Mirusha Park
Mirusha Park is a regional park located in the central part of Kosovo on the eastern side of the Dukagjin Plain.
The area has been put under protection in 1975 as a special nature reserve, with an area of by a decision of municipality of Rahovec and Klina.
Due to its geoheritage values, specific landscapes, as well as high plant diversity, in 1982 it was declared a regional park in the fifth category according to IUCN, with an area of, stretching on three municipalities: Klina, Malisheva and Rahovec.
One year later in 1983 due hydrological, geomorphological and landscape values, the water flow of river Mirusha has also been put under protection in third category according to IUCN. Its area consist of and belongs to Rahovec and Klina municipalities.
Features
Mirusha Park is known for its canyon in which flows the Mirusha River that creates series of karst lakes and waterfalls arranged one after another in cascades. Due to its geological structure which consists of ultra basic rocks and volcanic-sedimentary formations of Jurassic age and the carbonates from the lower and upper Cretaceous, Mirusha River has created a canyon.At certain points along the canyon lie small lakes, connected to each other by waterfalls, high up to. There are located in total 12 waterfalls and 16 lakes. They vary in shape and size according to their position, and the structure and lithological composition of the limestone blocks. The canyon is at its widest at the final lake, while the narrowest part is in the area of the fourth lake, where it is also deepest, between cliffs high.
Rare natural geological and geomorphological features, also create interesting motives for the landscape of the park, especially specific geological form of the terrain, caves, cracks, other rocky phenomena which are created as a result of geological past, the effects of erosion, water and other exogenous factors.
As a result of mild continental climate influenced by the Mediterranean, a very rich flora and fauna has been created. The regional park area is home to many endemic and stenoendemic species.
Location
Mirusha Park is one of the most beautiful and most interesting areas of nature in Kosovo, which lies in the central part of the country, in the territory of the municipalities of Klina, Malisheva and Orahovac.The nature park is located in the south of the Gremnik mountains, on both sides of Mirusha River, from the beginning of canyon up to the discharge in the White Drin River, around from villages of Dush, Grapc and Llapqeva and the Hill of Dushi.
In the western part of the park passes the national road Klina - Gjakova. Parallel to this road lies the railway Peja -Prizren. Around to the north passes the national road Pristina - Peja.
Distance from the capital of Kosovo - Pristina is.
Geography
The nature regional park of Mirusha covers throughout Klina, Malisheva and Rahovec municipalities on the eastern side of the Dukagjini Plain, central Kosovo. The elevation typically ranges from above sea level.The geodiversity of the Mirusha river basin represents important heritage components linked to geology, geomorphology and hydrology, important for science, education as well as for touristic use.
Geology
The geological structure of the park consists of ultra basic rocks and volcanic-sedimentary formations of Jurassic Era and the carbonates from the lower and upper Cretaceous. The geological structure of Mirusha canyon mainly compose Mesozoic limestone cliffs with tendency to drop in the direction of the water flow. Extension of these rocks in the direction northwest–southeast, and dropping to the southeast, presents geological extension of rocks.Quaternary sediments are represented by humus, sand humus, clay humus and alevrol. River terraces of Mirusha valley are mainly constructed from pieces of rounded quartzite, Palaeozoic Slate, Cretaceous limestone, sandstone, serpentinite, diabase and Gabrovo. These fluvial terraces are of diluvial origin.
Alluvium is common on both sides of the river Mirusha. In general, there is not a wide spread in the area of Alluvium.
Deluvionet are more common in the wide part of region. These sediments are formed under natural conditions passing through sedimentary material, from mobile state or transferred to the stationary state. Quaternary sediments are in contact with upper Cretaceous limestone. Also, in the eastern and western part these sediments are in contact with metasediment belt. Quaternary area is represented by lake sediments, su-clay, gravel, sand and silt.
Pliocene sediments also stretch within the park area. In most part they are in erosion contact with upper Cretaceous limestone cliffs. These limestones are massive and contain numerous traces of gastropods and lay through Senon limestone floor.
Also in the Pliocene sediments are confirmed several layers of coal appearance.
Lower Cretaceous is represented by limestone plaque of different colors and is more common in the western part.
Sedimentary volcanogenic series spread out in the south-western region. According to geological map there are two areas of widespread: the northern and southern areas. In the Northern area, spread flysch, conglomeratic sand and marly formations while in south area, spread shale clay, sandstone and siliceous.
The area has large geoheritage value and a great potential for tourism. The most important geoheritage values are the canyon itself with lakes, waterfalls, caves,, karst forms, as well as decorative stones, bauxite, fossils, thermal spring water and a very characteristic appearance of the rocks. These values are important for science, education as well as for touristic use.
Caves
In Mirusha canyon are created special relief forms: deepening, caves, rocky cuts, material deposits, lakes, etc. Besides the waterfalls and lakes characteristic forms are also caves with different shapes and sizes. Some of the most interesting caves are the Great Church and Small Church caves, the cave in the tenth lake, the cave in the ninth lake which is divided into two channels, the cave behind the ninth lake and the cave of Dush, etc.Great Church Cave stretches at the last lake on the right side of river flow. This cave is located in a characteristic relief in the wall form. The cave, in its geological past, has been a source of underground waters. It has a and entrance and has a total length of. At the end of the cave there are few stalactites and stalagmites and karst pillars.
Small Church Cave has small size with a length of. The entrance of the cave is wide which from the bottom narrows further. The end of the cave is horizontal and filled with mud. From the entrance to the Great Church cave, the channel goes in the southeast direction where after a limestone rock appear in various forms and with cuts, through which is possible to gain access to the cave of the small church.
The cave in the tenth lake stretches under the waterfall with a width of, a length of and water deep,
it depends on the level of the lake. The entrance of the cave is wide and high. The karst cave is formed by the erosive forces of the water of Mirusha River.
The cave in the ninth lake consists of two channels: the right and the left one. The entrance to this cave is
possible only by passing under the waters of ninth lake. Left channel has an entrance of arch shape with a width of and a height of and it is long. Right channel has arc entrance wide and high.
Karst caves – in the early geological past these caves have been underground water resources in river Mirusha.
The Great cave is situated along ninth lake. Entering to the cave is achieved only by passing under the water of Mirusha channel. The cave is still under the influence of river erosion. In the entire length of the cave, its bottom is filled with of water. The entrance has a width up to, and a height of. The cave is formed at the end of the valley of the Dush village which ranges from North to South towards the canyon. The cave can be reached via the Dush -Ponorc road near the beginning of the canyon.
The Dushi cave is the most interesting and most important regarding the natural values in the whole region of Mirusha Park. The passable length of the cave is. It should be mentioned also that the cave has two secondary channels of, so with secondary channels the total length of cave is. The entrance of the cave is quite impressive with a width of and a height of. Inside the cave up to the 72nd meter, in the northern direction extends the channel with about length, while in the south-east direction the cave is passable through the meandring canal up to 180th meter. In the 180th meter, the secondary channel connects with the main channel of the cave and the other secondary channel towards the south-west. Here the cave also ends in the form of „S“ and is not passable. Inside the cave there are six small lakes created during the erosive activity and waterfalls up to high. It is rich in stalactites, stalagmites and columns of different shapes and sizes, with large numbers of bats living inside.
Hydrology
In Mirusha Park flows the river Mirusha, from which the park took its name. Due to hydrological, geomorphologic and landscape importance this river has been put under protection in 1983 in third category according to IUCN.The source of the river Mirusha is situated in the west of the Caraleva mountains. It forms the left branch of the White Drin River with a length with an average altitude of above sea level. The average flow of Mirusha River is while the average water level of the river is. The river covers an area of, around 3.1% of the total land area of Kosovo.
Mirusha River hydrographic network is generally asymmetric irrespective of numerous leaks streams and creeks to the right of the river Mirusha, in front with those of the left.
The main branches of Mirusha River are: the river of Biniqëve, "Lugu i Perrockës", "Lugu i Malishevës", Stopanica, the river of Bubavec and the stream of Kijevo. Most streams, even those who have large catchment area, for each year in the dry season of the year they dry in the lower parts of the territory, such as: The stream of Kijevo, the brook of Drenoc and the river of Bubavec.
Most of the area that includes the park is built from the source of limestone rock which belongs to the porous cracks formations, where the rocks are with small flow of underground water. Underground waters in general are not common in the area but are assumed to be in the depths of limestone and ultrabasic rocks.
At the end of the canyon, after the last lake on the right side near cliffs is a source of karst water and away is also a source of water that has water all year long.