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    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

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    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

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    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

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    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Geography, Weather, & Wildlife of Albania

Geography

Albanian Geography - Coastline
Coastline

Albania is situated along the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula along the coast that touches both the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. Albania borders Greece (southeast), Macedonia (east), Kosovo (northeast), and Montenegro (northwest).

Geographically, from east to west, Albania moves from mountains to river valleys, and finally coastline. Along much of Albania's eastern border the mountains peak, creating a natural barrier. From here there are a number of rivers that flow west into the Adriatic Sea or Ionian Sea. These valleys along with the fairly level coasts are very livable and fertile.

Weather

Albanian Geography - Mountains
Mountains

Albania's weather is similar to neighboring Greece and other Mediterranean countries. The winters are cool and wet, while summers are hot and dry. However, Albania is quite mountainous in the east and these mountains tend to be cooler during all seasons.

Winters along the coast rarely get below 40° F (4° C), although the breezes off of the water can make it feel much cooler. The mountains during this time regularly receive snow, but what is more pronounced are the low temperatures. The capital city of Tirana has daily highs of about 54° F (12° C) in winter, with daily lows rarely reaching the freezing point (32° F (0° C)).

Summers on the coast generally reach daily highs of up to 85° F (29° C) during the hottest months, but this time can be very dry, making it feel a bit cooler, particularly in the southern part of the country. Again, the mountains are cooler than the rest of the country during the summers, but Tirana generally reaches daily highs that are comparable to that of the coast.

Wildlife

Albania is home to a huge number of animals. Among the mammals are bears, boars, jackals, wolves, and many smaller animals. Along the western sea coasts are a number of fish species including sardines. The rivers and lakes also provide a number of fish, most notably trout.

There are a large number of birds that migrate through Albania, most noticeably water fowls, such as swallows, storks, and pelicans.

This page was last updated: March, 2013