Albania

Albania-Country Profile
Welcome to Albania!
The Republic of Albania is located in the Western Balkans, in an area of 28,748 sq. km, and is bordered by the Republic of Montenegro to the north, to the east by both Kosovo and Macedonia, and by Greece to the south, overlooking its coast on the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea, and up along the coast to about 400 km. Albania is characterized by rugged mountain topography which constitutes about 70% of the country, while the remainder is fertile plain land suitable for agriculture.
Albania has been a member of the United Nations Organization since 1955, became a member of the OIC in 1992, and is also a member of many regional and international organizations while presently it is seeking to join the European Union. Albania celebrates its National Day on 28 November each year to mark its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912
Albania enjoys Mediterranean climate, where in the coastal areas prevails mild weather, wet and dry winter, and hot summers, while areas along the chains and the foothills of the Alps have a very cold continental climate with snow in the winter and mild summer, with rainfall ranging at in land rates low of 1.000 millimeters to more than 1.500 millimeters per year, with increased precipitation in the north of the country.
In spite of the frequent rainfall, Albania enjoys plenty of sunshine and is the second country in Europe after Spain in terms of the annual average number of days of sunshine, and the climate is generally gentle and suitable for all outdoor activities.
Average Temperatures in the city of Tirana

Lakes
There are four large lakes in Albania, each with its own distinctive characteristics and aesthetic character.
Lake Shkodra (located on the border between Albania and Montenegro)
Lake Fierza (located in north-eastern Albania)
Lake Ohrid (located between Albania and Macedonia) border.
Lake Prespa (located between Albania, Greece and Macedonia) border.
Rivers
Albania has abundant water resources, and abound rivers and streams, the most important of which are:
Drini River, with a length of 285 km
Seman River, with a length of 281 km
Viosa River, with a length of 272 km
Shkumbini River, with a length of 182 km
Mat River, and a length of 115 km
Buna River, with a length of 44 km

Albanian society
Population
Albania has a population of about 3 million people, with an estimated population density of about 113 people per square kilometre. The population is growing at an annual rate of 0.73%. The average life expectancy for women is 75 years and 69 years for men.
The Albanian ethnicity is the majority of the population, and there are some other ethnic minorities, namely:
The Greek minority
Roma minority
Arumun minority (Original Romania)
Montenegrin minority
Macedonian minority
Tirana is the capital and the country’s largest city with a population of about 800,000 people.

language
Albanian language is the official language. It is one of the Indo-European languages. The Albanian alphabet consists of 36 characters. The most important dialects are “Geg” in the north and “Tosk” in the south and many Albanians speak Italian and English.

Religion
Albania has a state of harmony and peaceful coexistence between different faiths. Muslims account for more than 50% of the total population, 20% not declared the religion while Orthodox Christians make up for about 20% of the population, and Catholics 10%. It is worth mentioning that in 1967 – the period that witnessed the peak of the tyranny of the communist era and totalitarian governance, religious practice was been banned all over Albania, but after the fall of communism in the early 90’ Albanians returned to practice religion freely.

Currency
Albanian Lek at the average exchange rate 106 Lek / 1 euro

Time
GMT+1/Central European Time Zone (CET)

Relief
Albania has a mountainous geography. About three-fourths of its territory consists of mountains and hills with elevations of more than 650 feet (200 metres) above sea level; the remainder consists of coastal and alluvial lowlands. The North Albanian Alps, an extension of the Dinaric Alps, cover the northern part of the country. With elevations approaching 8,900 feet (2,700 metres), this is the most rugged part of the country. It is heavily forested and sparsely populated.
In contrast to the Alps, the central mountain region, which extends north-south from the Drin River to the central Devoll and lower Osum rivers, is more densely populated and has a generally less rugged terrain. In the region’s easternmost portion, the imposing gypsum block of Albania’s highest peak, Mount Korab, rises to 9,030 feet (2,752 metres).
South of the central mountain region is a series of northwest-southeast-trending mountain ranges with elevations up to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). Composed of limestone rock, the ranges are separated by wide valleys. Unlike the Alps and the central region, which are covered with dense forests, the mountains of the southern region are either bare or have a thin covering of Mediterranean shrubs, oaks, and pines. They serve essentially as pasture for livestock. Stretching along the Adriatic coast over a distance of nearly 125 miles (200 km) and penetrating some 30 miles (50 km) into the interior are the low, fertile plains of western Albania. This is the most important agricultural and industrial region of the country—and the most densely populated.

Climate
Like other Mediterranean countries, Albania has characteristically warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Local climatic variation can occur, however, from one region to another. The western part of the country, which is under the influence of warm maritime air from the Adriatic and Ionian seas, has more moderate temperatures than the rest of Albania. For example, Sarandë, on the southern coast, has average daily temperatures in the mid-70s F (about 24 °C) in July and in the upper 40s F (about 9 °C) in January. The eastern part of the country, on the other hand, is mainly under the influence of continental air and is characterized by mild summers (owing to the high elevations) and cold winters. Peshkopi, in the eastern mountains, has temperatures that average in the mid-70s F in July and in the lower 30s F (about −1 °C) in January.
Rainfall in Albania is abundant, but it occurs unevenly across the country and throughout the year. Average annual precipitation varies from more than 100 inches (2,500 mm) in the North Albanian Alps to less than 30 inches (760 mm) along much of the eastern border. Some 40 percent of the annual precipitation falls in the winter. The southwestern part of the country suffers from summer droughts.
People of Albania
Ethnic groups
Albania has one of the most homogeneous populations in Europe, with non-Albanians accounting for less than one-tenth of the total population. The largest minorities are Vlachs; Greeks, concentrated mainly in the southeast; and Macedonians, living along the eastern border.
The two main subgroups of Albanians are the Gegs (Ghegs) in the north and the Tosks in the south. Differences between the two groups were quite pronounced before World War II. Until the communist takeover in 1944, Albanian politics were dominated by the more numerous Gegs. Renowned for their independent spirit and fighting abilities, they traditionally opposed outside authority, whether that of foreign invaders or that of the Albanian central government. Traditional Geg society was based on tribal groups, each one led by a clan chieftain, or bajraktar. Under the communist regime, this clan system largely disappeared from Albania, but the patriarchal families characteristic of the Gegs are still evident among ethnic Albanians in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
Because their southern territories were easily accessible to the outside world, the Tosks were more subject to foreign influence than the Gegs. Before World War II, theirs was a mostly semifeudal society. The peasantry, which made up most of the population, lived at the subsistence level, while a small group of large landowners controlled about two-thirds of the land. The communist movement drew most of its initial support from Tosks in the south. Languages of Albania
The Albanian language, called shqip or shqipe by Albanians, is of interest to linguists because, as a descendant of the extinct Illyrian tongue, it is the only surviving member of its branch of the Indo-European language family. Influenced by centuries of rule by foreigners, the Albanian vocabulary has adopted many words from the Latin, Greek, Turkish, Italian, and Slavic tongues. There are two principal dialects: Geg, spoken north of the Shkumbin River, and Tosk, spoken in the south. Geg dialects are also spoken in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, and Tosk dialects, though somewhat archaic as a result of centuries of separation from their place of origin in Albania, are prominent in the Albanian communities of Greece and Italy. Although there are variations even within these two dialects, Albanians can understand one another with no difficulty.
Because official business and ecclesiastical functions had long been conducted in Latin or Greek, Albanians did not acquire a definitive orthography until 1908, when a writing system was adopted based on the Roman alphabet. Before this time, publications written in Albania used a mix of different alphabets—namely, Latin, Greek, Turko, and Cyrillic. Attempts were then made in the following decades to create a unified language based on the Geg dialect of the central Elbasan region; however, all printed materials were published in Tosk until 1972, when a Congress of Orthography was convened in Tirana, and a unified Albanian language based on Tosk was established.

Best Places to Visit in Albania
1. Berat
The first UNESCO World Heritage site featured on this list is Berat. It’s one of the best places to visit in Albania for its attractive architecture and the most beautiful cityscape.
2. Tirana (One of The Best Cities to Visit in Albania)
The capital city is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in Albania. It can’t be missed. A city nestled within mountains and hills, this modern and cosmopolitan city has so much to offer.
3. Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster is one of the most beautiful places in Albania—an old Ottoman town that is so well preserved it’s designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Towns of The Albanian Riviera
The Albanian Riviera is probably the place that brings most people to the country. It’s no wonder why! It’s definitely one of the most beautiful places in Albania.
5. Osumi Canyons
A trip to the Osumi Canyons, or the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Albania, is not to be missed for adventurers. The Osumi Canyon is the perfect place for white water rafting if you’re visiting Albania at the right time.
6. Ksamil
Unquestionably one of the most beautiful places in Albania, Ksamil attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
7. Mount Djati National Park
One of the best places to visit in Albania is the Dajti National Park. It’s conveniently located just outside of Tirana. It’s where many locals come to escape the city and heat.
8. Butrint National Park
Butrint is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in Albania. It’s one of the most popular attractions and is the most visited UNESCO World Heritage site in the country.
9. Durres
With over 3,000 years of history, Durres is both the second largest and one of the most ancient cities in Albania. It’s unsurprising that it’s bursting with archaeological sites, historic buildings and remnants. One of the best things to see is the impressive Roman Amphitheater.
10. The Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is one of the best places in Albania. It’s an absolutely beautiful place to visit in Albania, particularly in the summer. Click here to get there from Saranda.
11. Bovilla Lake
Travelers who have a passion for nature and getting the blood pumping will adore Lake Bovilla. It’s perfect for exploring if you’re based in Tirana as it’s around 20km north of the capital.
12. Vlore
Vlore is a seaside city, with a wide and beautiful palm tree-lined promenade. The sea is on one side, and bars, cafes, and restaurants border the other – it’s super pretty.
13. Saranda
Saranda (Sarande) is a beautiful seaside resort town just north of Ksamil on the Albanian Riviera. It has some relaxing, pebbly beaches, and the most beautiful promenade right on the water.
14. Shkoder
Shkoder may be the most quaint of the Albanian cities, and you feel like you’ve stepped back in time here. It’s super relaxed, with a thriving cafe culture, and cheerful colorful buildings.
15. Korce
If you’re a beer drinker, you’ll likely be familiar with this little town as it’s where the popular Albanian beer gets its name. Korce, (pronounced kor-cha), is an interesting town to visit with lots of beautiful Ottoman architecture, quaint cafes, and amazing restaurants. However, Korce is becoming known as a superb winter destination.
16- Theth
Theth is a wonderful village in northern Albania’s Shkodra region. Set among the peaks of the Shala mountains, Theth is isolated, and in times of snow, practically inaccessible.
16. Valbona
The name Valbona, the etymolog of the word in Italian ‘Val-bona’ means ‘the Good-valley’, is a name which describes the valley, its river, and the main village in the valley.

We would love to see you and show you our country. Please come and visit us.