A lbania lies on the Western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is situated between latitude 39 grade 38- 42 grade 39 North and longitude 19 grade 16- 21 grade 4 East. It extends over an area of 28,748 square kilometers. It is located in the main cross roads linking the West and the East. Albania is located in the area GMT+1 (From March 28 GMT+2). In the western part of the country lie the Western Lowlands, with a mainly plain relief and rich vegetation of this type. Along the whole coastline, in the lowland area from Shkodra to Vlora, there are numerous beaches with healthy Mediterranean climate. The Western Lowland area has a rich hydrograph. It is permeated by numerous rivers and spotted by lakes of tectonic and karst origin, which further add the beauty to the area. In the northern part of the lowland area, there is the Shkodra lake. The Shiroka beach stretches along its shores. Along the Adriatic coastline, the Western Lowland area forms numerous bays with clear water and fine sand, which are very suitable sites for coastal tourism.
The central Mountain Region lies in the Eastern and South-Eastern part of the territory. Here the relief is more complicated and horst - grabber type prevails. It is characterized by a rich Mediterranean and continental vegetation. The highest peak of the country (Mount Korab 2751 m) is in this region. The Southern Mountain Region consists of mountain ranges, slopes and separated mountains which are interwoven with gorges, hilly and pre-mount systems and valleys providing it the features of a grand mountainous region. This region is permeated by numerous streams. The coastal area of this region, for the magnificent beauty it represents, has been named after Albanian Riviera.
The coastal mountains run from Vlora bay and Drashovica Pass in the North to Delvina basin in the South. What characterizes them is their rising high from the Vlora Bay to the Mount of Cika (2045 m) and their running right down in the West of Delvina basin. The Northern Mountain Region has mainly an Alpine relief characterized by a cold climate, alpine karst hydrograph and with a partially endemic, but rich vegetation.
The Alps of Albania resemble a big cupola. They have pyramid- shaped peaks (Jezerca 2694 m) and deep valleys, numerous rivers and glacial lakes which impart a magnificent beauty to the region. The abundant snow falls during winter create very favorable natural terrain for the development of white tourism, for those who love skiing and other winter sports.
Albania claims distinction for a rich and varied fauna, which is linked with the diversity of geographical landscape and its location on the roads of emigration of birds. Land fauna is represented, among meat eaters, by brown bear, wolf, fax, jackal, lynx, wild cat, otter, etc.; among insect eaters by long-nose animals; among grass eaters by wild goat, deer, boar, hare, etc. Rich is also the fauna of wild birds. It is represented by 350 species to be found all over the country. You come across with grouse, woodcock, snipe, pelicans and others. A number of reptiles are to be found as well.
Aquatic fauna: Different kinds of fish are to be found in sea and inland waters. Among the most wide spread are: sardine, mullet, red mullet, carp, red cohortlebery, specled trout, etc. Likewise, offshore of the Adriatic sea there have been appeared rare species which are not characteristic for this sea such as whales, white breast seals, oceanic whales.
In the North-Western part of the country, there is the Shkodra Lake, which is the largest in the Balkan Peninsula. It is 368 square kilometers, out of which 149 square kilometers are within the borders of our country. Its depth is 10-12 m. It has a tectonic - karsts origin. In the North-Eastern part, there is the Fierza lake named after the Hydro-Power Plant. In the South-Eastern part, there is the Ohrid lake of a karsts origin and a surface of 367 square kilometers. A bit southward there are two other lakes of tectonic origin: Bigger and smaller Perspa lakes with 285 and 44 square kilometers respectively. Other small lakes have dotted Albania as well. In the western part of the country, in Dumrea area, there are several karsts lakes 80 m above sea level. Whereas in Lura area 1600 m above sea level, there are several glacial lakes, which are located in groups, thus providing a magnificent view and leaving deep impressions in you.
The main rivers permeating the territory of our country are: Drini (285 km), Semani (281 km), Vjosa (272 km), Shkumbini (182 km), Mat (115 km), Buna (44 km), Ishmi and Erzen.
The total inland water surface is 1350 km2, composed by natural lakes, artificial lakes, coastal lagoons and river network. Island surface 95.8 km2 is constituted of sandy islands, parts of coastal lagoons, rocky islands, which are separated from the lad. Albania is rich in rivers (721 km) and streams. The regime of the rivers and streams is torrential with great differences in the amount of water they carry from season to season, a fact that explains their eroding capacity. The rivers are very important for the irrigation of the land and for the production of hydroelectric power. The most important rivers are Drin in the north, Shkumbin and Seman in the south. The Drin River has two springs, one coming from Lake Ohrid and the other from Kosova. The longest river in Albania is Seman, which is 281 km and is divided into two separate branches, Devoll and Osum. The river Vjosa, 272 km long, originates from Smolika mountain, which is the most torrent in Albania. Other rivers to mention are Erzen, Mat and Ishem, however the only navigable river is Buna in the north of the country.
The population of Albania is 3,5 million inhabitants, with a density of 113 persons per square kilometer. The overwhelming majority of the population (about 65%) lives in the countryside. In Albania, the number of males is greater than that of females. For 1000 female, there are 1080 males in the countryside and 1030 males in the cities.
The average life expectancy is 72 years, that is 75 years for the women and 69 for men. National minorities represent about 2% of the population and they consist mainly of Greek (in the southern part of the country) and Macedonians (in the Prespa area).
Albania has a Mediterranean climate and the seasons are clearly distinguished from one another, with a generally mild and moistly winter and with a hot dry summer. These features become more accentuated in the coastline of the country. By drawing a comparison between the Autumn and Spring temperatures, one notices that spring is cooler than Autumn. The maximum absolute temperatures have been recorded in the southern part of the country, in the coastal area and in Myzeqe. The minimum absolute temperatures are more accentuated in the interior of the country, in closed hollows.
Hereby, Albania is characterized by hot summer, bright sunny days, generally mild winter and abundant rainfalls. The period from June to September is hot, while from October to May it is cool and wet.
The meteorological conditions change rapidly from southwest to Northeast, the temperatures and the precipitation diminish in this same direction. The amount of rain and snowfall is sufficient (about 1.200 mm per annual), but is unevenly distributed during the year. The average annual temperature varies from 14.80C (Shkodra, North of the country) to 16.50C (Vlora, South of the country), while the absolute maximal temperature vary from 38.30C (Shkodra) and slow down in the vicinity of the sea. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of 250C. The highest recorded summer temperature is at Kucova 43.90C. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 60C. The eastern part of Albania has very cold winters. The lowest recorded temperature being –340C at the resort of Biza, 35 km East of Tirana. The winds have a seasonal character, during the cold half of the year and especially during the winter months, the air moves from the land towards the sea reducing the land temperature. The winds are numerous and have different directions. The most typical are sea breezes, ice winds especially in the Northern part and hot and dry winds which blow in the Southwestern direction. The situation is reversed during the summer months. The most characteristic winter wind is the “murlan”, a cold dry and very strong wind. The “Sirocco’ or native “Juga” wind is a warm, moist oppressive wind laden with rain. In the regions along the sea, sea breezes that blow during the months of June, July and August predominate.
A few thousand square km smaller than Belgium, Albania basks on the south-eastern shore of the Adriatic, just a hop, skip and a jump across the waves from Italy. It shares its southern border with Greece, Macedonia lies to the east, and Yugoslavia and the troubled province of Kosovo lie beyond its northern border. The interior of the country is mostly mountainous and over 36% is forested. Despite its position in Eastern Europe, you know you're in the Mediterranean as the plains are extensively planted with olives, citrus and vineyards. A few large lakes, one of them the deepest in the Balkans (Lake Ohrid, at 294m or 931ft) stretch along the borders with Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece. The Ionian coast, particularly the 'Riviera of Flowers' from Vlora to Saranda, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Albania has six National Forests, 24 nature reserves and 2000 natural monuments, but the protection for all of these areas is mainly on paper. All parks are under threat from human activities such as hunting and wood cutting, and Albania simply doesn't have the money to pay for adequate park management. In 1994 hunting was prohibited, which led to some improvements in protected areas such as the Karavasta Lagoon in the Divjake National Park, the most western nesting site in Europe of the endangered Dalmatian Pelican. Environmental pollution is a major cause for concern; nearly all raw sewage is pumped into the rivers untreated, and instances of leaking effluent and deliberate discharges of chemicals from industry have grown to nightmarish proportions.
Albania has hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Summers along the coast are moderated by sea breezes. Around 40% of the rain falls during the winter months, and in winter the central mountains are very cold as continental air masses move in. Even in the cities winter can be uncomfortably bracing, as most rooms are unheated and tap water can be icy.
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