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Albania’s diverse landscape, shaped by favorable weather conditions, significant tectonic subsidence, karst processes and coastal dynamics, is home to a wide array of natural and artificial lakes. These water bodies vary widely in altitude, water flow, geology and climate, influencing their unique morphometric features, water balance and hydrochemical and optical properties.
Lakes are generally categorized based on the origin of their basins, a factor that fundamentally alters their geographical characteristics. The country hosts 247 natural lakes and over 800 artificial reservoirs. Natural lakes, primarily formed through karstic or glacial processes, are further classified into four types: 4 tectonic, 134 proglacial, 94 karst and 15 oxbow.
Additionally, the coastal region features lagoons that collectively cover an area of approximately 150 km (58 sq mi).
Natural lakes
Ramsar wetland or a marine protected area Part of a national parkTectonic lakes
| No. | Image | Lake | Surface area | Max. depth | Water volume | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Shkodër | 149 km (58 sq mi) | 44 m (144 ft) |  
| |
| 2 | 
|
Ohri | 111.2 km (42.9 sq mi) | 295 m (968 ft) |
| |
| 3 | 
|
Prespa | 46.3 km (17.9 sq mi) | 54 m (177 ft) |
| |
| 4 | 
|
Small Prespa | 4.3 km (1.7 sq mi) | 7.7 m (25 ft) |
|
Lagoons
| No. | Image | Lagoon | Surface area | Max. depth | Water volume | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg)
|
Karavasta | 43.3 km (16.7 sq mi) | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) |
| |
| 2 | 
|
Narta | 41.8 km (16.1 sq mi) |
| ||
| 3 | _Lake_Butrint.jpg)
|
Butrint | 16.3 km (6.3 sq mi) | 21.4 m (70 ft) |
| |
| 4 | 
|
Patok | 4.8 km (1.9 sq mi) | 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in) |
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| 5 | 
|
Viluni | 3.0 km (1.2 sq mi) |
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Other smaller natural or glacial lakes include Lura Lakes, Lake Sheep, Lake Gistova, Lake Gramë, Lake Buni Jezercë, Lake Dash, Lake Sylbicë, Lake Dhënve, Lake Sope and Lake Malik, which was drained by government's decision.
Artificial lakes
Part of a nature park or nature reserve| No. | Image | Lake | Surface area | Max. depth | Water volume | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Fierza | 70.14 km (27.08 sq mi) | 128 m (420 ft) |
| |
| 2 | 
|
Vau i Dejës | 25 km (9.7 sq mi) | 50 m (160 ft) |
| |
| 3 | 
|
Ulëza | 13.5 km (5.2 sq mi) | 54 m (177 ft) |
| |
| 4 | 
|
Koman | 12 km (4.6 sq mi) | 175.5 m (576 ft) |
| |
| 5 | 
|
Shkopet | 6 km (2.3 sq mi) |
| ||
| 6 | 
|
Bovilla | 4.6 km (1.8 sq mi) | 18 m (59 ft) |
|
See also
References
- Ministry of Industry and Mines (1985)
- "The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact". researchgate.net. p. 134.
- Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 1: Climate Change and Engineering Geology (Giorgio Lollino, Andrea Manconi, John Clague, Wei Shan, Marta Chiarle ed.). Springer. 23 August 2014. p. 388. ISBN 9783319093000.
| List of lakes of Europe | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign states |
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| States with limited recognition | |
| Dependencies and other entities | |
