Narta Lagoon

Narta Lagoon
View towards Zvërnec Island
Narta Lagoon is located in Albania
Narta Lagoon
Narta Lagoon
LocationVlorë County, Albania
Southern Europe
Coordinates40°32′N 19°28′E / 40.533°N 19.467°E / 40.533; 19.467
River sourcesVjosë River
Ocean/sea sourcesAdriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea
Surface area41.8 km2 (16.1 sq mi)[1]
Average depth0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Max. depth1.5 m (4.9 ft)
SettlementsVlorë, Orikum

Narta Lagoon (Albanian: Laguna e Nartës) is a lagoon of the Adriatic Sea on the Mediterranean Sea in the central coast of Albania. The lagoon extends north of the Bay of Vlorë on the eastern shore of the Strait of Otranto and is separated from the sea by a narrow littoral strip, consisting of an alluvial dune. It has a surface area of 41.8 km2 (16.1 sq mi) with a maximal depth of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).

It is situated within the boundaries of the Vjosa Wild River National Park, and has been recognised as an important Bird and Plant Area of international importance.[2][3] As of May 2020, it is home to 3,000 flamingos.[4] It is formed by the constant accumulation of solid flow of the Vjosa River, which originates within the Pindus Mountains close to the border between Albania and Greece.[5]

The lagoon is named after the village of Nartë, which is found on the lagoon's southern shores. Within the lagoon are two islands, the largest being Zvërnec Island. A wooden footbridge connects mainland to the island, where a 13th-century monastery is located. At least 34,800 wintering birds can be counted on the lagoon.[6]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Narta Lagoon.

References

  1. ^ "COASTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ECOSYSTEM VLORA BAY- NARTA LAGOON - VJOSA RIVER MOUTH" (PDF). itc.upt.al. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  2. ^ BirdLife International. "Narta Lagoon". datazone.birdlife.org.
  3. ^ IUCN, World Wide Fund for Nature, Plantlife. "Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region" (PDF). portals.iucn.org. p. 75.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Hektor Pustina (May 12, 2020). "Flamingos flock to Albania lagoon amid coronavirus". Associated Press.
  5. ^ N.Pano, Pasuritë ujore të Shqipërisë. Tiranë 2005, ISBN 978-99956-1087-6.
  6. ^ "Narta Lagoon, Llogora, Orikumi and Karaburun Peninsula" (PDF). mp.mountaintrip.eu.