Geography

Albania is bordered on the south by Greece, on the east by Macedonia, and on the north by Serbia and Montenegro. Its western border is the Adriatic Sea. The country covers an area of 11,100 square miles (28,700 square kilometers).

The longest river in Albania is the Drin. It begins in southern Serbia and Montenegro and flows for 174 miles (280 kilometers) through northern Albania. The major rivers of the south are the Shkumbin, the Mat, and the Vijosë.

Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Temperatures are more extreme in the mountain regions than on the coast. In the mountains summers are warm to hot and winters are cold.

Rainfall varies from region to region as well. The average annual rainfall ranges from more than 100 inches (250 centimeters) in the northern mountains to less than 30 inches (76 centimeters) along much of the eastern border.

Plants and animals

Much of Albania was once forested. Little of the original vegetation remains, however, because of centuries of clearing and livestock grazing. Many areas are covered with only bushes and scrub. The remaining forests are mainly of oak, beech, and pine. Mountain pastures lie above the timberline.

Years of unrestricted hunting took a heavy toll on Albania's wildlife. Few wild animals remain in Albania except in the remote forests. Among the animals are wolves, jackals, wild hogs, bears, deer, and chamois (small goatlike antelopes). The mild climate attracts many birds, however. The government has passed hunting laws and established nature preserves to protect the country's wildlife.

People and culture

The people of Albania are divided into two major groups—the Gegs, to the north of the Shkumbin River, and the Tosks, to the south. Each group speaks its own dialect, or variation, of the Albanian language. In 1944 the Albanian government established the Tosk dialect as the official standard. Since 1952 all printed Albanian works have been published in Tosk.

Minority groups make up only about 2 percent of Albania's population. The largest group is the Greeks, who live mainly in the southeast. Macedonians form the next largest minority.

During the time that Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of Albanians converted to the religion of Islam. The Communist government that took control of Albania in 1944 discouraged religious practices. In 1967 the government closed all mosques and churches and banned religious services altogether. The ban was lifted in 1990, when the Communist government collapsed. Seventy percent of the Albanian population is Muslim. The rest is mostly Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholic.

Because of the long period of Turkish rule, the Albanians adopted a way of life that was similar to that of Western Asia. The Asian influence showed in Albanian clothing, building styles, and art forms. This was especially true of the Muslim population. In the late 20th century, however, the culture became increasingly Western in style.

Economy

The Albanian economy is one of the poorest in Europe. More than half of the Albanian population earns its livelihood from farming. The chief crops are wheat, corn (maize), barley, sorghum, vegetables, melons, and potatoes. Sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs are the major livestock.

For a small country, Albania has significant mineral resources. The southwestern part of the country is rich in petroleum and natural gas. This region also has deposits of lignite (soft coal) and natural asphalt. The mountains to the north contain reserves of metallic minerals, including chromium, copper, and iron-nickel. Hydroelectric power stations generate most of Albania's electric power.

Albania's industries include food processing and the production of minerals, chemicals, textiles, and building materials. The country's exports include chromium ore, crude oil, copper wire, vegetables and fruits, and wine. The major imports are machinery and equipment, spare parts, minerals and metals, construction materials, and food products.

History

The land that is now Albania was once home to the Illyrians, an ancient Indo-European people. The Albanian people are probably descended from the Illyrians. The Romans invaded the territory in the 2nd century BC. Near the end of the 4th century AD, the Roman Empire split into eastern and western divisions. Albania became part of the eastern part, the Byzantine Empire. Later the territory came under the control of Bulgaria and Serbia.

In the late 14th century Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turks ruled the country for almost 500 years. Albania gained its independence in 1912. In drawing the borders of the new country, the major European powers gave to Serbia a large area with an Albanian population. This region was called Kosovo.

During World War I, Albania was occupied by various warring powers. In 1920 the Albanians set up a new government of their own. Five years later a conservative chieftain named Ahmed Bey Zogu became the country's president. In 1928 he declared himself King Zog I. After the Italians invaded Albania in April 1939, Zog fled the country.