brings people there due to its natural beauty with waterfalls and snow covered peaks. The region is also known for its authentic local culture and traditional stone houses, giving visitors a glimpse into the local heritage.

Bajgora is the site of Kosovo's largest wind farm, a major symbol of the country's push toward renewable energy. Selac Wind Farm accounts for a substantial portion (around 10%) of Kosovo's installed electricity generation capacity, helping to move the country away from its heavy reliance on coal. Building the farm was an engineering feat as it involved constructing 27 massive wind turbines at an altitude of up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in the remote and mountainous terrain.

Answer: False

Kosovo is a completely landlocked country in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. The country does have beaches on its lakes and rivers that serve as popular recreational and swimming spots for locals. However, in order to visit Dhërmi Beach and have some fun in the sun, people have to travel to the neighboring country of Albania.

Answer: Karst spring

The White Drin Waterfall is located at the source of the White Drin River, where the river emerges from a large cave. A karst spring in the cave is the source of the river. There a vast underground water network emerges into the open air. This emergence point is situated right at the base of the cliff face. The water then cascades down as the 25-meter (82 ft) White Drin Waterfall.

The area is both a popular tourist attraction and a protected natural monument for its significant impact on the study of landscapes. Also, in the past, the powerful and consistent flow of water from this source was harnessed for renewable energy.

Answer: Ferrata climbing

The canyon stretches for approximately 25 kilometers (16 miles) and reaches depths of up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in some places. The Peja Bistrica River, which formed the canyon, runs through it and creates multiple small waterfalls. The area offers a wide variety of hiking, ziplining, and caving.

The canyon is a premier destination for via ferrata climbing in the Balkans. The term "via ferrata" means "iron way" in Italian and refers to the steel cables, rungs, and ladders fixed to the rock face that make the climb possible. There are multiple via ferrata routes in the canyon for varied experience levels. One of the routes, Via Ferrata Marimangat, includes crossing a 40-meter-long (131 ft) Tibetan bridge suspended 60 meters (196 ft) above the river, adding to the adrenaline rush.