Albania

The state covers 28,748 square kilometers (11,100 square miles) between Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece with coastline on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Terrain consists predominantly of mountains and highlands, with the Albanian Alps reaching peaks above 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). Rivers including Drin, Vjosa, and Shkumbin flow through deep valleys toward the coast. Population concentrates in capital Tirana and coastal cities Durrës, Vlora, and Saranda.

Illyrian tribes inhabited the territory before Roman conquest in the 2nd century BCE, followed by Byzantine rule from 395 CE. The Ottoman Empire controlled the region from 1385 until 1912, when independence was declared following the Balkan Wars. King Zog I ruled from 1928 until Italian invasion in 1939, followed by German occupation during World War II. Enver Hoxha established a communist regime in 1944 that continued until democratic transition in 1991.

The state emblem displays a black double-headed eagle on red, a symbol used since the 15th century under Skanderbeg. Traditional iso-polyphony from southern regions appears on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2005. Society maintains Kanun customary law in rural mountain areas alongside state legal systems. Gjirokastra and Berat contain exceptional examples of Ottoman architecture with characteristic stone houses.

Official currency is the Albanian Lek (ALL), though euros are commonly accepted in tourist areas. Intercity buses operate from the Regional Bus Terminal in Tirana to all major cities with regular connections to Shkodra, Durrës, Berat, and southern destinations. Tirana International Airport lies 11 miles (17 kilometers) northwest of the capital with connections to European destinations. Best visiting periods are spring and autumn, while July and August bring intense heat to coastal areas.

The territory contains over 750,000 bunkers built between 1967 and 1986 under Enver Hoxha's orders, now defining the landscape. Some bunkers have been converted into cafes, hostels, or art galleries. The Vjosa represents one of Europe's last free-flowing rivers without dams across its entire length from source in Greece to mouth at the Adriatic Sea.

Inception: November 28, 1912

Capital city: Tirana

Shares border with: Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, European Union, Kosovo, Yugoslavia

Address: Albania

Website: https://kryeministria.al/en

GPS coordinates: 41.00003,19.99996

Latest update: November 30, 2025 15:46