Geography of Albania

Geography of Albania
ContinentEurope
RegionMediterranean Sea
Southeastern Europe
Area
 • Total28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi)
 • Land97.7%
 • Water2.3%
Coastline476 km (296 mi)
Borders
Highest pointMount Korab
2,764 m (9,068 ft)
Lowest pointAdriatic Sea
0 m (0 ft)
Longest riverRiver of Drin
335 km (208 mi)
Largest lakeLake of Shkodër
530 km2 (200 sq mi)

Albania is a country in southeastern Europe that lies along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, with a coastline spanning approximately 476 km (296 mi).[1] Situated on the Balkan Peninsula, it is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. It is bounded by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the southeast and south.[2]

Most of Albania rises into mountains and hills, tending to run the length of the country from north to south, as for instance the Albanian Alps in the north, the Sharr Mountains in the northeast, the Skanderbeg Mountains in the center, the Korab Mountains in the east, the Pindus Mountains in the southeast, and the Ceraunian Mountains in the southwest. Plains and plateaus extend in the west along the Albanian Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coast.

Some of the most considerable and oldest bodies of freshwater of Europe can be found in Albania. The second largest lake of Southern Europe, the Lake of Shkodër, is located in the northwest surrounded by the Albanian Alps and the Adriatic Sea.[3] And one of the oldest continuously existing lakes in the world, the Lake of Ohrid, lies in the southeast,[4] while the highest tectonic lakes of the Balkan Peninsula, the Large and Small Lake of Prespa, are well hidden among high mountains in the southeast.

Rivers originate in the east of Albania and loop towards the west into the sea. They are encompassed by the drainage basins of the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea.[5] The longest river in the country, measured from its mouth to its source, is the Drin that starts at the confluence of its two headwaters, the Black and White Drin, though also notable is the Vjosë, one of the last intact large river systems in Europe.

For a small country, Albania is characterized for its biological diversity and abundance of contrasting ecosystems and habitats, defined in an area of 28,748 square kilometres.[6] This great diversity derives from Albania's geographic location on the Mediterranean Sea, with typical climatic conditions, varied topography, as well as the wealth of terrestrial and marine ecosystems providing a variety of habitats, each with its own typical flora and fauna.[7]

There are 799 Albanian protected areas covering a surface of 5,216.96 square kilometres.[8] These include two strict nature reserves, 14 national parks, one marine park, eight archaeological parks, 750 natural monuments, 22 habitat/species management areas, five protected landscapes, 4 protected landscapes, four managed resources areas and four ramsar wetlands.[9][10] The national parks cover a surface area of 210,668.48 hectares (2,106.6848 km2) or roughly 13.65% of the overall territory.[11]

  1. ^ R. Eftimi. "Some Considerations on Seawater-Freshwater Relationship in Albanian Coastal Area" (PDF). ITA Consult. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2005.
  2. ^ "Albania country profile". BBC News. 19 June 2017.
    - "Introduction" (PDF). dspace.epoka.edu.al. Albania has 28.748 square kilometers area and the length of the borderline of the Republic of Albania is 1094 km, of which 657 km land border, 316 km of coastline, 48 km and 73 km through rivers dividing line through the lakes.
    - "Albania". World Fact Book. CIA. 27 September 2022. Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
  3. ^ "IBAC 2012 vol.2" (PDF). dspace.epoka.edu.al. p. 253. In the North-Western part of the country, there is the Shkoder Lake, which is the largest in the Balkan Peninsula.
  4. ^ "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region". UNESCO. Situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid, the town of Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe; Lake Ohrid is a superlative natural phenomenon, providing refuge for numerous endemic and relict freshwater species of flora and fauna dating from the tertiary period. As a deep and ancient lake of tectonic origin, Lake Ohrid has existed continuously for approximately two to three million years.
    - "Lake Ohrid; Invest in Macedonia – Agency for Foreign Investments of the Republic of Macedonia". InvestInMacedonia.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Drainage Basin of the Mediterranean Sea" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. pp. 14–18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2014.
    - "Drainage Basin of the Black Sea" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. pp. 5 & 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Introduction" (PDF). dspace.epoka.edu.al. p. 252. Although a small country, Albania has rich physical geography features. The variation of geomorphology, climate, biological diversity, rivers and lakes create favorable conditions. These features affected on human and their activities.
    - "Report on National Situation of Biodiversity in Albania" (PDF). macfungi.webs.com. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2017. Approximately 30% of all European floras occur in Albania.
  7. ^ "Biodiversity Albania". Climate Change Post. Some of the 30% of the European plant species, and 42% of the European mammals can be found in the country. Albania's variety of wetlands, lagoons and large lakes also provide critical winter habitat for migratory birds (1).
  8. ^ "Albania, Europe". Protected Planet.
  9. ^ "Protected Areas System in Albania" (PDF). tap-ag.com. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  10. ^ "WDPA - Designation Display". United Nations Environment Programme. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Përshkrimi i Rrjetit aktual të zonave të mbrojtura" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2019.