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161-630: Vlorë is geographically a very mountainous county. The county stretches along the Adriatic Sea and especially the Ionian Sea , forming the Albanian Riviera . The county has a coastline of 244 kilometres (152 mi). The coasts on the west can be very steep and rocky with green panoramic vistas and high mountains in the hinterland, including the Ceraunian Mountains . The highest natural point

322-632: A Catholic city—before proceeding to sack Constantinople . In the 13th century, Venice established itself as a leading maritime nation . During much of the 12th and 13th centuries, Venice and the Republic of Genoa were engaged in warfare culminating in the War of Chioggia , ousting the Genoese from the Adriatic. Still, the 1381 Treaty of Turin that ended the war required Venice to renounce claims to Dalmatia, after losing

483-577: A branch of the Angelos dynasty. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire during the subsequent struggle for Constantinople , along with the Empire of Nicaea and the Empire of Trebizond ; its rulers briefly proclaiming themselves as Emperors in 1227–1242 (during which it is most often called the Empire of Thessalonica ). The term "Despotate of Epirus" is, like "Byzantine Empire" itself,

644-640: A counterclockwise direction, thus bringing clearer waters up the eastern coast and returning increasingly polluted water down the western coast. This circulation has significantly contributed to the biodiversity of the countries along the eastern Adriatic coast; the common bottlenose dolphin is frequent in the eastern coast's waters only, and the Croatian coast provides refuge for the critically endangered monk seal and sea turtles. Recent studies revealed that cetaceans and other marine megafaunas , that were once thought to be vagrants to Adriatic Sea, migrate and live in

805-657: A cousin of the Byzantine emperors Isaac II Angelos and Alexios III Angelos . At first, Michael allied with Boniface of Montferrat , but having lost the Morea ( Peloponnese ) to the Franks at the battle of the Olive Grove of Koundouros , he went to Epirus , where he considered himself the Byzantine governor of the old province of Nicopolis and revolted against Boniface. Epirus soon became

966-516: A few days a year, the worst-case sea level rise scenario between 2050 and 2100 would prompt deployment up to 187 days a year, essentially cutting off the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Among other possible adverse effects, this can be expected to lower the lagoon's oxygen levels and trap pollution inside of the city. Geophysical and geological information indicate that the Adriatic Sea and

1127-607: A large fortified port-town that was inhabited from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century AD is placed, now partially submerged, in Triport , northwest of present-day Vlorë. Illyrians were found in the hinterland of the Bay. The Ceraunian Mountains represented a natural border between Illyria and Epirus . The area to the south of the mountains was inhabited by the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians . On

1288-569: A large producer of petroleum , natural gas , bitumen and salt . Vlorë has grown in importance as an agricultural center with large-scale planting of olive and citrus fruit trees, and as a center of the food processing, oil and bitumen export industries. According to the World Bank, Vlorë has made significant steps in the ease of starting a business in 2016. It ranks seventh among 22 cities in Southeastern Europe , being placed higher than

1449-581: A major concern in terms of potential environmental impact and damage to tourism and fisheries. It is estimated that if a major oil spill happened, a million people would lose their livelihoods in Croatia alone. An additional risk is presented by oil refineries in the Po River basin where oil spills have occurred before, in addition to accidents occurring in the Adriatic already, so far with no significant environmental consequences. Since 2006, Italy has been considering

1610-497: A million tonnes of cargo per year. The largest Adriatic seaport by annual cargo turnover is the Port of Trieste , while the Port of Split is the largest Adriatic seaport by passengers served per year. The origins of the name Adriatic are linked to the Illyrian settlement of Adria , which probably derives its name from Illyrian adur 'water, sea'. In classical antiquity , the sea

1771-486: A modern historiographic convention and not a name in use at the time. The Despotate was centred on the region of Epirus , encompassing also Albania and the western portion of Greek Macedonia and also included Thessaly and western Greece as far south as Nafpaktos . Through a policy of aggressive expansion under Theodore Komnenos Doukas the Despotate of Epirus also briefly came to incorporate central Macedonia , with

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1932-465: A national park in 1999. The Lim Canal is a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) ria of the Pazinčica river. The Kornati national park was established in 1980; it covers approximately 220 square kilometres (85 sq mi), including 89 islands and islets. The marine environment encompasses three-quarters of the total area, while the island shores' combined length equals 238 kilometres (148 mi). Telašćica

2093-604: A new elevation benchmark referring to the upgraded tide gauge station in the coastal town of Koper . The Alps, which also have a large meteorological impact on the Mediterranean, touch the Adriatic in the area around Trieste towards Duino and Barcola . The Adriatic Sea contains more than 1,300 islands and islets , most along the Adriatic's eastern coast—especially in Croatia, with 1,246 counted. The number includes islands, islets, and rocks of all sizes, including ones emerging at ebb tide only. The Croatian islands include

2254-595: A sea surface of 2,227 hectares (5,500 acres) and is adjacent to the Torre Guaceto State Reserve covering 1,114 hectares (2,750 acres) of coast and sharing an 8-kilometre (5.0 mi) coastline with the marine protected area. Furthermore, there are 10 internationally important (Ramsar) wetland reserves in Italy located along the Adriatic coast. There are seven marine protected areas in Croatia: Brijuni and

2415-624: A season. The predominant winter winds are the bora and sirocco (called jugo along the eastern coast). The bora is significantly conditioned by wind gaps in the Dinaric Alps bringing cold and dry continental air; it reaches peak speeds in the areas of Trieste, Senj , and Split , with gusts of up to 180 kilometres per hour (97 kn; 110 mph). The sirocco brings humid and warm air, often carrying Saharan sand causing rain dust . [REDACTED] Bari [REDACTED] Venice [REDACTED] Trieste [REDACTED] Durrës On

2576-488: A series of 79 inflatable pontoons across the sea bed at the three entrances to the Venetian Lagoon . When tides are predicted to rise above 110 centimetres (43 in), the pontoons will be filled with air and block the incoming water from the Adriatic Sea. This engineering work was due to be completed by 2014, but as of November 2020 is expected to be completed in 2021. Implemented for the first time on October 3, 2020,

2737-477: A submarine base. During 1960 and 1961 it served as a theater in the aftermath of the decision of Enver Hoxha to denounce Nikita Khrushchev's reforms. In April 1961 the Soviet Union, resenting being pushed out after considerable investment in the naval facilities at Pasha Liman Base , threatened to occupy the region with Soviet troops, and cut off all Soviet economic, military and technical aid to Albania. Vlorë

2898-519: Is Çikë , at 2,044 metres (6,706 ft). The northwest of the county is mostly located on the peninsula of Karaburun , with a rough relief, steep cliffs, bays and rocky beaches. With about than 146,000 inhabitants in 2023, Vlorë is the seventh most populous county within Albania, and the third most populous within the Southern Region . Albanians constitute the ethnic majority of the county, including

3059-506: Is 430m in length and 300m in width. It has an area of around 8.8 hectares. The smaller island has a smaller vegetation, being 230m in length and 100m in width, with an area of little more than 1 hectare. Phytogeographically , the county completely falls within the Illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub . The county of Vlorë has many ecosystems . Within

3220-505: Is a military facility and sometimes in clear weather it may be seen by eye from the coast of Salento , Italy . More than half of the island's surrounding marine area forms part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park . Stillo Island is rocky and sparsely vegetated. It has an area of half an hectare, with an approximate length of 80 meters and a width of 100 meters. It is located in the Ionian Sea , 200 meters off

3381-492: Is a nature park established on Dugi Otok in 1988. The park covers 69 kilometres (43 mi) of coastline, 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi) of land and 44.55 square kilometres (17.20 sq mi) of sea. The Bay of Mali Ston is located at the border of Croatia and Bosnia–Herzegovina, north of the Pelješac peninsula. The marine protected area covers 48 square kilometres (19 sq mi). The Lastovo nature park

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3542-541: Is advantageous in terms of development of tourism. Sarandë's stony beaches are respectable, and there are plenty of sights in and around town, including the ancient archaeological site of Butrint and the hypnotic Blue Eye Spring . Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea ( / ˌ eɪ d r i ˈ æ t ɪ k / ) is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula . The Adriatic

3703-435: Is also a site of international importance for waterbird species. The 429-hectare (1,060-acre) Strunjan Landscape Park was established in 2004 and comprises two nature reserves. It includes a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long cliff, the northernmost Mediterranean salt field and the only Slovenian lagoon system. It is also the northernmost point of growth of some Mediterranean plant species. The Škocjan Inlet Nature Reserve

3864-494: Is at the mid-width east of Ancona. The normal tide levels are known to increase significantly in a conducive environment, leading to coastal flooding ; this phenomenon is most famously known in Italy—especially Venice—as acqua alta . Such tides can exceed normal levels by more than 140 centimetres (55 in), with the highest tide level of 194 centimetres (76 in) observed on 4 November 1966. Such flooding

4025-461: Is caused by a combination of factors, including the alignment of the Sun and Moon , meteorological factors such as sirocco related storm surges, and the basin's geometric shape (which amplifies or reduces the astronomical component). Moreover, the Adriatic's long and narrow rectangular shape is the source of an oscillating water motion ( French : seiche ) along the basin's minor axis. Finally, Venice

4186-464: Is geographically divided into the Northern Adriatic, Central (or Middle) Adriatic, and Southern Adriatic. The Adriatic Sea drainage basin encompasses 235,000 square kilometres (91,000 sq mi), yielding a land–sea ratio of 1.8. The drainage basin's mean elevation is 782 metres (2,566 ft) above sea level, with a mean slope of 12.1°. Major rivers discharging into the Adriatic include

4347-548: Is increasingly vulnerable to flooding due to coastal area soil subsidence . Such unusually high tides resulting in flooding have also been observed elsewhere in the Adriatic Sea, and have been recorded in recent years in the towns of Koper , Zadar and Šibenik as well. It is estimated that the Adriatic's entire volume is exchanged through the Strait of Otranto in 3.4±0.4 years, a comparatively short period. (For instance, approximately 500 years are necessary to exchange all

4508-473: Is one of the twelve counties of Albania located in the east, south and southwest of the Southern Region . The county lies between latitudes 41° N, and longitudes 20° E. It measures an area of 2,706 km (1,045 sq mi) placing it the fifth largest in Albania and the third largest in the Southern Region, behind Korçë County and Gjirokastër County . It is bordered by the counties of Fier to

4669-593: Is part of the Butrint National Park . During Roman antiquity, the city of Vlorë , the homonymous county capital, was known as Aulón ( Ancient Greek : Αυλών , Latin : Aulona , meaning channel or glen in Greek, and possibly a translation of another indigenous name). The city was mentioned for the first time by Ptolemy (2nd century CE) among the towns of the Illyrian Taulantii . The coastal area of Vlorë

4830-574: Is presented by ballast water discharge by ships, especially tankers . Still, since most of the cargo handled by the Adriatic ports, and virtually all liquid (tanker) cargo handled by the ports, is coming to—not coming from—the Adriatic Basin, the risk from ballast water (from tankers expelling ballast water then loading in the Adriatic) remains minimal. However, proposed export oil pipelines were objected to specifically because of this issue. Oil spills are

4991-421: Is shallower and closer to land than are oceans. During particularly cold winters, sea ice may appear in the Adriatic's shallow coastal areas, especially in the Venetian Lagoon but also in isolated shallows as far south as Tisno (south of Zadar). The Southern Adriatic is about 8 to 10 °C (14 to 18 °F) warmer during the winter than the more northerly regions. The Adriatic's salinity variation over

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5152-637: Is the most indented Mediterranean coastline. Most of the eastern coast is characterised by a karst topography, developed from the Adriatic Carbonate Platform's exposure to weathering. Karstification there largely began after the Dinarides' final uplift in the Oligocene and the Miocene , when carbonate deposits were exposed to atmospheric effects; this extended to the level of 120 metres (390 ft) below

5313-581: Is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea , extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea ) to the northwest and the Po Valley . The countries with coasts on the Adriatic are Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Italy , Montenegro , and Slovenia . The Adriatic contains more than 1,300 islands, mostly located along its eastern coast. It is divided into three basins,

5474-468: Is threatened by excessive input of nutrients through drainage from agricultural land and wastewater flowing from cities; this includes both along its coast and from rivers draining into the sea—especially from the Po River . Venice is often cited as an example of polluted coastal waters where shipping, transportation, farming, manufacturing and wastewater disposal contribute to polluting the sea. A further risk

5635-608: The Apennine Mountains are further away from the shoreline. The coastal water dynamics are determined by the asymmetric coasts and the inflow of the Mediterranean seawater through the Straits of Otranto and further on along the eastern coast. The smooth Italian coast (with very few protrusions and no major islands) allows the Western Adriatic Current to flow smoothly, which is composed of the relatively freshwater mass on

5796-619: The Black Sea 's water.) This short period is particularly important as the rivers flowing into the Adriatic discharge up to 5,700 cubic metres per second (200,000 cu ft/s). This rate of discharge amounts to 0.5% of the total Adriatic Sea volume, or a 1.3-metre (4 ft 3 in) layer of water each year. The greatest portion of the discharge from any single river comes from the Po (28%), with an average discharge from it alone of 1,569 cubic metres per second (55,400 cu ft/s). In terms of

5957-486: The Dukes of Athens . In 1267 Corcyra and much of Epirus were taken by Charles of Anjou , and in 1267/68 Michael II died. Michael VIII did not attempt to annex Epirus directly, and allowed Nikephoros I to succeed his father and deal with Charles, who captured Dyrrhachium in 1271. In 1279 Nikephoros allied with Charles against Michael VIII, agreeing to become Charles' vassal. With Charles' defeat soon after Nikephoros lost Albania to

6118-592: The Eastern Orthodox Church . Henry of Flanders demanded that Michael submit to the Latin Empire , which he did, at least nominally, by allowing his daughter to marry Henry's brother Eustace in 1209. Michael did not honour this alliance, assuming that mountainous Epirus would be mostly impenetrable by any Latins with whom he made and broke alliances. Meanwhile, Boniface's relatives from Montferrat made claims to Epirus as well, and in 1210 Michael allied with

6279-555: The First Balkan War . The region became Albania's first freed region following its independence, but was invaded by Italy in 1914, during World War I . The region remained occupied by Italian forces until an Albanian rebellion forced the Italians out of Albania in 1920. Italy invaded Vlorë again in 1939. The region remained under Italian occupation until Italy surrendered to the allies in 1943. Subsequently, Nazi Germany occupied

6440-661: The Ionian Sea at the 72-kilometre (45 mi) wide Strait of Otranto . The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines the boundary between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas as a line running from the Butrinto River 's mouth ( latitude 39°44'N) in Albania to the Karagol Cape in Corfu , through this island to the Kephali Cape (these two capes are in latitude 39°45'N), and on to

6601-645: The Karaburun Peninsula where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. The park covers a total of 12,570 hectares (31,100 acres). Two additional marine protection areas are planned in Albania: the Cape of Rodon ( Albanian : Kepi i Rodonit ) and Porto Palermo . In addition, Albania is home to two Ramsar wetland reserves: Karavasta Lagoon , and Butrint . Neither Bosnia–Herzegovina nor Montenegro have or plan to establish any marine protection areas. The Adriatic Sea ecosystem

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6762-511: The Ksamil Islands . The combined areas of the four Ksamil islands measure only 7.1 hectares (17.5 acres), and forms part of the larger Butrint National Park . Sazan Island is located strategically between the Strait of Otranto and the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë and has an area of 5.7 km (2.2 sq mi) with no civil population. In addition to being the largest island in Albania, it

6923-564: The Late Oligocene , the motion was reversed and the Apennine Mountains' orogeny took place. An unbroken zone of increased seismic activity borders the Adriatic Sea, with a belt of thrust faults generally oriented in the northeast–southwest direction on the east coast and the northeast–southwest normal faults in the Apennines, indicating an Adriatic counterclockwise rotation. An active 200-kilometre (120 mi) fault has been identified to

7084-578: The Lim Canal off the Istria peninsula's coast, near Pula and Rovinj respectively; Kornati and Telašćica in the Middle Adriatic basin, near Zadar ; and Lastovo , Bay of Mali Ston ( Croatian : Malostonski zaljev ) and Mljet in southern Dalmatia. The Brijuni national park encompasses the 743.3-hectare (1,837-acre) archipelago itself and 2,651.7 hectares (6,552 acres) of surrounding sea; it became

7245-689: The Ottoman Turks against the Albanians. In 1399 the Albanian leader of Principality of Gjirokastër , Gjon Zenebishi captured the Despot Esau de' Buondelmonti and released him after 15 months, when his relatives in Italy offered a huge amount of money as a ransom. By 1416 the Tocco family of Cephalonia succeeded in reuniting Epirus, or at least in asserting their control over its towns. But internal dissension eased

7406-647: The Po River delta, where an emporium (trading station) was founded in Adria . Roman economic and military influence in the region began to grow with the creation by 246 BC of a major naval base at Brundisium (now Brindisi ), which was established to bar Carthaginian ships from the Adriatic during the Punic Wars . This led to conflict with the Illyrians , who lived in a collection of semi- Hellenized kingdoms that covered much of

7567-812: The Po Valley are associated with a tectonic microplate —identified as the Apulian or Adriatic Plate —that separated from the African Plate during the Mesozoic era . This separation began in the Middle and Late Triassic , when limestone began to be deposited in the area. Between the Norian and Late Cretaceous , the Adriatic and Apulia Carbonate Platforms formed as a thick series of carbonate sediments ( dolomites and limestones), up to 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) deep. Remnants of

7728-415: The Po Valley , at the Adriatic's north-west coast, and as far west as Piacenza , dating to the Pleistocene as the sea advanced and receded over the valley. An advance began after the Last Glacial Maximum, which brought the Adriatic to a high point at about 5,500 years ago. Since then, the Po delta has been prograding (expanding/extending). The rate of coastal zone progradation between 1000 BC and 1200 AD

7889-418: The Romans '), which generally referred to the whole Byzantine Empire, to refer specifically to Epirus, as seen in the Latin title of Despotus Romanie claimed by Philip I of Taranto and his son Philip of Apulia , Nicholas Orsini , and later Carlo I Tocco . In the Byzantine world, the term Dysis ( Δύσις ), meaning "West", which historically referred to Dalmatia , Macedonia and Sicily , or even

8050-427: The Santa Maria di Leuca Cape (latitude 39°48'N). It extends 800 kilometres (500 mi) from the northwest to the southeast and is 200 kilometres (120 mi) wide. It covers 138,600 square kilometres (53,500 sq mi) and has a volume of 35,000 cubic kilometres (8,400 cu mi). The Adriatic extends northwest from 40° to 45° 47' north, representing the Mediterranean 's northernmost portion. The sea

8211-429: The Venetians and attacked Boniface's Kingdom of Thessalonica . Pope Innocent III excommunicated him in response. Henry forced Michael into a renewed nominal alliance later that year. Michael turned his attention to capturing other strategically important Latin-held towns, including Larissa and Dyrrhachium . He also took control of the ports on the Gulf of Corinth . In 1214 he captured Corcyra from Venice , but he

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8372-426: The Via Egnatia , a road that by about 130 BC the Romans had extended eastward across the Balkans to Byzantium (later Constantinople , now Istanbul ). This made the sea passage across the Adriatic between Brundisium and Dyrrachium (or Apollonia) a link in the primary route for travelers, trade, and troop movements, between Rome and the East. This route played a major role in some of the military operations that marked

8533-410: The maritime republics , was founded during this period and went on to become a significant maritime power after receiving a Byzantine tax exemption in 1082. The end of the period brought about the Holy Roman Empire 's control over the Kingdom of Italy (which would last until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648), the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Croatia and the Byzantine Empire's return to

8694-587: The "Despotate of Epirus" and its rulers are summarily attributed the title of " Despot " from its inception, but this use is not strictly accurate. First of all, the title of "Despot" was not borne by all Epirote rulers: the state's founder, Michael I Komnenos Doukas , never used it, and is only anachronistically referred to as " Despot of Epirus " in 14th-century Western European sources. His successor Theodore Komnenos Doukas did not use it either, and actually crowned himself emperor ( basileus ) at Thessalonica c.  1225 . The first ruler of Epirus to receive

8855-410: The 1,200-metre (3,900 ft) deep South Adriatic Pit and the Middle Adriatic basin from the South Adriatic Basin. Further on to the south, the sea floor rises to 780 metres (2,560 ft) to form the Otranto Sill at the boundary to the Ionian Sea. The South Adriatic Basin is similar in many respects to the Northern Ionian Sea, to which it is connected. Transversely, the Adriatic Sea is also asymmetric:

9016-418: The 1960s, but the city remains threatened by the acqua alta floods. Recent studies have suggested that the city is no longer sinking, but a state of alert remains in place. In May 2003, then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi inaugurated the MOSE project ( Italian : Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico ), an experimental model for evaluating the performance of inflatable gates. The project proposes laying

9177-399: The 2nd century BC, the region was under Rome 's control. In the Middle Ages , the Adriatic shores and the sea itself were controlled, to a varying extent, by a series of states—most notably the Byzantine Empire , the Croatian Kingdom , the Republic of Venice , the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire . The Napoleonic Wars resulted in the Austrian Empire gaining control of most of

9338-428: The Adriatic Sea in Italy alone, also forming alluvial coastlines, including the lagoons of Venice , Grado and Caorle . There are smaller eastern Adriatic alluvial coasts—in the deltas of the Dragonja, Buna and Neretva rivers. The Adriatic Sea is a unique water body in respect of its overall biogeochemical physiognomy. It exports inorganic nutrients and imports particulate organic carbon and nitrogen through

9499-426: The Adriatic Sea's coasts and islands, there are numerous small settlements and a number of larger cities. Among the largest are (counterclockwise) Trieste, Venice, Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and Bari in Italy; Vlorë and Durrës in Albania; Split, Zadar and Rijeka in Croatia; Koper in Slovenia. In total, more than 3.5 million people live on the Adriatic coasts. There are also some larger cities that are located very near

9660-475: The Adriatic Sea. Exclusive economic zones in Adriatic Sea: The Adriatic Sea's average depth is 259.5 metres (851 ft), and its maximum depth is 1,233 metres (4,045 ft); however, the North Adriatic basin rarely exceeds a depth of 100 metres (330 ft). The North Adriatic basin, extending between Venice and Trieste towards a line connecting Ancona and Zadar , is only 15 metres (49 ft) deep at its northwestern end; it gradually deepens towards

9821-493: The Adriatic Sea. The Northern Adriatic's comparatively shallow seabed is characterised by relict sand (from times when the water level was lower and the area was a sandy beach), while a muddy bed is typical at depths below 100 metres (330 ft). There are five geomorphological units in the Adriatic: the Northern Adriatic (up to 100 metres (330 ft) deep); the North Adriatic islands area protected against sediments filling it in by outer islands (pre- Holocene karst relief);

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9982-401: The Adriatic Sea. The most common species are Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera noltii , while Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica are comparatively rare. A number of rare and threatened species are also found along the Adriatic's eastern coast; it is relatively clearer and less polluted than the western Adriatic coast—in part because the sea currents flow through the Adriatic in

10143-467: The Adriatic Sea. These are particularly due to or dependent upon the karst morphology of the coastal or submarine topography; this includes inhabiting subterranean habitats, karst rivers, and areas around freshwater springs. There are 45 known subspecies endemic to the Adriatic's coasts and islands. In the Adriatic, there are at least 410 species and subspecies of fish, representing approximately 70% of Mediterranean taxa, with at least 7 species endemic to

10304-399: The Adriatic for a few centuries. The last part of the period saw the rise of the Carolingian Empire and then the Frankish Kingdom of Italy , which controlled the Adriatic Sea's western coast, while Byzantine Dalmatia on the east coast gradually shrunk into Dalmatian city-states following the Avar and Croatian invasions starting in the 7th century. The Republic of Venice , one of

10465-430: The Adriatic is solid waste. Drifting waste—occasionally relatively large quantities of material, especially waste plastic—is transported northwest by the sirocco. Air pollution in the Adriatic Basin is associated with the large industrial centres in the Po River valley and the large industrial cities along the coast. Italy and Yugoslavia established a joint commission to protect the Adriatic Sea from pollution in 1977;

10626-463: The Adriatic's coasts were ruled by Ostrogoths , Lombards and the Byzantine Empire . The Ostrogothic Kingdom ruled Italy following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. However, during the reign of Justinian the Byzantine Empire sent an army under the general Belisarius to regain control of Italy, resulting in the Gothic War (535–554) . The Byzantines established the Exarchate of Ravenna and by 553 AD their viceroy (Exarch) ruled almost

10787-411: The Adriatic, designed to protect the sea's habitats and biodiversity—more than 7,000 species are identified as native to the Adriatic, many of them endemic , rare and threatened ones. The Adriatic's shores are populated by more than 3.5 million people; the largest cities are Bari , Venice , Trieste and Split . Early settlements on the Adriatic shores were Etruscan , Illyrian , and Greek . By

10948-437: The Adriatic. Sixty-four known species are threatened with extinction, largely because of overfishing. Only a small fraction of the fish found in the Adriatic are attributed to recent processes such as Lessepsian migration , and escape from mariculture . The biodiversity of the Adriatic is relatively high, and several marine protected areas have been established by countries along its coasts. In Italy, these are Miramare in

11109-404: The Apennine peninsular coast is relatively smooth with very few islands and the Mount Conero and Gargano promontories as the only significant protrusions into the sea; in contrast, the Balkan peninsular coast is rugged with numerous islands, especially in Croatia. The coast's ruggedness is exacerbated by the Dinaric Alps ' proximity to the coast, in contrast to the opposite (Italian) coast where

11270-512: The Balkans and controlled the eastern shore of the sea, resulting in the Illyrian Wars from 229 to 168 BC. The initial Roman intervention in 229 BC, motivated in part by a desire to suppress Illyrian piracy in the Adriatic, marked the first time that the Roman navy crossed that sea to launch a military campaign. Those wars ended with the eastern shore becoming a province of the Roman Republic. However, resistance to Roman rule continued sporadically and Rome did not completely consolidate control of

11431-600: The Byzantines. Under Andronikos II Palaiologos , son of Michael VIII, Nikephoros renewed the alliance with Constantinople. Nikephoros, however, was persuaded to ally with Charles II of Naples in 1292, although Charles was defeated by Andronikos's fleet. Nikephoros married his daughter to Charles's son Philip I of Taranto and sold much of his territory to him. After Nikephoros's death in c. 1297 Byzantine influence grew under his widow Anna, Andronikos's cousin, who ruled as regent for her young son Thomas I Komnenos Doukas . In 1306 she revolted against Philip in favour of Andronikos;

11592-424: The Despotate. Anna tried to negotiate and obtain the Despotate for her son when he came of age, but Andronikos demanded the complete surrender of the Despotate to which she finally agreed. Thus Epirus came peacefully under imperial rule, with Theodore Synadenos as governor. The imperials had insisted that Nikephoros would be engaged to one of the daughters of the emperor's right-hand man, John Kantakouzenos . When

11753-743: The Epirote coast the Ancient Greeks developed the town of Sarandë , which they referred to as Onchesmos (or Anchiasmos). Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital of Phoenice (modern-day Finiq ). Another Chaonian settlement was Chimera, identified with Himarë , In the Middle Ages, the region was part of the Byzantine Empire , while during the Slavic invasion there is evidence that Byzantine rule

11914-455: The Epirote rulers as "Despots of Epirus" is technically incorrect. The title of Despot did not imply any specific territorial jurisdiction, nor was it hereditary; it was merely the highest rank in the Byzantine court hierarchy , awarded by a reigning emperor to close relatives, usually his sons. Consequently, it was often borne by the princes sent to govern semi-autonomous appanages and only later came to be associated with these territories as

12075-603: The Gulf of Trieste (in the Northern Adriatic), Torre del Cerrano and Tremiti Islands in the Middle Adriatic basin and Torre Guaceto in southern Apulia. The Miramare protected area was established in 1986 and covers 30 hectares (74 acres) of coast and 90 hectares (220 acres) of sea. The area encompasses 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) of coastline near the Miramare promontory in the Gulf of Trieste. The Torre del Cerrano protected area

12236-559: The Gulf of Trieste coast, especially along Slovenia's coast where the 80-metre (260 ft) Strunjan cliff —the highest cliff on the entire Adriatic and the only one of its type on the eastern Adriatic coast—is located, on the Kvarner Gulf coast opposite Krk, and in Dalmatia north of Split. Rocks of the same type are found in Albania and on the western Adriatic coast. There are alternations of maritime and alluvial sediments occurring in

12397-654: The Latin inhabitants were expelled but she was forced to return some territory to Philip. In 1312 Philip abandoned his claim to Epirus and claimed the defunct Latin Empire of Constantinople instead as the inheritance of his wife Catherine II of Valois, Princess of Achaea . Anna succeeded in marrying off Thomas to a daughter of Michael IX, but Thomas was assassinated in 1318 by his cousin Nicholas Orsini , who married his widow and claimed to rule not only Epirus, but all of Greece; his rule

12558-938: The Latins out of Thrace . In 1227 Theodore crowned himself Byzantine emperor, although this was not recognized by most Greeks, especially not the Patriarch in Nicaea. In 1230 Theodore broke the truce with Bulgaria , hoping to remove Ivan Asen II , who had held him back from attacking Constantinople. In the battle of Klokotnitsa (near Haskovo in Bulgaria) the Bulgarian emperor defeated Theodore, capturing and later blinding him. His brother Manuel Komnenos Doukas took power in Thessalonica, but Epirus itself soon broke away under Michael I's illegitimate son, Michael II Komnenos Doukas . Manuel awarded Michael

12719-470: The Mediterranean, acting as a dilution basin . The surface water temperatures generally range from 30 °C (86 °F) in summer to 12 °C (54 °F) in winter, significantly moderating the Adriatic Basin 's climate. The Adriatic Sea sits on the Apulian or Adriatic Microplate , which separated from the African Plate in the Mesozoic era . The plate's movement contributed to the formation of

12880-687: The Middle Adriatic islands area (large Dalmatian islands); the Middle Adriatic (characterized by the Middle Adriatic Depression); and the Southern Adriatic consisting of a coastal shelf and the Southern Adriatic Depression. Sediments deposited in the Adriatic Sea today generally come from the northwest coast, being carried by the Po, Reno , Adige , Brenta , Tagliamento , Piave and Soča rivers. The volume of sediments carried from

13041-552: The Northern Adriatic, the Central Adriatic, and the Southern Adriatic. The unique nature of the Adriatic gives rise to an abundance of endemic flora and fauna. The Croatian National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan identified more than 7,000 animal and plant species in the Adriatic Sea. The Central Adriatic is especially abundant in endemic plant species, with 535 identified species of green , brown and red algae . Four out of five Mediterranean seagrass species are found in

13202-519: The Northern Adriatic, the coast of the Gulf of Trieste and western Istria is gradually subsiding, having sunk about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) in the past two thousand years. In the Middle Adriatic Basin, there is evidence of Permian volcanism in the area of Komiža on the island of Vis and the volcanic islands of Jabuka and Brusnik . Earthquakes have been observed in the region since

13363-548: The Peloponnese, and by Nikephoros who had returned to Epirus, based in Thomokastron . By the end of the year the imperial army returned to the area, and in the following year, 1340, Andronikos III himself arrived together with John Kantakouzenos. Nikephoros was persuaded through diplomacy to recognize the authority of the emperor. He surrendered Thomokastron, married Maria Kantakouzene, the daughter of John Kantakouzenos, and received

13524-525: The Po, Soča , Krka , Neretva , Drin , Buna , and Vjosë . In the late 19th century, Austria-Hungary established a geodetic network with an elevation benchmark using the average Adriatic Sea level at the Sartorio pier in Trieste , Italy . The benchmark was subsequently retained by Austria , adopted by Yugoslavia , and retained by the states that emerged after its dissolution . In 2016, Slovenia adopted

13685-629: The Strait of Otranto—acting as a mineralization site. The exchange of the substances is made more complex by bathymetry of the Adriatic Sea—75% of water flowing north through the strait recirculates at the Palagruža Sill and North Adriatic adds no more than 3–4% of water to the South Adriatic. This is reflected in its biogeography and ecology , and particularly in the composition and properties of its ecosystems . Its main biogeographic units are

13846-588: The Tocco , where the inhabitants of the Despotate are referred to as the Despotatoi . The term "Despotate of Epirus" is thus sometimes replaced by "(Independent) State of Epirus" in more recent historiography. The Epirote realm itself did not have an official name. Contemporaries, particularly in Western Europe, used the term Romania (Greek: Ῥωμανία , romanized:  Rhōmania , lit.   'land of

14007-510: The annual total discharge into the entire Mediterranean Sea, the Po is ranked second, followed by the Neretva and Drin , which rank as third and fourth. Another significant contributor of freshwater to the Adriatic is the submarine groundwater discharge through submarine springs ( Croatian : vrulja ); it is estimated to comprise 29% of the total water flux into the Adriatic. The submarine springs include thermal springs , discovered offshore near

14168-444: The barriers are made to seal off three inlets that lead to the Venetian Lagoon and counteract floods of up to ten feet; in addition to protecting the city from flooding, the barrier system is also intended to stabilize Venice's water levels so as to minimize erosion of the brick walls and, subsequently, the foundations of various buildings in the city. However, concern has been raised regarding the frequency of its use—while only necessary

14329-728: The battle of Klokotnitsa. Theodore's younger son Demetrios Angelos Doukas lost Thessalonica to Nicaea in 1246 and Michael II of Epirus allied with the Latins against the Nicaeans. In 1248 John III Doukas Vatatzes of Nicaea forced Michael to recognize him as emperor, and officially recognized him in turn as despotēs in Epirus. Vatatzes' granddaughter Maria later (in 1256) married Michael's son Nikephoros , although she died in 1258. Also in 1248 Michael's daughter Anna married William II , Prince of Achaea , and Michael decided to honour this alliance over his obligations to Vatatzes. The allies were defeated in

14490-514: The boundary between the Adriatic and Ionian seas at various places ranging from adjacent to the Gulf of Venice to the southern tip of the Peloponnese , eastern shores of Sicily and western shores of Crete . Mare Superum on the other hand normally encompassed both the modern Adriatic Sea and the sea off the Apennine peninsula's southern coast, as far as the Strait of Sicily . Another name used in

14651-532: The campaign moved inland. Marc Antony and Octavian (later Augustus) crossed the Adriatic to Dyrrachium with their armies in their campaign against two of Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius , that culminated in the Battle of Philippi . Brundisium and Dyrrachium remained important ports well after the Roman period, but an earthquake in the 3rd century AD changed the path of a river causing Apollonia's harbor to silt up, and

14812-698: The capital Tirana , Belgrade and Sarajevo . Tourism has become a major industry in recent years, with many hotels, recreational centers, and vast beaches. In Sarandë , tourism is the main driver of the economy. It is a significant tourist destination on the Ionian Sea , and by far one of the most popular destinations in Albania . Vlorë County is considered a prosperous region, one with varied attractions, plants and mountains, rivers and lakes, springs and virgin beaches, citrus plantations, olive groves and vineyards, pastures and woods, fish and shellfish farming and desirable hunting places. In short, Vlorë County's location

14973-464: The capital. Greeks , Aromanians , and a few Roma also are present in the ethnic composition of the county. The port city of Vlorë is the capital of Vlorë County . It is where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. Sarandë is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera , situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in

15134-568: The central Mediterranean , about 14 km (8.7 mi) east of the north end of the Greek island of Corfu . The Butrint National Park , Llogara National Park and Karaburun Sazan National Marine Park are located in Vlorë County. The ancient city of Butrint is an archeological site in Vlorë County, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë. It is located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel and

15295-600: The city to decline. Another city on the Italian coast of the Adriatic that increased in importance during the Roman era was Ravenna . During the reign of Augustus, it became a major naval base as part of his program to re-organize the Roman navy to better protect commerce in the Mediterranean. During the 4th century AD the emperors of the Western Roman Empire had moved their official residence north from Rome to Mediolanum (now Milan ) in order to be better able to control

15456-553: The clan of Muriq Shpata held Aetoloacarnania, with Angelokastron as its capital. In 1367 a part of the Epirotan Despotate was resurrected under local Serbian nobleman Thomas II Preljubović , who kept Ioannina. After Thomas' death in 1384, his widow remarried in 1385 and transferred the Despotate to homage of Italian nobility. The state tradition was carried on by the Serbian and Italian rulers of Ioannina , who solicited aid from

15617-461: The coast of Cape Stillo. Tongo Island is a rocky island, its waters rich in aquatic life. The island is situated about 300 metres (984 feet) off the Greek coast. It has an area of 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres). The Zvërnec Islands are two islands located in Narta Lagoon . The larger island is nearly completely covered with tall pine trees and is connected to the mainland by a 270m long wooden bridge. It

15778-489: The coast, such as the Italian cities of Ravenna and Lecce . Venice , which was originally built on islands off the coast, is most at risk due to subsidence, but the threat is present in the Po delta as well. The causes are a decrease in sedimentation rate due to loss of sediment behind dams, the deliberate excavation of sand for industrial purposes, agricultural use of water, and removal of ground water. The sinking of Venice slowed after artesian wells were banned in

15939-478: The construction of an offshore and an onshore LNG terminal in the Gulf of Trieste , as well as a pipeline, in the immediate vicinity of the Slovenian–Italian border. The Slovenian government and municipalities, the municipal council of Trieste, and non-governmental organisations have voiced concern over their environmental hazards, effect on transport and effect on tourism. Another source of pollution of

16100-611: The control of a substantial part of the eastern Adriatic coast by the Kingdom of Hungary after a personal union was established between Croatia and Hungary in 1102. In this period, the Republic of Venice began to expand its territory and influence. In 1202, the Fourth Crusade was diverted to conquer Zadar at the behest of the Venetians—the first instance of a Crusader force attacking

16261-452: The county there are three national parks , namely Llogara National Park , Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park and Butrint National Park . The population of Vlorë, as defined by the Institute of Statistics of Albania , was found in 2023 census to be 146,681. The province is 87.61% Albanian , 8.21% Greek , 0.33% Aromanian , 0.31% Romani , 0.96% Egyptian and 1.26% is not avaliable. Islam is

16422-475: The earliest historical records. A recent strong earthquake in the region was the 1979 Montenegro earthquake , measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale . Historical earthquakes in the area include the 1627 Gargano peninsula and the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquakes, both followed by strong tsunamis. In the last 600 years, fifteen tsunamis have occurred in the Adriatic Sea. All types of seafloor sediments are found in

16583-687: The eastern Adriatic coast, related to the Cardium pottery culture. During classical antiquity, Illyrians inhabited the eastern coast, and the western coast was inhabited by the peoples of Ancient Italy , mainly Etruscans , before the Roman Republic 's rise. Greek colonisation of the Adriatic dates back to the 7th and 6th centuries BC when the ancient cities of Epidamnos and Apollonia were founded. The Greeks soon expanded further north establishing several cities, including Ancona , Black Corcyra , Epidaurus , Issa , with trade established as far north as

16744-573: The eastern Adriatic shore and the Po Valley, while the Kingdom of Italy gradually took control of the remaining Italian coast during the 19th century. Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, control of the eastern coast passed to Yugoslavia and Albania, which agreed on their maritime boundaries with Italy in 1975 and 1992 respectively. After Yugoslavia's dissolution during the 1990s, its four coastal successor states—Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro—continued to recognise

16905-534: The eastern shore by the Rječina , Zrmanja , Krka, Cetina , Ombla , Dragonja , Mirna , Raša and Neretva rivers is negligible, because these sediments are mostly deposited at the river mouths. The Adriatic's western shores are largely either alluvial or terraced , whereas the eastern shores are predominantly rocky, except for the southernmost part of the shore located in Albania that consists of sandy coves and rocky capes. The eastern Adriatic shore's Croatian part

17066-644: The end of the Roman Republic and the start of the imperial period . Sulla used it during the First Mithridatic War . During Caesar's Civil War , there was a three-month delay in Caesar's Balkan campaign against Pompey caused when winter storms on the Adriatic and a naval blockade held up Mark Antony from reaching him from Brundisium with reinforcements; after the reinforcements finally arrived Caesar made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Dyrrachium before

17227-403: The ensuing conflict at the Battle of Pelagonia in 1259. Emperor Theodore II Laskaris allied with Michael II, and their children, betrothed by John years before, finally married in 1256, with Theodore receiving Dyrrhachium in return. Michael did not accept this transfer of land, and in 1257 he revolted, defeating a Nicaean army led by George Acropolites . As Michael marched on Thessalonica, he

17388-434: The entire European part of the Empire, also came into use already in the 13th century when juxtaposing Epirus to its eastern rival, the Empire of Nicaea , which was then called Anatolē ( Ἀνατολή ), "East". Moreover, the term " Hellenes " was widely used instead of the earlier "Romans" by the 13th-century court of the Despotate to describe its population. The Epirote state was founded in 1205 by Michael Komnenos Doukas ,

17549-520: The entire Italian peninsula from that city. In 568 AD the Lombards invaded northern Italy, and over the course of the next century or so the importance of the Exarchate declined as the territory under Lombard control expanded and as the Byzantine outpost of Venice became increasingly independent. In 752 AD the Lombards overthrew the Exarchate, ending the influence of the Byzantine Empire on the western shore of

17710-560: The establishment of the Empire of Thessalonica in 1224, and Thrace as far east as Didymoteicho and Adrianople , and was on the verge of recapturing Constantinople and restoring the Byzantine Empire before the Battle of Klokotnitsa in 1230 where he was defeated by the Bulgarian Empire . After that, the Epirote state contracted to its core in Epirus and Thessaly, and was forced into vassalage to other regional powers. It nevertheless managed to retain its autonomy until being conquered by

17871-729: The former are found in the Adriatic Sea, as well as in the southern Alps and the Dinaric Alps , and remnants of the latter are seen as the Gargano Promontory and the Maiella mountain. In the Eocene and early Oligocene , the plate moved north and north-east, contributing to the Alpine orogeny (along with the African and Eurasian Plates ' movements) via the tectonic uplift of the Dinarides and Alps. In

18032-582: The former being intermittent and the latter permanent. The SAG measures 150 kilometres (93 miles) in diameter. It contributes to the flow of bottom water from the Adriatic to the Levantine Basin through the Ionian Sea. Through that process, the Adriatic Sea produces most of the East Mediterranean deep water. The Adriatic's surface temperature usually ranges from 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F) in

18193-451: The growing power of Nicaea and could not stop Theodore from capturing Thessalonica in 1224. Theodore now challenged Nicaea for the imperial title and crowned himself emperor, founding the short-lived Empire of Thessalonica . In 1225, after John III Doukas Vatatzes of Nicaea had taken Adrianople , Theodore arrived and took it back from him. Theodore also allied with the Bulgarians and drove

18354-417: The highlands, are very sparsely populated. Vlorë County has the second highest human development after Tirana County, and has a High Human Development Rating within Albania. The county remains a major seaport and commercial centre, with a significant fishing and industrial sector. The city of Vlorë is the economic hub of the county. The surrounding region of the city is mainly agricultural and pastoral;

18515-519: The largest— Cres and Krk , each covering about the same area of 405.78 square kilometres (156.67 sq mi)—and the tallest— Brač , whose peak reaches 780 metres (2,560 ft) above sea level. The islands of Cres and the adjacent Lošinj are separated only by a narrow navigable canal dug in the time of classical antiquity ; the original single island was known to the Greeks as Apsyrtides . The Croatian islands include 47 permanently inhabited ones ,

18676-508: The locals in the upper Adriatic for thousands of years. The very large schools consisted mainly of little tunny and moved as far as the Gulf of Trieste . However, increasing fishing prevented the migration of large schools of fish to the north. The last major tuna catch was made there in 1954 by the fishermen from Santa Croce, Contovello and Barcola . The Northern Adriatic in particular is rich in endemic fish fauna. Around thirty species of fish are found in only one or two countries bordering

18837-583: The marine and coastal protected nature areas are the Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park , Strunjan Landscape Park , Škocjan Inlet Nature Reserve , and the Debeli Rtič , Cape Madona and Lakes in Fiesa natural monuments. The Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park was established in 1990, covers 721 hectares (1,780 acres), and includes four nature reserves . In 1993, the area was designated a Ramsar site; it

18998-707: The military frontier with the Germanic tribes. In 402 AD, during a period of repeated Germanic invasions of Italy, the capital was shifted to Ravenna because nearby marshes made it more defensible, and the Adriatic provided an easy escape path by sea. When the Western Empire fell in 476 AD Ravenna became the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy. In the Early Middle Ages , after the Roman Empire's decline ,

19159-546: The most populous among them being Krk, Korčula and Brač. The islands along the Adriatic's western (Italian) coast are smaller and less numerous than those along the opposite coast; the best-known ones are the 117 islands on which the city of Venice is built. The northern shore of the Greek island of Corfu also lies in the Adriatic Sea as defined by the IHO. The IHO boundary places the Diapontia Islands (northwest of Corfu) in

19320-562: The new home of many refugees from Constantinople , Thessaly , and the Peloponnese , and Michael was described as a second Noah , rescuing men from the Latin flood. John X Kamateros , the Patriarch of Constantinople , did not consider him a legitimate successor and instead joined Theodore I Laskaris in Nicaea ; Michael instead recognized the authority of Pope Innocent III over Epirus, cutting ties to

19481-424: The north and Gjirokastër to the east, the country of Greece to the south and the Adriatic Sea in the northwest, as well as the Ionian Sea in the west. The county of Vlorë is divided into seven municipalities ; Delvinë , Finiq , Himarë , Konispol , Sarandë , Selenicë and Vlorë . The municipalities are further subdivided into 200 towns and villages in total. In Vlorë, there are five islands, notably

19642-410: The northern being the shallowest and the southern being the deepest, with a maximum depth of 1,233 metres (4,045 ft). The prevailing currents flow counterclockwise from the Strait of Otranto. Tidal movements in the Adriatic are slight, although larger amplitudes occur occasionally. The Adriatic's salinity is lower than the Mediterranean's because it collects a third of the fresh water flowing into

19803-545: The northern part of the eastern shore; Istria contained the important Roman colony at Pula and was incorporated into the province of Italy . During the Roman period, Brundisium, on the western shore, and Apollonia and Dyrrachium (originally called Epidamnos, now Durrës in Albania) on the eastern shore became important ports. Brundisium was linked by the Via Appia road to the city of Rome, and Dyrrachium and Apollonia were both on

19964-515: The northwest of Dubrovnik, adding to the Dalmatian islands as the Eurasian Plate slides over the Adriatic microplate. Furthermore, the fault causes the Apennine peninsula's southern tip to move towards the opposite shore by about 0.4 centimetres (0.16 in) per year. If this movement continues, the seafloor will be completely consumed and the Adriatic Sea closed off in 50–70 million years. In

20125-451: The organization later changed with Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro replacing Yugoslavia. Future pollution hazards are addressed and pollution hotspots are assessed not only by nations in the basin but also through regional projects with World Bank support. 27 such hotspots have been determined as of 2011, 6 warranting an urgent response. Settlements along the Adriatic dating to between 6100 and 5900 BC appear in Albania and Dalmatia on

20286-405: The period was Mare Dalmaticum , applied to waters off the coast of Dalmatia or Illyricum . During the early modern period , the entire sea was also known as the Gulf of Venice ( Italian : golfo di Venezia ), although that name is now informally applied only to the northern area of the sea, from Maestra Point in the Po Delta to Cape Kamenjak on the Istrian Peninsula . The names for

20447-403: The practice became regularized (aside from Epirus, the Despotate of the Morea is the most notable case). The territorial term "despotate" itself (in Greek δεσποτᾶτον , despotaton ) was first used in contemporary sources for Epirus only from the 14th century on, e.g. in the Chronicle of the Morea , in the history of John Kantakouzenos , the hagiography of St. Niphon, or the Chronicle of

20608-476: The predominant religion in the county. In 2023, 38.26% of the population declared themselves as Muslim, out of which 6.31%pt declare themselves as Bektashi Muslims. This is followed by believers without denomination at 21.74%. Christianity makes up 18.98% of the total population. This includes Orthodox , Evangelist and Roman Catholic believers. The most densely populated areas are the coastal cities of Vlorë , Sarandë and Himarë , while vast regions, such as

20769-422: The present sea level, exposed during the Last Glacial Maximum . It is estimated that some karst formations are from earlier sea level drops, most notably the Messinian salinity crisis . Similarly, karst developed in Apulia from the Apulian Carbonate Platform. The largest part of the eastern coast consists of carbonate rocks, while flysch (a particular type of sedimentary rock) is significantly represented in

20930-428: The previous maritime border with Italy, but have disputed the borders between themselves. Fisheries and tourism are significant sources of income all along the Adriatic coast. Adriatic Croatia 's tourism industry has grown faster economically than the rest of the Adriatic Basin 's. Maritime transport is also a significant branch of the area's economy—there are 19 seaports in the Adriatic that each handle more than

21091-414: The region until Augustus 's general Tiberius put down the Great Illyrian Revolt , a bitter struggle waged from 6 to 9 AD. Following the repression of the revolt the Roman province of Illyricum was split into Dalmatia and Pannonia . Most of the eastern shore of the Adriatic was part of Dalmatia, except for the southernmost portion, part of the province of Macedonia , and the peninsula of Istria on

21252-401: The region until 1944. The city was liberated in 1944 by communist forces under Enver Hoxha . During the World War II , Sazan Island became the site of a German and Italian submarine base and naval installations; these installations were heavily bombed by the Allies . After World War II, with Albania ruled by a Communist Party , the port was leased out to the Soviet Union for use as

21413-411: The restored Palaiologan Byzantine Empire in ca. 1337. In the 1410s, the Count palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos Carlo I Tocco managed to reunite the core of the Epirote state, but his successors gradually lost it to the advancing Ottoman Empire , with the last stronghold, Vonitsa , falling to the Ottomans in 1479. In traditional and modern historiography , the Epirote state is usually termed

21574-446: The sea in the languages of the surrounding countries include Albanian : Deti Adriatik ; Emilian : Mèr Adriatic ; Friulian : Mâr Adriatic ; Greek : Αδριατική θάλασσα , romanized :  Adriatikí thálassa ; Istro Romanian : Marea Adriatică ; Italian : Mare Adriatico ; Serbo-Croatian : Jadransko more , Јадранско море; Slovene : Jadransko morje ; Venetian : Mar Adriàtico . In Serbo-Croatian and Slovene,

21735-411: The sea is often referred to as simply Jadran . The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, bordered in the southwest by the Apennine or Italian Peninsula , in the northwest by the Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia , and in the northeast by Slovenia , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Montenegro , and Albania —the Balkan peninsula . In the southeast, the Adriatic Sea connects to

21896-541: The semi-closed sea on larger scales. Largest of these live normally is the fin whale , and sperm whale , the largest of toothed whales also migrate but less common than fin whales, followed by Cuvier's beaked whales . Basking sharks and manta rays are some of migrant species to the sea. Historical presences of depleted or extinct species such as North Atlantic right whales (extinct or functionally extinct), Atlantic gray whales (extinct), and humpback whales have been speculated as well. Tuna has been caught by

22057-410: The southeast. It is the largest Mediterranean shelf and is simultaneously a dilution basin and a site of bottom water formation. The Middle Adriatic basin is south of the Ancona–Zadar line, with the 270-metre (890 ft) deep Middle Adriatic Pit (also called the Pomo Depression or the Jabuka Pit). The 170-metre (560 ft) deep Palagruža Sill is south of the Middle Adriatic Pit, separating it from

22218-435: The southern Apennine peninsula. In addition, the Papal States were carved out in the area around Rome and central Italy in the 8th century. The High Middle Ages in the Adriatic Sea basin saw further territorial changes, including the Norman conquest of southern Italy ending the Byzantine presence on the Apennine peninsula in the 11th and 12th centuries (the territory would become the Kingdom of Naples in 1282) and

22379-406: The summer, or 12 to 14 °C (54 to 57 °F) in the winter, except along the western Adriatic coast's northern part, where it drops to 9 °C (48 °F) in the winter. The distinct seasonal temperature variations, with a longitudinal gradient in the Northern and transversal gradient in the Middle and Southern Adriatic, are attributed to the continental characteristics of the Adriatic Sea: it

22540-478: The surface and the cold and dense water mass at the bottom. The coastal currents on the opposite shore are far more complex owing to the jagged shoreline, several large islands and the proximity of the Dinaric Alps to the shore. The last produces significant temperature variations between the sea and the hinterland, which leads to the creation of local jets. The tidal movement is normally slight, usually remaining below 30 centimetres (12 in). The amphidromic point

22701-413: The surrounding mountain chains and Apennine tectonic uplift after its collision with the Eurasian Plate . In the Late Oligocene , the Italian Peninsula first formed, separating the Adriatic Basin from the rest of the Mediterranean. The western coast is alluvial or terraced , while the eastern coast is highly indented with pronounced karstification . There are dozens of marine protected areas in

22862-399: The territory to Hungary in 1358. In the same year, the Republic of Ragusa was established in Dubrovnik as a city-state after it was freed from Venetian suzerainty. Despotate of Epirus The Despotate of Epirus ( Medieval Greek : Δεσποτᾶτον τῆς Ἠπείρου ) was one of the Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 by

23023-429: The time of the engagement came, Nikephoros had vanished. Andronikos learned that Nikephoros had fled to Italy, with the help of members of the Epirote aristocracy who supported an independent Epirus. He stayed in Taranto , Italy, in the court of Catherine II of Valois (Philip of Taranto's widow), the titular empress of Constantinople. In 1339 a revolt began, supported by Catherine of Valois, who had previously moved to

23184-483: The title of panhypersebastos . The Empire soon fell into a civil war between John V Palaiologos and John VI Kantakouzenos, and Epirus was conquered by the Serbian tsar Stefan Dušan in 1348, who appointed his brother, despot Simeon Nemanjić-Palailogos as governor of the province. Nikephoros II took advantage of the Byzantine civil war and the death of Dušan (1355) to escape and to reestablish himself in Epirus in 1356, to which he also added Thessaly. Nikephoros

23345-443: The title of Despot —making Michael the first Epirote ruler to bear the title—as a sign of his nominal dependency on Thessalonica, but Michael was de facto independent, which he demonstrated by seizing Corfu in ca. 1236. In the rump Empire of Thessalonica, after Theodore was released in 1237, he overthrew his brother Manuel, and set up his son John Komnenos Doukas as ruler of Thessalonica. Thessalonica never regained its power after

23506-501: The title of Despot was Michael II , from his uncle Manuel of Thessalonica in the 1230s, and then again, as a sign of submission and vassalage, from the Nicaean emperor John III Vatatzes . Earlier historians assumed that Michael I was indeed named "Despot" by the deposed emperor Alexios III Angelos after ransoming him from Latin captivity in c.  1206/7 or c.  1210 ; this has been disproven by more recent research. Furthermore, even after Michael II, speaking of

23667-469: The town of Izola . The thermal spring water is rich with hydrogen sulfide , has a temperature of 22 to 29.6 °C (71.6 to 85.3 °F), and has enabled the development of specific ecosystems. The inflow of freshwater, representing a third of the freshwater volume flowing into the Mediterranean, makes the Adriatic a dilution basin for the Mediterranean Sea. The Middle and South Adriatic Gyres (SAG), are significant cyclonic circulation features, with

23828-503: The year is likewise distinct: it ranges between 38 and 39  PSUs . The southern Adriatic is subjected to saltier water from the Levantine Basin. According to the Köppen climate classification , the upper half of the Adriatic is classified as humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ), with wetter summers and colder and drier winters, and the southern Adriatic are classified as hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) . The air temperature can fluctuate by about 20 °C (36 °F) during

23989-403: Was assassinated later that year and was succeeded by his half-brother Theodore. Theodore Komnenos Doukas immediately set out to attack Thessalonica , and he fought with the Bulgarians along the way. Henry of Flanders died on the way to counterattack, and in 1217 Theodore captured his successor Peter of Courtenay , most likely executing him. The Latin Empire, however, became distracted by

24150-435: Was 4 metres (13 ft) per year. In the 12th century, the delta advanced at a rate of 25 metres (82 ft) per year. In the 17th century, the delta began to become a human-controlled environment, as the excavation of artificial channels started; the channels and new distributaries of the Po have been prograding at rates of 50 metres (160 ft) per year or more since then. There are more than 20 other rivers flowing into

24311-505: Was attacked by King Manfred of Sicily , who conquered Albania and Corcyra . However, Michael immediately allied with him by marrying his daughter Helena to him. After Theodore II died, Michael, Manuel , and William II fought the new Nicaean emperor, Michael VIII Palaiologos . The alliance was very unstable and in 1259 William was captured at the disastrous Battle of Pelagonia . Michael VIII went on to capture Michael II's capital of Arta , leaving Epirus with only Ioannina and Vonitsa. Arta

24472-459: Was created in 2009, extending 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) into the sea and along 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of coastline. Various zones of the protected area cover 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi) of sea surface. The Tremiti Islands reserve has been protected since 1989, while the Tremiti islands themselves are part of the Gargano National Park . The Torre Guaceto protected area, located near Brindisi and Carovigno , covers

24633-441: Was established in 1998 and covers 122 hectares (300 acres). The Debeli Rtič natural monument covers 24 hectares (59 acres), the Cape Madona natural monument covers 12 hectares (30 acres), and the Lakes in Fiesa natural monument, with the coastal lake as the only brackish lake in Slovenia, covers 2.1 hectares (5.2 acres). In 2010, Albania established its first marine protection area, the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park at

24794-407: Was established in 2006, and it includes 44 islands and islets, 53 square kilometres (20 sq mi) of land and 143 square kilometres (55 sq mi) of sea surface. The Mljet national park was established in 1960, covering a 24-square-kilometre (9.3 sq mi) marine protection area. In addition, there is a Ramsar wetland reserve in Croatia—the Neretva river's delta . In Slovenia,

24955-438: Was killed in battle putting down an Albanian revolt in 1359, and the territory of the former despotate became a component part of the personal Empire of Dušan's brother Simeon Nemanjić-Palailogos . Simeon was also governing Thessaly at the time, and, as the Chronicle of Ioannina shows, he left much of the territory under the control of Albanian clans establishing short-lived entities: the clan of Pjetër Losha held Arta , and

25116-413: Was known as Mare Adriaticum ( Mare Hadriaticum , also sometimes simplified to Adria ) or, less frequently, as Mare Superum '[the] upper sea'. The two terms were not synonymous, however. Mare Adriaticum generally corresponds to the Adriatic Sea's extent, spanning from the Gulf of Venice to the Strait of Otranto. That boundary became more consistently defined by Roman authors—early Greek sources place

25277-619: Was limited only to Akamania, or the southern part of Epirus. He was overthrown by his brother John in 1323, who attempted to balance submission to Constantinople with cooperation with the Angevins of Naples, who also claimed Greece as part of their domains. John was poisoned around 1335 by his wife Anna, who became regent for their son Nikephoros II . In 1337 the new Emperor, Andronikos III Palaiologos , arrived in northern Epirus with an army partly composed of 2,000 Turks contributed by his ally Umur of Aydın . Andronikos first dealt with unrest due to attacks by Albanians and then turned his interest to

25438-437: Was maintained in the area. In 1204 the region became part of the Despotate of Epirus , but later returned to the Byzantine Empire. In 1335 Albanian tribes were in possession of the area between Berat and the bay of Vlorë, while in 1345 after the Serbian invasion an independent principality was formed in Vlorë. In the middle of the 14th century the aristocratic Delvina family ruled Delvinë, and in 1354 Mehmet Ali Pasha Delvina

25599-402: Was one of those Illyrian sites that had experienced pre-urban activity beginning from the 11th–10th centuries BCE. In classical antiquity the Bay of Vlorë constituted the southern limit of the Illyrian coast. The coastal area of the Bay was settled by Ancient Greek colonists , who traditionally founded Oricum , Thronion and Aulon . The latter city, however, dates to the Roman period. but

25760-402: Was recovered by 1260 while Michael VIII was occupied against Constantinople. After Michael VIII restored the empire in Constantinople in 1261 he frequently harassed Epirus, and forced Michael's son Nikephoros to marry his niece Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene in 1265. Michael considered Epirus a vassal state, although Michael II and Nikephoros continued to ally with the Princes of Achaea and

25921-406: Was testified as the owner of the castle and the city. The Ottoman Empire captured the region in 1417, while in 1432, Albanian rebels freed Vlorë and expelled the Ottomans from the area. As part of the Ottoman Empire , The region became a sanjak centre in Rumelia Eyalet under the name Avlonya . On November 28, 1912, Ismail Kemal declared the Albanian National Awakening in Vlorë, during

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