| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 293 | 115 | No | |||
| Freshwater | 96 | 31 | No | |||
| Total | 428 | 148 | No | |||
| Conservation | Issues facing Albania are soil erosion, deforestation, and water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents. The country is committed to international agreements concerning biodiversity and climatic change. The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
Predominantly mountainous, Albania has peaks averaging 2,100 to 2,400 metres (6,890 to 7,874 feet). Mount Korab, Albania’s highest peak (2,751 metres/9,026 feet), is part of the rugged North Albanian Alps, which form the southern end of the Dinaric Alps. A narrow belt of lowlands along the coast of the Adriatic Sea north of Vlorë and several river valleys extending inland from the coast comprise less than one-quarter of the land area. The coastal lowlands have rich soil, but in many places the land is marshy or poorly drained. In the central and southern parts of the country, mountains are broken by high plateaus and basins.
The Adriatic coastal region has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Inland, a more severe continental climate prevails, with marked seasonal extremes of temperature. Average annual precipitation ranges from about 1,000 millimetres (about 39 inches) on the coast to nearly 2,500 millimetres (nearly 99 inches) in sections of the northern mountains. Summer precipitation is scant throughout the country. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |
Most of Albania’s rivers rise in the eastern, mountainous region of the country and flow west to the Adriatic Sea. The largest of these are the Dhrínos, Shkumbi, and Mat, each with broad valleys. Albania shares its three large lakes with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (FYROM) and Greece. Lake Scutari lies to the northwest, and Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa are in the east. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |