Theenvironment ofAlbania is characterised by unique flora and fauna and a variety of landforms contained within a small nation. It also consists of differentecoregions, which represent the naturalgeographicalecosystem, water systems,weather,renewable resources and influences upon them.
Of the factors caused by human intervention that can affect thisenvironment, activities that sustain theeconomy of Albania such asmining andforestry are notably influential. The environment strongly influences public health in Albania, as for exampleair pollution andsmog inurban areas such as inTirana can result in great distress for those withrespiratory conditions such asasthma.
Albania is a small predominantly mountainous country betweenSoutheastern andSouthern Europe, on facing theAdriatic and [[Ioniann Sea|Ionian sea]]s within theMediterranean Sea. It has a total area of 28,748 square kilometres (11,100 square miles), borderingMontenegro to the northwest,Kosovo to the northeast,Macedonia to the east andGreece to the south.[1] It lies between latitudes42° and39° N and between longitudes21° and19° E. Its coastline length is 476 km (296 mi)[2]: 240 and extends along theAdriatic andIonian Seas.
With Albania's coastline facing theAdriatic andIonian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons,Albania has a high number of climatic regions for such a small area. The coastal lowlands have typically mediterranean climate; the highlands have a continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.
Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.
Phytogeographically, Albania is part of theBoreal Kingdom specifically, part of theIllyrian province of theCircumboreal Region andMediterranean region within theBoreal kingdom. Albania is divided into three ecoregions includingIllyrian deciduous forests,Dinaric mixed forests,Balkan mixed forests andPindus mixed forests. Further,Biomes in Albania includeTemperate broadleaf and mixed forest andMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, that are all in thePalearctic realm. Due to its climatic, hydrological, geological and topographical conditions, Albania is one of the richest in Europe in terms ofbiodiversity. Almost 30% of the entire flora and 42% fauna in the entire European continent can be found in Albania.[3]
There are 799Albanian protected areas, which covers a surface of 4,600 square kilometres (460,000 hectares). These include 15national parks, 5 protected landscape areas, 29nature reserves, 4 protected resource areas and 750nature monuments.[4][5] The national parks covering a surface area of 210,668.48 hectares (2,106.6848 km2) or roughly 13.65% of the overall territory.[6] The nation host also 8 archaeological parks covering a surface area of 1,120 hectares (11.2 km2). The largest national park in Albania is theFir of Hotova National Park, covering a surface area of 34,361 hectares (343.61 km2) and having the largest area ofBulgarian Fir in theBalkans. Other large national parks includes theButrint National Park,Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park,Divjaka-Karavasta National Park,Prespa National Park,Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park, and others.
Albania is a small, mountainous country in the Balkan peninsula, with a long Adriatic and Ionian coastline.
Some of the 30% of the European plant species, and 42% of the European mammals can be found in the country. Albania's variety of wetlands, lagoons and large lakes also provide critical winter habitat for migratory birds (1).
