Albania is a country located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, Northern Macedonia to the east and Greece to the southeast. In the West, Albania touches the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
With an area of about 29,000 km2, Albania is similar in size to Belgium. The country’s population is roughly 2,800,000.
Albania is a country of mountains. They cover about two thirds of the territory and are divided into three geographical units: the Albanian Alps in the north; the Central Albanian Highlands, which includes all the mountains in the central and southeastern part of the country; and the Southern Highlands, with mountains adjacent to the Albanian Riviera. At 2,764 metres, Albania’s highest peak is Korab, a mountain shared by Albania and North Macedonia.
The Albanian coast is almost 500 kilometres long. The northern Adriatic part is features long sandy beaches and wetlands, characterized by high biodiversity. The largest Karavasta Lagoon is part of the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park. The Ionian coast in the south, on the Albanian Riviera, features steep and jagged shores full of coves. The only major Albanian island is Sazan in the Gulf of Vlorë.
In Albania, you will find the three largest lakes in the Balkans: Shkodra Lake, shared with Montenegro, Ohrid Lake, shared with North Macedonia, and Prespa Lake, shared with North Macedonia and Greece.
Most of the rivers in Albania flow in an east-west direction. Albania’s largest river is the Drin, which flows out of Ohrid Lake, crosses the territory of North Macedonia, and returns back to Albania where three major dams are build. Other rivers are the Mat, Shkumbin, Devoll and Vjosë.
Due to its geographical diversity, Albania is one of the most diverse countries in Europe in terms of fauna and flora. In the mountains and dense forests, you may encounter brown bear, the balkan lynx or the golden eagle, which is Albania’s national symbol. In the coastal waters, you might spot a mediterranean seal. The wetlands are home to a large number of bird species, such as the dalmatian pelican and the grater flamingo.
Albania has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Some of the higher elevated inland areas have a continental climate and tend to be colder during summer. Autumn and winter bring the most precipitation, with snow persisting into late spring at higher elevations.
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