Albania Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Albania?

Overview

Albania is located in the southwestern corner of the Balkan Peninsula, occupying 28,748 square kilometers. It is roughly the size of the state of Maryland with a maximum length of about 340-km and a maximum width of about 150-km.

Much of the country is rugged and mountainous. The highest peak is Korabi in the northeast at 275-m. Albania has 1,094 km of borders, 30% of which is the shore of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Of Albania’s lakes, the Lake of Shkodra is the largest in the Balkans (368 sq. km) and the Lake of Ohrid is the deepest. The country has 152 rivers including the Shkumbini, which roughly divides the country into northern and southern regions.

Geography - note

Strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea)

Climate

The plain of Albania, where the capital city Tirana is located, has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and generally mild winters with abundant rainfall. In the mountains, winters can be very severe with low temperatures and high snowfall. On average, temperatures range from -3°C in January to a maximum of 35°C in July. Parts of Albania are on a fault line and experience earthquakes and tremors.

Albania Use of Natural Resources

Albania Environment

Climate:

Terrain:

Mostly mountains and hills; small plains along the coast

Natural Resources:

Petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Natural Hazards:

Destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Irrigated Land:

727 Square Miles
1,884 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - International Agreements:

Party To: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Albania Geography

Geographic Location	Europe
Total Area	11,100 Square Miles 28,748 Square Kilometers
Land Area	10,578 Square Miles 27,398 Square Kilometers
Water Area	521 Square Miles 1,350 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	446 Miles 717 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	727 Square Miles 1,884 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
Coastline	225 Miles 362 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	41 00 N, 20 00 E
Terrain	Mostly mountains and hills; small plains along the coast
Highest Point	2,764 Meters
Highest Point Location	Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Lowest Point Location	Adriatic Sea 0 m
Natural Resources	Petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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