Butrint National Park, National park and archaeological UNESCO site in Vlorë County, Albania.
Butrint National Park combines archaeological sites and large natural areas in Vlorë County. The territory includes freshwater lakes, salt marshes, reed beds, and Mediterranean islands along the Ionian coast.
Butrint was declared a Cultural Monument in 1948, and the surrounding woodland followed in 1981. The archaeological site joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. The national park itself was established by ordinance no. 82 on 2 March 2000, and UNESCO removed the site from its Danger List in 2005.
The ancient theater sits on a hillside with views over the lagoon from its stone seating rows. Visitors follow paved Roman pathways between temple foundations and bathhouse remains that show how people once lived and worked here.
The site lies about 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Sarandë and offers guided tours through the ruins. Staff maintain protection of the natural habitats, so visitors should follow certain rules during their visit.
The park's 9,424 hectares shelter over 1,200 animal and plant species, with 246 bird species recorded. Lake Butrint, 7.1 km long and 3.3 km wide, is an Important Bird and Plant Area, and the lagoon is a Ramsar wetland. The endangered Mediterranean monk seal nests along the coastal waters.
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