Environment of Albania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The environment of Albania is characterised by unique flora and fauna and a variety of landforms contained within a small nation. It also consists of different ecoregions, which represent the natural geographical ecosystem, water systems, weather, renewable resources and influences upon them.
Of the factors caused by human intervention that can affect this environment, activities that sustain the economy of Albania such as mining and forestry are notably influential. The environment strongly influences public health in Albania, as for example air pollution and smog in urban areas such as in Tirana can result in great distress for those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Albania is a small predominantly mountainous country between Southeastern and Southern Europe, on facing the Adriatic and [[Ionian n Sea|Ionian sea]]s within the Mediterranean Sea. It has a total area of 28,748 square kilometres (11,100 square miles), bordering Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south.[1] It lies between latitudes 42° and 39° N and between longitudes 21° and 19° E. Its coastline length is 476 km (296 mi)[2]: 240 and extends along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
Climate
With Albania's coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for such a small area. The coastal lowlands have typically mediterranean climate; the highlands have a continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.
Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.
