
Albania Geography
Albania Geography: A summary of information about Albania Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Albania: Geography
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries
total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline
362 km
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower
Land use
arable land: 21% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 38% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
3,410 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast
Environment - current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)