Albania and its history
Albania is a country of south eastern Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula. Its area measures more than 28,000 square kilometers and has a population of almost 3 million people. Albania is a parliamentary constitutional republic and its capital is Tirana, the biggest city of the country and the main economical and commercial center, followed by Durres and Vlore. The country is situated in the south eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by Montenegro, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia and Greece. The country has a large coastline on the Mediterranean Sea: it spans from the Adriatic Sea to the west to the Ionian Sea to the south-west, forming the Albanian Riviera. From the Strait of Otranto, which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea, Albania is less than 72 kilometers from Italy.History of Albania
In ancient times the area that forms the current Albania was populated by many Illyrian, Greek and Thracian tribes. Many greek colonies were also founded on the Illyrian coast. In the 3rd century before Christ, Rome conquered the area and made it part of the Roman provinces Moesia, Macedonia and Dalmatia. In 1190 Progon, lord of Kruja, founded the first state entity of Albania, the Principality of Arbanon, in the Kruje region, inside the Byzantine Empire. The country was then conquered n the 15th century by the Ottomans and remaind under their rule for the following five centuries. After the dissolution of the Empire for the Balkan Wars, Albania was declared an independent country in 1912 and was recognized as such by the international community the following year. In 1939, Italy invaded the Kingdom of Albania. The ruling passed to the nazi Germany in 1943. In 1944, a Socialist Republic was established, guided by Enver Hoxha and his Labor Party. Albania has experienced widespread social and political transformations in the Communist era, as well as the isolation of much of the international community. When the Socialist Republic came to an end in 1991, Albania became a republic.Albania is now a well developed and democratic country with a medium-to-high income economy. The service sector dominates the country's economy, followed by the industrial and agricultural industries. After the collapse of communism in 1990, Albania has gone through a transition process from a centralized economy to a market-based economy. Albania has a high index of human development and is ranked thirty-fifth in the world for life expectancy. Provides universal health care and primary and secondary education to its citizens.
Albania is a United Nations member country and also an official candidate for accession to the European Union.
Things to do and see in Albania
Albania has been learning in recent years a great development in the tourism sector, favored by cheaper prices than neighboring countries such as Croatia. Strong attraction comes from the seaside sector. The beaches of the Albanian Adriatic coast tend to be sandy and with shallow water, making it suitable for family vacations. The main beaches are those of Velipoja, S. Gjin, Durrës, Golem, Spillenja, Divjaka and Vlora, among others. In addition to beaches, the Adriatic coast is packed with lagoons and other natural ecosystems that offer wonderful opportunities for bird watching and bird watching enthusiasts and ecotourism lovers. The Albanian Riviera enjoys about 300 sunny days per year. January's average temperature is 10 degrees C. and July's average temperature is 25 degrees. The Ionian coast is known to have fascinating beaches with deep and very clean water. Younger tourists tend to visit the Ionian beaches, as the area offers many opportunities for water sports enthusiasts such as diving, boat trips, surfing and windsurfing. Some of the most exotic and interesting beaches in southern Albania are Dhermi, Jal, Himara, Qeparo, Borsh, Saranda and Ksamil. The National Parks of Albania extend from the Adriatic Riviera's lagoons to the limestone mountains of the Dinaric Alps and the wetlands of the Great Prespa Lakes and Little Prespa lakes in the cross-border national park that Albania shares with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. In the Albanian territory lies the largest lake in southern Europe and one of the oldest lakes in Europe.Albania is a mountainous country, with about two-thirds of the hilly or mountainous territory. The highest peak, Mount Korabi, on the border with Macedonia, reaches 2,751 m above sea level. The cliffs of Llogara, which divide the Adriatic from the Ionian coast, are recognized internationally as one of the best places in the Balkans for paragliding. Among the other outdoor activities that can be practiced in Albania are hiking, hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding, skiing and winter mountaineering. The rivers that cross this land offer both the beauty of the canyons that have carved the opportunity to cross them with canoes or kayaks.