The 

Albanian Ionian Sea Coast (Albanian

pronunciation: : Bregdeti Jon) is a coastline of
the Northeastern Ionian Sea, that encompasses
the southwestern border of the Republic of
Albania, stretching from the southern half
of Karaburun Peninsula, across the historical
region of Labëria, the city of Sarandë, the
mountains of the Ceraunians and the Albanian
Riviera, to the Lake of Butrint, where the Strait
of Corfu separates the country from Greece.
Albania is located
in Southern and Southeastern Europe in the
western section of the Balkan Peninsula. It
borders on Montenegro to the
northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North
Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south and
the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The
coastline occupies a total length of 172
kilometres (107 mi) and explicitly marked by a
mountainous landscape supplied with
deep bays, numerous islands,
high cliffs, rocky and sandy coasts and a
unique marine life.
The Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean
Sea positioned south of the Adriatic Sea, which
extend from Sicily up to the Strait of
Otranto between Salento and Bay of Vlorë. It is
surrounded by Italy in the west, Greece and
Albania in the east. Though considered by
ancient authors to be part of the Adriatic Sea,
the Ionian Sea is at present seen as a
separate body of water.
Traditionally, the region represents the most
valuable tourist resource for the country,
especially due to the
unspoilt natural and cultural beauty expressed
in the
region's architecture, cuisine and tradition. Its
most considerable attraction is the ancient city
of Butrint, that is listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, because it provides valuable
remains of ancient civilizations.
The region is populated by more than 50.000
people with the largest city being
the seaport city of Sarandë, one of the most
appreciated tourist destinations in the Ionian
Sea. Sarandë is served by Port of Sarandë, one
of the largest of the country, which has become
a notable sailing and cruise port. The region is
very scenic, with wild coastlines, mountains and
a very substantial proportion of native forest.
Some of the most prominent beaches along the
coastline
are Dhërmi, Himara, Qeparo, Borsh, Lukovë, V
uno and Ksamil.
The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast is known for its
diverse landscapes, unique traditions, and its
influence on Albanian culture. It is regarded as
the birthplace of the Albanian iso-
polyphony which was recognised as
a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humani
The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast (Albanian
pronunciation: i adriˈa:tik] — Albanian: Bregdeti
Adriatik) stretches in the Southeastern Adriatic
Sea beginning at the Gulf of Drin in the north,
across the port cities
of Shëngjin, Durrës and Vlorë, to the Bay of
Vlorë in the south, where the Albanian
Riviera as well as the Albanian Ionian Sea
Coast begins.
Albania is geographically located
in South and Southeast Europe within
the Balkan Peninsula. It borders
on Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the
northeast, North Macedonia to the
east, Greece to the south and
the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The total
length of the coastline is pproximately 274
kilometres (170 mi), 178 kilometres (111 mi) of
which are taken up by white
sandy beaches and the remaining by
different landforms.
The Adriatic Sea is the northernmost arm of the
Mediterranean Sea extending all the way from
the Strait of Otranto in the south up to the Po
Valley in the north. The sea is apportioned into
two major basins, wherein Albania is entirely
located within the deepest and southernmost
one. The coastline is one of the wealthiest
scenery of the country in terms of biology,
holding an outstanding diversity
of ecosystems and biodiversity found within a
precious mosaic
of wetlands, estuaries, capes, sand
dunes, marshlands, forests and marine
habitats.
At different times, numerous ancient people,
most notably the Illyrians and later the Ancient
Greeks and Romans, have established
significant settlements around the shores. They
were considerably influenced by their direct
proximity to the sea because it provided routes
for trade, colonization and war, as well as food;
the Via Egnatia, that crossed through the
mountains of Albania, was at that time among
the most significant routes in the Roman
Empire.
The coastline is populated by more than 1.5
million people. The most sizable
cities are Durrës and Vlorë placed in the north
and south, respectively.[7] Durrës is served
by Port of Durrës, one of the largest on the
Adriatic Sea, which connects the city
to Italy and other neighbouring countries within
the Adriatic.
Geography
Albania is geographically located on the Balkan
Peninsula in South and Southeast
Europe bordered by the countries
of Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the
northeast, North Macedonia to the east
and Greece to the south and southeast. The
western edge touches the Adriatic and Ionian
Sea, both within the Mediterranean Sea. The
majority of the country's territory consists of
mountains and hills, making Albania one of the
most mountainous countries of Europe. Likely
the Albanian Alps runs in the north the Korab
Mountains in the east, the Ceraunian
Mountains in the south and the Skanderbeg
Mountains in the center, while the plains and
plateaus are principally to be found in the west.
The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast is known for its
rugged natural beauty, with rocky highlands and
a great marine life, while the Albanian Adriatic
Sea Coast consist of sandy beaches and
shallow coastal waters hosting a great wildlife.
Administratively, the Albanian Adriatic coast is
shared between the counties of Shkodër in the
north, Lezhë, Durrës, Tirana, Fier and Vlorë in
the south.
The Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast begins from
the estuary of Buna on the Gulf of Drin at the
border with Montenegro, passes
through Myzeqe Plain, the capes of Rodon,
Turrës, Gjuhëzes, the cities
of Shëngjin, Durrës, Vlorë,
the estuaries of Drin, Mat, Ishëm, Erzen, Shku
mbin, Seman, Vjosë and the lagoons
of Karavasta, Narta Kune-Vain-Tale and Patok
u, until it reaches the Bay of Vlorë. Numerous
rivers flowing into the Adriatic Sea
form bays, lagoons and limans.
The sand and silt they bring are deposited in
the areas of reduced flow, that is the sides of
the bays, forming narrow sandbanks.

The history of Albania forms a part of the

history of Europe. During classical
antiquity, Albania was home to several Illyrian
tribes such as
the Ardiaei, Albanoi, Amantini, Enchele, Taulant
ii and many others, but
also Thracian and Greek tribes, as well as
several Greek colonies established on
the Illyrian coast. In the 3rd century BC, the
area was annexed by Rome and became part
of the Roman
provinces of Dalmatia, Macedonia and Moesia
Superior. Afterwards, the territory remained
under Roman and Byzantine control until
the Slavic migrations of the 7th century. It was
integrated into the Bulgarian Empire in the 9th
century.
In the Middle Ages, the Principality of Arbër and
a Sicilian union known as the medieval
Kingdom of Albania were established. Some
areas became part of the Venetian and
later Serbian Empire. Between the mid-14th and
the late 15th centuries, most of modern-day
Albania was dominated by Albanian
principalities, when the Albanian principalities
fell to the rapid invasion of the Ottoman Empire.
Albania remained under Ottoman control as
part of the province of Rumelia until 1912; with
some interruptions during the 18th and 19th
century with the establishment of autonomy
minded Albanian lords. The first independent
Albanian state was founded by the Albanian
Declaration of Independence following a short
occupation by the Kingdom of Serbia.[1] The
formation of an Albanian national
consciousness dates to the later 19th century
and is part of the larger phenomenon of the rise
of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire.
A short-lived monarchical state known as
the Principality of Albania (1914–1925) was
succeeded by an even shorter-lived
first Albanian Republic (1925–1928). Another
monarchy, the Kingdom of Albania (1928–
1939), replaced the republic. The country
endured occupation by Italy just prior to World
War II. After the collapse of the Axis powers,
Albania became a communist state,
the Socialist People's Republic of Albania,
which for most of its duration was dominated
by Enver Hoxha (died 1985). Hoxha's political
heir Ramiz Alia oversaw the disintegration of
the "Hoxhaist" state during the wider collapse of
the Eastern Bloc in the later 1980s.
The communist regime collapsed in 1990, and
the former communist Party of Labour of
Albania was routed in elections in March 1992,
amid economic collapse and social unrest. The
unstable economic situation led to an Albanian
diaspora, mostly
to Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and
North America during the 1990s. The crisis
peaked in the Albanian Turmoil of 1997. An
amelioration of the economic and political
conditions in the early years of the 21st century
enabled Albania to become a full member
of NATO in 2009. The country is applying to join
the European Union.