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| Albania is a predominantly mountainous country; approximately three-fourths of its territory consists of highlands with elevations greater than 300 m. The mountains, which form a generally north-south backbone, are a southern continuation of the Dinaric Alps. The North Albanian Alps, a glaciated limestone range in the extreme north, are among the most rugged and inaccessible regions in the country. The highest peak (2,751 m) is Mount Korab, on the Macedonian border. Along the coast is a narrow zone of generally fertile alluvial lowlands (with some marshes) that extend inland along some rivers, especially in the central coastal region. | |
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| The coastal lowlands enjoy a typically Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. At Durres, nearly 80% of the annual rainfall occurs between October and March, and the average daily minimum temperature in January is 6°C. The interior highlands are under the influence of a continental climate and have severely cold winters and warm summers, although at the highest elevations summers are cool. Annual rainfall averages from 760 mm in the southeastern highlands to 2,030 mm in the northern coastal plain to 1,070 mm at Durres. | |
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| Total population is 3,249,136 (World Factbook, July 1996 est.). Much of the population inhabits the elevated basins and plateaus of central Albania. The urban population, although small by European standards, has more than doubled since 1940, when only 15% of the people lived in cities. Major cities include Tirane, the capital, Durres, Shkoder, Elbasan, Vlore, and Korce, none of which, except the capital, has a population greater than 100,000. | |
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Clock Time: GMT+1. Summer time shift (GMT+2), from last Sunday in March,
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| More information is available at Amadeus or the Electric Library Back to Country Info Main Page
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