Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, Coastal national park in Fier County, Albania
This park is a coastal area along the Adriatic Sea combining different natural zones in one place. It includes wetlands, salt marshes, lagoons, and pine forests that form a complex ecosystem together.
The Karavasta Lagoon has been listed under the Ramsar Convention since 1994. The park lies in Fier County, about 5 km from Divjakë and 40 km from Lushnja. A management plan was being drafted with JICA. In 2016 environmentalists warned that a resort for up to 28,000 holidaymakers was planned inside the park.
Local people rely on fishing and farming as part of their daily life in this region. These traditional practices shape how communities interact with the land and water around them.
The park entrance lies east of Divjakë, about 5 km from the town and 40 km from Lushnji. The Karavasta lagoon is separated from the sea by a wide sand strip with a large beach, and three channels connect it to the Adriatic, one artificial and dug for fishing. Water flow through these channels reverses direction every six hours with the tide.
The lagoon here is home to a significant share of the world's population of Dalmatian pelicans, a rare water bird. This makes the site crucial for protecting this endangered species worldwide.
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