Republic of Albania: brief description

The Republic of Albania (see photo below) is a small state located in the west of the Balkan Peninsula. Independence of the country was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. Whatever it was, during the first half of the twentieth century, she was constantly in occupation. Finally, the state became free after the end of World War II.

Geography

As already mentioned above, the Republic of Albania is located in the south-eastern part of Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It is washed by the waters of the Ionian and Adriatic seas. In the north-east it borders with Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo, in the southeast - with Greece, and also separates from Italy in the west by the Otranto Channel. The area of the state is almost 29 thousand square kilometers. According to this indicator, it occupies 139 position on the planet.

The relief is mostly represented by mountains and hills, which alternate with deep valleys. There are several lakes on the territory of the country. As for minerals, the bowels of the earth can be called rich in natural gas, oil, phosphates, copper, nickel and iron ore.

Government

If we take into account the state structure, the country is usually called the "democratic republic of Albania". Its capital is Tirana. It is here the largest city. The state is headed by the president, and the government is the prime minister. The supreme legislative body of the country is the National Assembly (parliament). The national currency of Albania is lek. Along with this, on the territory of the country along with him in free circulation are the American dollar and the euro, which you can pay almost anywhere, anywhere.

Population

The population of the country, based on the last census, is about 3.2 million people. In this indicator, Albania ranks 132nd in the world. The density of residence per every square kilometer is 111 inhabitants. The average life expectancy is 80 years. The status of the state is Albanian. Together with this, most of the local residents understand and can communicate in Italian, Greek and even some Slavic languages. With regard to religion, the Republic of Albania is the only European state in which Islam predominates. In particular, about 70% of local residents are in the Sunni direction. Approximately 20% of Albanians profess Orthodoxy, and the rest - Catholicism and other concessions.

Climate

The country is dominated by a subtropical climate of the Mediterranean type. It is characterized by hot and dry summers, as well as wet winters. In July, thermometer bars usually range from 24 to 28 degrees above zero. In January, the average temperature is 7 degrees Celsius. At the same time, one can not ignore the nuance that this indicator largely depends on the altitude above sea level. In other words, in the mountainous regions it is much colder. The temperature here can drop to 20 degrees below zero. Precipitation is typical for spring and autumn. In a year they usually fall in the form of rains from 600 to 800 millimeters. In the mountains, this value is much greater. Numerous reviews of tourists indicate that the Republic of Albania is the place to visit which is best in September. It was at this time that the weather conditions can be called the most favorable. They are not the worst in April and October.

sights

The country boasts a rich history, an attractive culture, and also a picturesque nature. In this regard, from year to year for the increasing number of tourists, the object of travel is the Republic of Albania. Sights since the time of its territories under Roman rule have been well preserved to our days in the city of Durres. Here you can see the ruins of fortified walls, several castles and fortresses, as well as the Amphitheater, erected in the second century. Archaeological works are conducted in the area of Appolonia and nowadays, all the finds are shown in the local museum. One of the most interesting sights here is the so-called Mosaic house, which is surrounded by very beautiful fountains and statues. In principle, any of the cities of the country can show its visitors a lot of interesting places.

The cultural capital of the state is called the city of Shkoder. The permanent local symbol is the mosque of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Zamil. On the territory of the city there is also one of the main Orthodox shrines - the Franciscan ancient church. A lot of interesting legends and stories are connected with the fortress of Rosephan. It was built in the fifth century and served to protect the trade routes running here. Until now, the building is well preserved, despite the fact that it has repeatedly reflected long sieges and raids.

The capital of the state is especially rich in picturesque places. The main decoration of Tirana is its central square, surrounded by several quite interesting structures. These include an international hotel and a historical museum.