Albania: a country with a rugged and mountainous territory

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Albania (Republika e Shqipèrisè) is a parliamentary republic of the southwestern Balkans. The capital is Tirana. The main cities, besides the capital, are Shkoder, Durres, Vlora, Elbasan and Gjirokaster. Albania is bordered by Serbia and Montenegro in the north, with the Republic of Macedonia in the north-east, with Greece in the south-east. The country faces west on the Adriatic Sea and the Otranto Channel.

A MOUNTAIN NATION

The Albanian territory is largely mountainous, excluding a small flat strip along the coast. The mountains that characterize the country form the so-called Albanian Alps which are part of the Dinaric Alps. Albania’s highest peak is Mount Korab (2,764 meters). Deep valleys open into the mountains where rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea. The most important rivers are Drin, Semani and Voiussa.

Partly Albanian are the lakes of Shkoder, Ohrid and Prespa. Among these the largest is the lake of Shkoder (Liqeni i Shkodrës, about 400 sq km), which is the largest lake in the Balkan peninsula, it is located in the north of the country along the border with Montenegro. In eastern Albania there is Lake Ohrid (Liqeni Ohrit, 358 sq km) located on the border with North Macedonia. The Great Prespa lake (Prespa e Madhe, 314 sq km) is located on the border with North Macedonia and Greece. Finally, the Small Prespa lake (Prespa e Vogël, 47 sq km) is located on the border with Greece.

The country is poor in resources. At the base of the Albanian economy are breeding (sheep and goats), agriculture (maize, wheat, olive trees) and the exploitation of mineral resources (oil, chromium, copper, nickel, lignite). Fishing is quite developed both along the coasts and in the lakes. The industry is based on textile plants, copper ore enrichment, cigarette production.

Tourist attractions of Albania.

The climate of Albania.