Kosovo

Home - Special Status Areas - Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a landlocked country in the center of the Balkans. The country's strategic position has made it a crossroads of cultures and civilizations throughout history, with the confluence of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Slavic influences shaping its rich cultural heritage. Kosovo's terrain is characterized by a mix of mountains, valleys, and plains, with the Accursed Mountains in the west and the Kopaonik Mountains in the north. The country's highest peak, Gjeravica, reaches an elevation of 2,656 meters above sea level. The fertile plains of Kosovo Polje and Metohija are home to the majority of the population, with the capital city of Pristina serving as the country's administrative, economic, and cultural center. The country is home to numerous medieval monasteries, mosques, and churches, including the Visoki Dečani Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kosovo is home to flora and fauna species from all over Europe and Eurasia. Two national parks, eleven nature reserves and one hundred and three other protected areas preserve the biodiversity of the country. Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park and Sharr Mountains National Park are the major regions of vegetation and biodiversity in Kosovo. Several rare or endangered species, including Brown Bear, lynx, wild cat, wolf, fox, wild goat, roebuck and deer, live in the mountainous west and southeast. Altogether 255 bird species have been registered, with birds of prey such as the Golden Eagle, the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Lesser Kestrel living mainly in the mountains of Kosovo.