ABSTRACT
Although only the size of Wales or the state of Maryland, Albania is notable for the beauty and variety of its natural landscapes (Figure 12.1). The country’s mean altitude of 708m is twice the European average. Varied relief and climatic conditions, significant water and mineral reserves, a diversity of fauna and flora, and often stunning Ionian and Adriatic coasts characterize one of the hitherto lesser-known corners of Europe. Environmental pressures from economic exploitation and development were relatively low prior to the Second World War, although reclamation of some of the mosquito-infested lowland wetlands had begun.
