Misplaced Pages

#76923

91-697: Albania is located in Southern and South-eastern Europe in the western section of the Balkan Peninsula . It borders on Montenegro to the north-west, Kosovo to the north-east, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The coastline occupies a total length of 446 kilometres (277 mi) and explicitly marked by a mountainous landscape supplied with deep bays , numerous islands , high cliffs , rocky and sandy coasts and unique marine life . The Ionian Sea

182-671: A Turkish state originating in Anatolia , encroached steadily on former Byzantine lands, culminating in the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Beginning roughly in the 12th century in Florence , and later spreading through Europe with the development of the printing press , a Renaissance of knowledge challenged traditional doctrines in science and theology , with the Arabic texts and thought bringing about rediscovery of classical Greek and Roman knowledge. The Catholic reconquest of Portugal and Spain led to

273-577: A US-led military alliance ( NATO ) and formed the European Economic Community amongst themselves. The countries in the Soviet sphere of influence joined the military alliance known as the Warsaw Pact and the economic bloc called Comecon . Yugoslavia was neutral. The common attribute of the eastern countries is that all of them have experiences with socialism , but nevertheless, the beginning of

364-710: A great marine life, while the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast consist of sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters. The coastline covers an extensive part of the Ceraunian Mountains, which extends parallel immediately along the Ionian Sea, starting at Sarandë , running for over 100 kilometers in a southeast–northwest direction along the Albanian Riviera, to Orikum . The mountainous interior is fragmented into several massifs often reaching 2,000 metres above

455-532: A great wildlife. Administratively, the Albanian Adriatic coast is shared between the counties of Shkodër in the north, Lezhë , Durrës , Tirana , Fier and Vlorë in the south. The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast begins from the estuary of Buna on the Gulf of Drin at the border with Montenegro , passes through Myzeqe Plain , the capes of Rodon , Turrës, Gjuhëzes, the cities of Shëngjin , Durrës , Vlorë ,

546-630: A major and direct transport axis between Northern and southern Europe, was completed in 2016 with the Gotthard Base Tunnel . The Gotthard inscribes itself in a long history of transit across the Alps , which saw them progressively changing from an obstacle to a corridor between the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea . The most widely spoken family of languages in southern Europe are the Romance languages ,

637-405: A number of designations of parks and protected areas in the coastline that reflect the great value and importance of the region. The Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park is the most extensive national park in the region, encompassing the borderline of Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island in the north. Its terrain is dominated by a variety of landscape formations and most notable by the mountains of

728-560: A passing trajectory of basic systems across the Mediterranean Sea and Balkan Peninsula as well as other important factors such as morphometric characteristics of the territory. Tourism is considered one of the largest industries in the economy of Albania . It has significantly increased since following the fall of communism in the country. The country has a rich historical and cultural heritage and natural beauty varying from clear turquoise waters fringed by sandy and rocky beaches to contrasting mountainous interior. The coastline has

819-625: A related movement, worked to reconquer Iberia for Christendom . The late Middle Ages represented a period of upheaval in Europe. The epidemic known as the Black Death and an associated famine caused demographic catastrophe in Europe as the population plummeted. Dynastic struggles and wars of conquest kept many of the states of Europe at war for much of the period. In the Balkans , the Ottoman Empire ,

910-589: A rich cultural history. It comprises an extraordinary diversity of habitats , ecosystems and wildlife . Although Lake Butrint was further recognised as a wetland of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention . The Llogara National Park is located in the Vlorë District and the third largest national park in the region. The park's natural environment is a vast one of exceptional beauty and unique biodiversity. Maja e Çikës , part of

1001-710: A series of oceanic explorations resulting in the Age of Discovery that established direct links with Africa, the Americas, and Asia. During this period, Iberian forces engaged in a worldwide struggle with Islamic societies; the battlefronts in this Ibero-Islamic World War stretched from the Mediterranean into the Indian Ocean , finally involving the islands of Southeast Asia . Eventually this ecumenical conflict ended when new players—England, Holland and France—replaced Spain and Portugal as

SECTION 10

#1732845661077

1092-408: A typical mountainous climate with frequent snow during winter. The diversity, in terms of topography , geology , hydrology and climatic conditions, determined the broad variety of life in the region. The coastline features contrasting habitats and ecosystems impacted by various environmental factors , many of which are with conservation of national significance. In terms of phytogeography ,

1183-485: A wealth of important habitats makes for a fascinating birdwatching location during peak migration with several wetlands , estuaries and hills provides diversity for both resident and migrant birds . Maybe the most iconic bird of the coast is the vulnerable and extremely rare dalmatian pelican . It breeds on inland lakes and coastal lagoons of Albania such as in Karavasta and Patoku Lagoon . The greater flamingo

1274-538: A well-preserved natural ecosystem that can boast a unique combination of a diverse climate and landscape . As Albania extends over the Adriatic flyway, birdwatching is recently gaining in popularity, due to the interest shown by visitors from other countries. The coastline has a lot to offer fr both visiting and resident bird watchers. The extensive wetlands , with many different Mediterranean and European species, contains many significant birding sites throughout

1365-547: A wide range of climate types. The Adriatic Sea in the west, Albanian Alps in the north and Ceraunian Mountains in the south have a great influence to the climate of the area. As defined by the Köppen climate classification , the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast experiences a mediterranean climate with considerable maritime and subtropical influences. This means that the summers are hot, sometimes very hot and dry and

1456-558: Is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea positioned south of the Adriatic Sea , which extend from Sicily up to the Strait of Otranto between Salento and Bay of Vlorë . It is surrounded by Italy in the west, and Greece and Albania in the east. Though considered by ancient authors to be part of the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea is at present seen as a separate body of water . Traditionally,

1547-505: Is another prominent and important species that live in the region. It is the largest species of flamingos and widespread in Karavasta and Narta Lagoon . The coast is famous for wildlife watching and nesting sea turtles are one of the region's highlights. Its beaches provide nesting sites for several species of endangered sea turtles , namely the hawksbill , leatherback , green sea and loggerhead sea turtle . As well as turtles,

1638-931: Is focused on the three peninsulas located in the extreme south of the European continent. These are the Iberian Peninsula , the Apennine Peninsula , and the Balkan Peninsula . These three peninsulas are separated from the rest of Europe by towering mountain ranges, respectively by the Pyrenees , the Alps and the Balkan Mountains . The location of these peninsulas in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as their mountainous reliefs, provide them with very different types of climates (mainly subtropical Mediterranean ) from

1729-696: Is located in the southwest of the Balkan Peninsula and bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south and southeast. Most of the country is rugged and mountainous with the Albanian Alps located in the north, the Korab Mountains in the east, the Ceraunian Mountains in the south and the Skanderbeg Mountains in

1820-444: Is marked by the Mediterranean Sea . Definitions of southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Albania , Andorra , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Croatia , Cyprus , Gibraltar , Greece , Italy , Malta , Monaco , Montenegro , North Macedonia , Portugal , San Marino , Serbia , Slovenia , southern France , Spain , Turkey ( East Thrace ), and Vatican City . Southern Europe

1911-464: Is populated by more than 1.5 million people. The most sizable cities are Durrës and Vlorë placed in the north and south, respectively. Durrës is served by Port of Durrës , one of the largest on the Adriatic Sea, which connects the city to Italy and other neighbouring countries within the Adriatic. Albania is geographically located on the Balkan Peninsula in South and Southeast Europe bordered by

SECTION 20

#1732845661077

2002-422: Is populated by more than 50,000 people with the largest city being the seaport city of Sarandë , one of the most appreciated tourist destinations in the Ionian Sea. Sarandë is served by Port of Sarandë , one of the largest of the country, which has become a notable sailing and cruise port. The region is very scenic, with wild coastlines, mountains and a very substantial proportion of native forest . Some of

2093-401: Is port for a wide variety of cruise lines offering trips to exciting destinations around the coast. The majority of cruise lines anchoring at the port includes ships from MSC , Holland America , P&O , Oceania , Regent Seven Seas and so on. Southern Europe Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe . It is also known as Mediterranean Europe , as its geography

2184-821: Is spoken in Italy, particularly in South Tyrol . The predominant religion in southern Europe is Christianity . Christianity spread throughout southern Europe during the Roman Empire, and Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire in the year 380 AD. Due to the historical break of the Church into the western half based in Rome and the eastern half based in Constantinople , different denominations of Christianity are prominent in different parts of Europe. Christians in

2275-548: Is the Port of Durrës , one of the largest in the Adriatic Sea, with annual passenger volume of approximately 1.5 million. The other seaports include Vlorë and Shëngjin . In addition, the ports serve a wide system of ferries, connecting numerous islands and coastal cities in addition to ferry lines to several cities in Croatia , Greece and Italy . Yachting is pretty recent in the country and less developed than in other countries within

2366-435: Is the rare golden jackal that occurs mostly on the coast of the ravines of the rivers. Another notorious might be the red fox , which occurs throughout the forested and coastal areas in the northern section of the coast. Other mammals include the brown bear , wild boar , chamois and grey wolf . The sea, lagoons and river deltas are extremely rich in salt and fresh water fish . Some aquatic and abundant animals include

2457-586: Is used as a second language in parts of southern Europe. As a primary language, however, English has only a small presence in southern Europe, only in Gibraltar (alongside Spanish) and Malta (secondary to Maltese). English is also widely spoken in Cyprus. There are other language groupings in southern Europe. Albanian is spoken in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, Serbia, Croatia and Italy (particularly by

2548-524: The Adriatic Sea in cities such as Venice and Trieste , but also further north, near the Alpine foothills, in cities such as Como and Lugano . Southern Europe's flora is mainly characterized by Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub , but also temperate broadleaf and mixed forests . The Mediterranean and Submediterranean climate regions in Europe are found in much of southern Europe, mainly Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, Albania, Greece, Cyprus and all

2639-718: The Aosta Valley in Italy), Catalan (spoken in eastern Spain, Andorra, Southwestern France, and the Sardinian town of Alghero in Italy), Galician (spoken in northwestern Spain), Mirandese (spoken in northeast Portugal), and Occitan , which is spoken in the Val d'Aran in Catalonia, in the Occitan Valleys in Italy and in southern France. Slavic Languages are spoken in several countries on

2730-658: The Arbëreshë people in southern Italy ). Maltese is a Semitic language that is the official language of Malta, descended from Siculo-Arabic , but written in the Latin script with heavy Latin and Italian influences. The Basque language is spoken in the Basque Country , a region in northern Spain and southwestern France. Turkish is a Turkic language that is spoken in Turkey, Cyprus, Kosovo, Greece, North Macedonia and Bosnia, and German

2821-663: The Balearic Islands , Corsica , Crete , Cyprus , Sardinia , and Sicily , as well as the island country of Malta . Southern Europe's most emblematic climate is the Mediterranean climate , influenced by the large subtropical semi-permanent centre of high atmospheric pressure found, not in the Mediterranean itself, but in the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores High . The Mediterranean climate covers Portugal , Spain , Italy ,

Albanian Ionian Sea Coast - Misplaced Pages Continue

2912-984: The Balkans . Bulgarian language ( Български език ) is spoken in Bulgaria ( България ). Bosnian-Serbian-Croatian is spoken in Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Italy (in Molise ). Slovenian is spoken in Slovenia, Italy (in Friuli-Venezia Giulia ) and Croatia (in Istria ) and Macedonian is spoken in North Macedonia. The Hellenic languages or Greek language are widely spoken in Greece and Cyprus. Additionally, other varieties of Greek are spoken in small communities in parts of other European countries. English

3003-413: The Ceraunian Mountains , is located at the center of the park and is surrounded by dense forest which provide an exceptional view of nature and sea, bird watching, various peaks and animals. The park is covered with limestone and mountainous terrains providing various geological features. Tourism is considered one of the largest industries in the economy of Albania . It has significantly increased since

3094-640: The Illyrians and later the Ancient Greeks and Romans , have established significant settlements around the shores. They were considerably influenced by their direct proximity to the sea because it provided routes for trade, colonization and war, as well as food; the Via Egnatia , that crossed through the mountains of Albania, was at that time among the most significant routes in the Roman Empire . The coastline

3185-413: The Illyrians , Ancient Greeks and Romans in Albania. Besides the churches, mosques, forts and historical buildings, the most popular heritage tourism attractions are the remains of the ancient city of Apollonia , the ancient fortress of Rozafa and the amphitheatre of Durrës . The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast is home to the three largest seaports of the country. The largest cargo ports among them

3276-776: The Mediterranean by the 8th century BC. Carthage was founded in 814 BC, and the Carthaginians by 700 BC had firmly established strongholds in Sicily and Sardinia (both regions in present day Italy ), which created conflicts of interest with Etruria . Its colonies later reached the Western Mediterranean , such as Cádiz in Spain and most notably Carthage in North Africa, and even the Atlantic Ocean . The civilisation spread across

3367-754: The Ottoman Empire . Italy unified into a nation state. The capture of Rome in 1870 ended the Papal temporal power . The outbreak of World War I in 1914 was precipitated by the rise of nationalism in Southeastern Europe as the Great Powers took up sides. The Allies defeated the Central Powers in 1918. During the Paris Peace Conference the Big Four imposed their terms in a series of treaties, especially

3458-539: The Strait of Otranto in the south up to the Po Valley in the north. The sea is apportioned into two major basins , wherein Albania is entirely located within the deepest and the southernmost. The coastline is one of the wealthiest sceneries of the country in terms of biology , holding outstanding diversity of ecosystems and biodiversity found within a precious mosaic of wetlands , estuaries , capes , sand dunes , marshlands , forests and marine habitats . At different times, numerous ancient people, most notably

3549-436: The Tramontane . When the Mistral and the Tramontane are blowing, this provokes an "upwelling" phenomenon on the French coast. They push the surface waters out to sea and bring deeper, cooler waters up to the seaside. Consequently, the temperature of the waters of the French coasts are therefore very cool even in summer, and not representative of the rest of the Mediterranean. This same kind of phenomenon takes place between

3640-461: The Treaty of Versailles . The Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, and along with Mussolini's Italy sought to gain control of the continent by the Second World War . Following the Allied victory in the Second World War, Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain . The countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe were dominated by the Soviet Union and became communist states . The major non-communist southern European countries joined

3731-434: The alluvial , mixed and conifer forests but also coastal woods. The forests , at loftier elevations, contain various pine , oak , beech and fir species such as black pine , silver fir , ash trees and the mount tabor oak , which is exceptionally rare and classified as endangered . The seagrasses are dominated by posidonia oceanica , halophila stipulacea and cymodocea nodosa that are mostly to be found in

Albanian Ionian Sea Coast - Misplaced Pages Continue

3822-555: The common bottlenose dolphin may be observed all around the coast of Albania. Three primary species of sea turtles have been discovered such as the loggerhead sea , green sea and leatherback sea turtle . Although not very large in size, the coastline is home to numerous species of birds that vary from nesting to breeding birds, and migrating to wintering birds. At the minimum 246 species of birds have been reported only in Butrint National Park . The rugged slopes and vertical sea cliffs provides excellent breeding conditions for

3913-439: The estuaries of Drin , Mat , Ishëm , Erzen , Shkumbin , Seman , Vjosë and the lagoons of Karavasta , Narta Kune-Vain-Tale and Patoku , until it reaches the Bay of Vlorë . Numerous rivers flowing into the Adriatic Sea form bays , lagoons and limans . The sand and silt they bring are deposited in the areas of reduced flow, that is the sides of the bays, forming narrow sandbanks . In terms of phytogeography ,

4004-414: The european sea sturgeon , starry sturgeon , twait shad and adriatic sturgeon , which is perhaps the most famous species to become extinct in the Adriatic Sea. The protected areas of Albania are a biodiversity treasure, containing a wide range of geographical and climatic diversity. Different categories of protected areas have been established alongside the coast. Divjakë-Karavasta National Park ,

4095-427: The fall of communism in the country. The country has a rich historical and cultural heritage and natural beauty varying from clear turquoise waters fringed by sandy and rocky beaches to contrasting mountainous interior. The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast has a great cultural and architectural heritage, expressed in the region's churches , monasteries , mosques , citadels , castles , villages and so on, found in

4186-525: The 1990s was just roughly the same. For some of them becoming independent was the major challenge, while others needed to face with poverty and deep dictatorship also Economically, parallel with the political changes, and the democratic transition, – as a rule of law states – the previous command economies were transformed via the legislation into market economies, and set up or renewed the major macroeconomic factors: budgetary rules, national audit, national currency, central bank. Generally, they shortly encountered

4277-543: The Adriatic . This unique mountainous structure reaches its highest point at Maja e Çikës , and is full of wide and steep terraces that slope down towards the sea. The extreme southern region has a flat and shallow character with the presence of Lake Butrint that was formed during the quaternary period. In terms of geology , the major structural characteristic of the coastline is the presence of numerous carbonate anticlines for example in Karaburun and Sarandë. The core of these structures, which are mostly not visible at

4368-425: The Adriatic Sea, where it forms the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape . Both the Karavasta Lagoon and Lake Shkodër are classified as wetlands of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention . Important Bird Areas are important sites for bird conservation and their habitats, as they provide suitable conditions to birds. Currently, 16 important bird areas have been identified throughout

4459-770: The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast belongs to the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom . It falls entirely within the Illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome . The special environmental circumstances and the millennial human activity on the territory of the coast determine the rich variety of species, populations and ecosystems , many of which are with conservation significance. The Albanian Adriatic portion features contrasting vegetation types that are impacted by different factors. The woodlands are mostly dominated by evergreen forests with associated broadleaved sclerophyllous evergreen trees and shrubs primarily found in

4550-478: The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast belongs to the illyrian province of the circumboreal region within the boreal kingdom . It falls completely within the illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome . The vegetation is predominantly represented by evergreen and deciduous shrubs associated with the Mediterranean Sea . The woodlands , close to freshwater habitats, are represented by

4641-408: The Bosporus) are described as located in "Southeastern Europe". EuroVoc is a multilingual thesaurus maintained by the Publications Office of the European Union , giving definitions of terms for official use. In the definition of "southern Europe", the following countries are included: The United Nations geoscheme is a system devised by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) which divides

SECTION 50

#1732845661077

4732-403: The Byzantine Empire. In Western Europe, Germanic peoples moved into positions of power in the remnants of the former Western Roman Empire and established kingdoms and empires of their own. The period known as the Crusades , a series of religiously motivated military expeditions originally intended to bring the Levant back into Christian rule, began. Several Crusader states were founded in

4823-516: The European region on the basis of Tourism Decision Metrics (TDM) model. Countries which belong to the southern/Mediterranean Europe in this classification are: Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Greece , Italy , Malta , Montenegro , North Macedonia , Portugal , Serbia , Slovenia , Spain and Turkey . Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast ( Albanian pronunciation: [brɛˈɡdɛ:ti adriˈa:tik] — Albanian : Bregdeti Adriatik ) stretches in

4914-454: The Mediterranean between 1500 BC and 300 BC. The period known as classical antiquity began with the rise of the city-states of Ancient Greece . Greek influence reached its zenith under the expansive empire of Alexander the Great , spreading throughout Asia . The Roman Empire came to dominate the entire Mediterranean Basin in a vast empire based on Roman law and Roman legions . It promoted trade, tolerance, and Greek culture. By 300 AD

5005-423: The Roman Empire was divided into the Western Roman Empire based in Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire based in Constantinople. The attacks of the Goths led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, a date which traditionally marks the end of the classical period and the start of the Middle Ages . During the Middle Ages, the Eastern Roman Empire survived, though modern historians refer to this state as

5096-400: The center. Being positioned in the Northern Mediterranean Sea , the country's coast touches both, the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea , forming the renowned Albanian Riviera . In contrast to the mountainous terrain of the country, the western lowlands consists mostly of coastal lowlands and plains. The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast is known for its rugged natural beauty, with rocky highlands and

5187-404: The coastline is considerably influenced by the sea and mountains. Under the Köppen climate classification , the coastline experiences mostly a moderately hot and sunny mediterranean climate under influences of the continental climate . The mediterranean climate is typical of the coastal areas with considerable differences in temperature and rainfall between the seasons. The mountainous areas have

5278-414: The countries of Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. The western edge touches the Adriatic and Ionian Sea , both within the Mediterranean Sea . The majority of the country's territory consists of mountains and hills, making Albania one of the most mountainous countries of Europe . Likely the Albanian Alps runs in

5369-422: The countries of the world into regional and subregional groups, based on the M49 coding classification . The partition is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories. In the UN geoscheme, the following countries are classified as southern Europe: as well as the dependent territory : European Travel Commission divides

5460-493: The eastern Mediterranean. These were all short-lived. The Crusaders would have a profound impact on many parts of Europe. Their sack of Constantinople in 1204 brought an abrupt end to the Byzantine Empire. Though it would later be re-established, it would never recover its former glory. The Crusaders would establish trade routes that would develop into the Silk Road and open the way for the merchant republics of Genoa and Venice to become major economic powers. The Reconquista ,

5551-464: The endangered egyptian vulture and golden eagle . The short-toed snake eagle is frequently to be found in open habitats with scattered trees, meadows , forest and rocky slopes. Protected areas provide a vast array of social, environmental and economic benefits to people and communities worldwide, containing outstanding areas of biodiversity , essential and cultural significance. The region contains areas of great ecological importance and there are

SECTION 60

#1732845661077

5642-459: The following problems: high inflation, high unemployment, low economic growth and high government debt. By 2000 these economies were stabilized, and sooner or later between 2004 and 2013 some of them joined the European Union, and Slovenia introduced the euro. Italy became a major industrialized country again, due to its post-war economic miracle . The European Union (EU) involved the division of powers, with tax, health, and education handled by

5733-527: The heirs of Latin, which have spread from the Italian peninsula, and are emblematic of Southwestern Europe (See the Latin Arch .) . By far the most common Romance languages in southern Europe are Italian (spoken by over 50 million people in Italy, southern Switzerland, Malta, San Marino, and Vatican City) and Spanish , which is spoken by over 40 million people in Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar. Other common Romance languages include Portuguese (spoken in Portugal and Andorra), French (spoken in France, Monaco, and

5824-509: The main agents of European imperialism in the mid-17th century. European overseas expansion led to the rise of colonial empires , producing the Columbian Exchange . The combination of resource inflows from the New World and the Industrial Revolution of Great Britain, allowed a new economy based on manufacturing instead of subsistence agriculture. The period between 1815 and 1871 saw a large number of revolutionary attempts and independence wars . Balkan nations began to regain independence from

5915-527: The main cities but also in smaller villages scattered alongside the region. The sunny, hot climate, landscape scenery, delicious cuisine , vast history and the diverse architecture attract many tourists from Albania and other countries. The tourist season peaks in the summer months, although people visit the region all year round. The Albanian Riviera has been repeatedly recognized as the country's best and popular coast by several prestigious papers and organizations for its natural beauties. The Port of Sarandë

6006-407: The mediterranean islands, but also in southeast France, the Balkan Mediterranean coast and part of Macedonia. In the Mediterranean coastal areas, olive groves , maquis shrubland , and steppes are very common. At higher elevations, or latitudes, they are replaced by chestnut and (often coppiced) mixed forests. The Phoenicians originally expanded from Canaan ports , dominating trade in

6097-425: The most famous of which is the inaccurately named 5 kilometre long stretch of Borsh Beach in the Albanian Riviera 's center. The slightly shorter Dhërmi and Himara Beaches lies further north. Nonetheless, the coastline is rugged and is dotted with bays and peninsulas such as Porto Palermo in the center. Sarandë is the largest city in the region and has wide beaches and a sheltered harbour. The climate of

6188-416: The most prominent beaches along the coastline are Dhërmi , Himara , Qeparo , Borsh , Lukovë , Vuno and Ksamil . The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast is known for its diverse landscapes, unique traditions, and its influence on Albanian culture . It is regarded as the birthplace of the Albanian iso-polyphony which was recognised as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity . Albania

6279-406: The mountain ranges of Spain and Italy. Additionally, the north coast of Spain experiences a wetter Atlantic climate. In the highest regions of the Alps, which border southern Europe, even ice cap climate can be found. Some parts of southern Europe have humid subtropical climates with warm and wet summers, unlike typical Mediterranean climates. This climate is mainly found in Italy and Croatia around

6370-459: The nation states, while the EU had charge of market rules, competition, legal standards and environmentalism. The Soviet economic and political system collapsed, leading to the end of communism in the satellite countries in 1989, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union itself in 1991. European Union expanded to subsequently include many of the formerly communist European countries – Romania and Bulgaria (2007) and Croatia (2013). The Gotthard ,

6461-418: The north the Korab Mountains in the east, the Ceraunian Mountains in the south and the Skanderbeg Mountains in the center, while the plains and plateaus are principally to be found in the west. The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast is known for its rugged natural beauty, with rocky highlands and a great marine life, while the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast consist of sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters hosting

6552-411: The north-east, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The total length of the coastline is approximately 274 kilometres (170 mi), 178 kilometres (111 mi) of which are taken up by white sandy beaches and the rest by various other landforms . The Adriatic Sea is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending all the way from

6643-543: The northern coastline are mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination. In addition, the area is gaining international attention through the organization of music festivals such as the UNUM International Music Festival in Rana e Hedhun, Shengjin. The heritage tourism is focussed on specific interest on the history of Albania , such as the architectural heritage of ancient civilizations such as

6734-568: The only national park in the Albanian Adriatic coast, is very picturesque and harbors several endangered species , that makes it a very popular place indeed. Encompassing the Drin River estuary , the Kunë-Vain-Tale Nature Park is an undisturbed natural area of wet grasslands , swamps and lagoons at the direct proximity to the Adriatic Sea. The Vjosa , considered to be Europe's last wild river, discharges, north of Narta , into

6825-417: The peninsula which belongs to the Ceraunian Mountains . It is host to a diverse marine and terrestrial life attracting thousands of tourists all year around. Butrint National Park is slightly smaller and is located in the extreme south of the country close to the border between Albania and Greece . The surroundings of Butrint are not only home to numerous globally threatened species , but offers also

6916-408: The region has represented the most valuable tourist resource for the country, especially due to the unspoiled natural and cultural beauty expressed in the region's architecture , cuisine and tradition . Its most considerable attraction is the ancient city of Butrint , that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , because it provides valuable remains of ancient civilizations . The region

7007-706: The rest of the continent. So, the Sirocco hot wind that originates in the heart of the Sahara blows over Italy , going up to the interior of the Alpine arc ( Po Valley ). The Alps prevent the Sirocco from spreading to the rest of Europe. And, conversely, the Alps and the Pyrenees protect the Italian and Iberian Peninsulas from the rains and icy winds from the south of France such as the Mistral and

7098-413: The sea life consist of several species of sharks , dolphins and whales . The cuvier's beaked whale and sperm whale are common along the coast. The dolphin species found along the entire coastline are represented by the striped dolphin , risso's dolphin and common bottlenose dolphin . The vast and diverse coast is home to an incredibly rich diversity of mammals . Most famous of the carnivores

7189-439: The shallow waters which, however, can extend to more than 30 metres in the depth. The fauna is incredibly rich and diverse, with many endemic , rare and threatened species . Because of their size and untouched landscapes , the inaccessible caves , scattered along the coastline, provide habitats for resting shelters for the critically endangered mediterranean monk seal . Karaburun and Butrint are frequently visited by

7280-583: The south-eastern Adriatic Sea beginning at the Gulf of Drin in the north, across the port cities of Shëngjin , Durrës , and Vlorë , to the Bay of Vlorë in the south, where the Albanian Riviera and the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast begin. Albania is geographically located in Southern and South-eastern Europe within the Balkan Peninsula . It borders on Montenegro to the north-west, Kosovo to

7371-648: The southern European countries form the EU Med Group . Southern Europe also loosely corresponds to the European part of the Mediterranean Basin . Geographically, southern Europe is the southern portion of the European continent. This definition is relative, although largely based on history, culture, climate , and flora, which is shared across the region. Southern Europe can be subdivided into three subregions : The major islands in southern Europe generally include

7462-442: The southern coast of France , coastal Croatia , coastal Slovenia , southern Bosnia and Herzegovina , Montenegro , Albania , and Greece , as well as the Mediterranean islands. Those areas of Mediterranean climate present similar vegetations and landscapes throughout, including dry hills, small plains, pine forests and olive trees. Cooler climates can be found in certain parts of southern European countries, for example within

7553-413: The southern section of the coastline. The forests ranges from mixed broadleaf forests , at lower elevations, to conifer forests , at higher elevations. The pine forms an important natural feature within the coastline, distributed across Velipoja , Shëngjin , Patok and Rodon , which in turn provide habitat for a vast array of wildlife. Stretching in the southeastern Adriatic Sea , the coast with

7644-408: The surface, are constructed of Permian – Triassic evaporates, that were formed about 252 million years ago. The coastline is abundant in dolomites from the triassic period, the carbonate rocks follows with limestone from the jurassic period and bituminous schists , cretaceous porcelain and phosphate limestone. The coastline is dominated by several long straight and rocky beaches ,

7735-594: The territory of Albania, amongst them the Drin Delta near Shkodër , the Vlorë Bay , that is bordered by Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park , and the lagoons of Patoku, Karavasta and Narta, that are among the largest and most important coastal wetlands of the Balkans, due to its varied biodiversity and one of the top sites for wintering and migratory birds in the country. Apart from the considerable variation in landscape, it makes for

7826-556: The two slopes of the Balkan mountain range. These mountains have, moreover, been a serious handicap to population displacement, focusing southern Europe mainly on the Mediterranean world . The climate and cultures are therefore very specific. Different methods can be used to define southern Europe, including its political , economic , historical , and cultural attributes. Southern Europe can also be defined by its natural features — its geography , climate , and flora . Politically, nine of

7917-432: The western half of southern Europe — e.g., Portugal, Spain, Italy — are generally Roman Catholic . Christians in the eastern half of southern Europe — e.g., Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia — are generally Eastern Orthodox . Islam is widely practiced in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Turkey and Northern Cyprus . Muslims are a significant minority in several countries of southern Europe- e.g., Greece, Italy, Spain. Judaism

8008-407: The winters generally mild and wet. The coast experiences four distinct seasons. The winter is relatively humid and mild, and the summer lasts very long and is usually hot and dry. Autumn and spring are transitional seasons. Winds in the Adriatic Sea change their direction and speed during a year period as a result of the distinctive mediterranean climate. This characteristic is mainly determined by

8099-408: The world's rarest pinniped . The forests are inhabited by the beech marten , red fox , wild boar , golden jackal , hare and eurasian otter , while the grey wolf is only present in winter. Whales and dolphins are frequent guests in the offshore waters of the coastline, though the most common are cuvier's beaked whale , sperm whale , short-beaked common dolphin , striped dolphin , while

8190-531: The year. The lagoons in Karavasta , Patoku , Narta and various other protected areas are just a few examples of popular birdwatching destinations. Beach vacations, particularly for domestic and foreign visitors from different countries, are also central to the local tourism industry. Most beach resorts are located especially along the coastline of Durrës and Vlorë . The southern coastline of Durrës are renowned for its traditional mass tourism , which have experienced an uncontrolled urban development. In contrast,

8281-674: Was practiced widely throughout the European continent within the Roman Empire from the 2nd century. In the CIA World Factbook , the description of each country includes information about "Location" under the heading "Geography", where the country is classified into a region. The following countries are included in their classification "southern Europe": In addition, Andorra , Gibraltar , Portugal and Spain are classified as "Southwestern Europe", while Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Croatia , Montenegro , North Macedonia , Romania , Serbia and Turkey (the part west of

#76923