Lura National Park

Parku Kombëtar i Lurës is a protected mountain landscape in northeastern Albania's Dibër region, renowned for its glacial lakes, alpine scenery, and dense forests. First established as a national park in 1966, it is considered one of Albania's most distinctive natural areas and today forms part of the larger Lurë–Dejë Mountain National Park.

Landscape and Setting

The park stretches across rugged mountain terrain with elevations ranging from roughly 595 to over 2,100 meters above sea level. Forests, alpine meadows, streams, and high ridges create a diverse landscape that has long been known as one of Albania's most scenic mountain regions.

The Famous Glacial Lakes

The park's signature attraction is a chain of twelve glacial lakes situated near Kunora e Lurës. These alpine lakes freeze during winter and become surrounded by wildflowers during warmer months. Among the best known are the Lake of Flowers (Liqeni i Luleve), whose surface is often covered with water lilies, and the Lake of Cows (Liqeni i Lopëve).

Wildlife and Conservation

Lurë was originally protected to conserve its ecosystems and biodiversity. The area contains important habitats for rare plants, old-growth forests, and wildlife typical of Albania's mountainous interior. Conservation organizations and park authorities also recognize it as an area of particular importance for birds and native plant species.

Why It Is Notable

Often described as an "Albanian Eden," Lurë is one of the country's most iconic natural destinations. Visitors are drawn by hiking opportunities, mountain panoramas, forest trails, and the unusual concentration of glacial lakes within a relatively compact area. Its combination of wilderness, geology, and biodiversity makes it a flagship protected landscape in Albania.