Things to see and do Junik

The highest point of the Albanian Alps National Park, Mount Gjeravica/Đeravica reaches 2,656 m and dominates the Junik region. It was considered the highest peak in Kosovo (and Serbia), until the discovery of the Great Rudoka (2,658 m above sea level), in the Šar Mountains in 2011. It remains no less impressive. In fact, it is the second highest peak in the Dinaric Alps chain after the Jezerca (Maja Jezercë) peak in Albania, which reaches 2,694 m in altitude. The surroundings of Mount Gjeravica are in any case suitable for beautiful hikes. To reach it, the easiest way is still to start from Deçan/Dečani. The most popular routes are those leading to the many glacial lakes. The largest is the Gjeravica lake (Liqeni i Gjeravicës. Đeravičko jezero), at about 2,200 m above sea level. Measuring 240 m in length and 120 m in width, it feeds the Erenik River, which rises right next to it, and is home to a host of insects that have a colony of salamanders as predators. In its northern part, Mount Gjeravica is connected by a ridge line to Mount Gusan (Maja e Gusanit, Gusan) which reaches 2,540 m in altitude on the border with Albania. Between the two peaks is the Heart Lake (Liqeni i Zemrës, Srcoliko jezero). Located at an altitude of about 2,200 m, it is 150 m long and 140 m wide and is indeed heart-shaped. The Albanian border is then very close (about 400 m), and one can cross it without realizing it.