ARIYO MICAH MAYOWALE

ENIFEXCEL NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

NURSERY TWO

ARIYO PROJECT WORK

THE REPUBLIC OF ALBENIA

Republika e Shqipërisë (Albanian)

ABSTRACT

The historical origins of the term "Albania" can be traced back to medieval Latin, with its foundations
believed to be associated with the Illyrian tribe of the Albani. This connection gains further support
from the work of the Ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy during the 2nd century AD, where he
included the settlement of Albanopolis situated to the northeast of Durrës.[13][14] The presence of a
medieval settlement named Albanon or Arbanon hints at the possibility of historical continuity.
However, the precise relationship between these historical references and the question of whether
Albanopolis was synonymous with Albanon remains a subject of scholarly debate.[15]

The Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates, in his 11th century historical account, provides the earliest
undisputed reference to the Albanians, when he mentions them having taken part in a revolt against
Constantinople in 1079.[16] Additionally, he identified the Arbanitai as subjects under the governance
of the Duke of Dyrrachium.[17] In the Middle Ages, Albania was denoted as Arbëri or Arbëni by its
inhabitants, who identified themselves as Arbëreshë or Arbëneshë.[18] Albanians employ the terms
Shqipëri or Shqipëria when referring to their nation, designations that trace their historical origins to
the 14th century.[19] However, it was not until the late 17th and early 18th centuries that these terms
gradually superseded Arbëria and Arbëreshë among the Albanians.[19][20] These two expressions are
widely interpreted to symbolise "Children of the Eagles" and "Land of the Eagles".[21

INTRODUCTION
In ancient times, the Illyrians inhabited northern and central regions of Albania, whilst Epirotes
inhabited the south. Several important ancient Greek colonies were also established on the coast. In
the 2nd century BCE, the region was annexed by the Roman Republic, and after the division of the
Roman Empire it became part of Byzantium. The first known Albanian autonomous principality –
Arbanon – was established in the 12th century. The Kingdom of Albania, Principality of Albania and
Albania Veneta were formed between the 13th and 15th centuries in different parts of the country,
alongside other Albanian principalities and political entities. In the late 15th century, Albania became
part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912, when the modern Albanian state declared independence. In
1939, the Kingdom of Albania was invaded by Italy, which became Greater Albania, and then a
protectorate of Nazi Germany during World War II.[8] Following the war, the People's Socialist
Republic of Albania was formed, which lasted until the Revolutions of 1991 concluded with the fall of
communism in Albania and eventually the establishment of the current Republic of Albania.

Albania is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. It is a developing country, ranking 67th in

the Human Development Index, with an upper-middle income economy dominated by the service
sector, followed by manufacturing.[9] It went through a process of transition following the end of
communism in 1990, from centralised planning to a market-based economy.[10][11][12] Albania
provides universal health care and free primary and secondary education to its citizens.[6] Albania is a
member of the United Nations, World Bank, UNESCO, NATO, WTO, COE, OSCE, and OIC. It has
been an official candidate for membership in the European Union since 2014. It is one of the founding
members of the Energy Community, including the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation and Union for the Mediterranean.

PRE-HISTORY

Mesolithic habitation in Albania has been evidenced in several open air sites which during that period
were close to the Adriatic coastline and in cave sites. Mesolithic objects found in a cave near Xarrë
include flint and jasper objects along with fossilised animal bones, while those discoveries at Mount
Dajt comprise bone and stone tools similar to those of the Aurignacian culture.[23] The Neolithic era
in Albania began around 7000 BCE and is evidenced in finds which indicate domestication of sheep
and goats and small-scale agriculture. A part of the Neolithic population may have been the same as
the Mesolithic population of the southern Balkans like in the Konispol cave where the Mesolithic
stratum co-exists with Pre-Pottery Neolithic finds. Cardium pottery culture appears in coastal Albania
and across the Adriatic after 6500 BCE, while the settlements of the interior took part in the processes
which formed Starčevo culture.[24]

The Indo-Europeanization of Albania in the context of the IE-ization of the western Balkans began
after 2800 BCE. The presence of the Early Bronze Age tumuli in the vicinity of later Apollonia dates
to 2679±174 calBCE (2852-2505 calBCE). These burial mounds belong to the southern expression of
the Adriatic-Ljubljana culture (related to later Cetina culture) which moved southwards along the
Adriatic from the northern Balkans. The same community built similar mounds in Montenegro
(Rakića Kuće) and northern Albania (Shtoj).[25] The first archaeogenetic find related to the IE-ization
of Albania involves a man with predominantly Yamnaya ancestry buried in a tumulus of northeastern
Albania which dates to 2663–2472 calBCE.[26] During the Middle Bronze Age, Cetina culture sites
and finds appear in Albania. Cetina culture moved southwards across the Adriatic from the Cetina
valley of Dalmatia. In Albania, Cetina finds are concentrated around southern Lake Shkodër and
appear typically in tumulus cemeteries like in Shkrel and Shtoj and hillforts like Gajtan (Shkodër) as
well as cave sites like Blaz, Nezir and Keputa (central Albania) and lake basin sites like Sovjan
(southeastern Albania).[27]

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Motto: Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder,

më jep emrin Shqipëtar
"You Albania, give me honour,
you give me the name Albanian"

Tirana
Capital 41°19′N 19°49′E

and largest city

Official langu Albanian

ages

Recognised  Greek
minority  Aromanian
languages  Macedonian

Religion  59% Islam

 17% Christia
 (2020) nity
 9% no
religion
 15%
undeclared[1]

Demonym(s) Albanian

Government Unitary
parliamentary
republic

• President Bajram Begaj

• Prime Minister Edi Rama

• Parliament Lindita Nikolla

Speaker

Legislature Kuvendi

Establishment history

• Principality of 1190
Arbanon

• Kingdom of February 1272

Albania

• Princedom of 1368
Albania

• League of 2 March 1444

Lezhë

• Principality of 1515
Mirdita

• Pashalik of 1757/1787
Scutari/Janina

• Proclamation of 28 November 1912

independence
from the Ottom
an Empire

• Principality of 29 July 1913

Albania

• 1st Republic of 31 January 1925

 Albania

• Kingdom of 1 September 1928

Albania

• 2nd Republic of 11 January 1946

Albania

• 3rd Republic of 28 December 1976

Albania

• 4th Republic of 29 April 1991

Albania

• Current 28 November 1998

constitution

Area

• Total 28,748 km2 (11,100

sq mi) (140th)

• Water (%) 4.7

Population

• January 2022 2,793,592[2]

estimate

• 2011 census 2,821,977[3]

• Density 97/km2 (251.2/sq mi

)

GDP (PPP) 2023 estimate

• Total $55.928
billion[4] (118th)

• Per capita $19,566[4] (83th)

GDP (nominal) 2023 estimate

• Total $23.032
billion[4] (125th)

• Per capita $8,057[4] (84th)

Gini (2019) 34.3[5]

medium
 HDI (2021) 0.796[6]
high · 67th

Currency Lek (ALL)

Time zone UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)

Driving side right

Calling code +355

ISO 3166 AL
code

Internet TLD .al

MIDDLE AGES

The Roman Empire was split in 395 upon the death of Theodosius I into an Eastern and Western
Roman Empire in part because of the increasing pressure from threats during the Barbarian Invasions.
From the 6th century into the 7th century, the Slavs crossed the Danube and largely absorbed the
indigenous Greeks, Illyrians and Thracians in the Balkans; thus, the Illyrians were mentioned for the
last time in historical records in the 7th century.[41][42]

In the 11th century, the Great Schism formalised the break of communion between the Eastern
Orthodox and Western Catholic Church that is reflected in Albania through the emergence of a
Catholic north and Orthodox south. The Albanian people inhabited the west of Lake Ochrida and the
upper valley of River Shkumbin and established the Principality of Arbanon in 1190 under the
leadership of Progon of Kruja.[43] The realm was succeeded by his sons Gjin and Dhimitri.

Upon the death of Dhimiter, the territory came under the rule of the Albanian-Greek Gregory
Kamonas and subsequently under the Golem of Kruja.[44][45][46] In the 13th century, the
principality was dissolved.[47][48][49] Arbanon is considered to be the first sketch of an Albanian
state, that retained a semi-autonomous status as the western extremity of the Byzantine Empire, under
the Byzantine Doukai of Epirus or Laskarids of Nicaea.[50]

CULTURE

The red and black national colours are displayed on the flag of Albania that is adorned with a double-
headed eagle as the foremost recognised national symbol of Albania.[338][339][340] With the black
eagle portraying bravery and strength, the red field symbolises the fortitude and sacrifices of the
Albanian people.[338] The eagle is linked with the legacy of the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti,
renowned as Skanderbeg, who led a prosperous resistance movement against Ottoman rule.[341][342]
[340] Rooted in the Middle Ages, it emerged as a heraldic symbol in the Principality of Arbër and
among notable Albanian dynasties such as the Dukagjini, Kastrioti, Muzaka and Thopia clans.[343]
Amid the Albanian Renaissance, marking the resurgence of Albanian national identity and aspirations
for independence, the Albanian eagle regained its prominence.[339] Its importance reached its
culmination with Albania's declaration of independence in 1912, when Ismail Qemali raised it as the
national flag in Vlorë.[339]

The coat of arms of Albania is an adaptation of the flag of Albania and the seal of Skanderbeg.[338]
The coat comprises the black double-headed eagle positioned at the center of a red field.[338] Above
the eagle, it carries the helmet of Skanderbeg that is crowned with the head of a golden horned goat.
[340] Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqipëtar, which translates to "You Albania, give me
honor, give me the name Albanian", is the national motto of Albania.[339][340] It finds its foundation
in the legacy of national poet Naim Frashëri, who held a renowned role during the Albanian
Renaissance.[339] The national anthem of Albania, "Himni i Flamurit", was composed by Asdreni and
adopted as such following Albania's independence in 1912

ANTIQUITY

The incorporated territory of Albania was historically inhabited by Indo-European peoples, amongst
them numerous Illyrian and Epirote tribes. There were also several Greek colonies. The territory
referred to as Illyria corresponded roughly to the area east of the Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean
Sea extending in the south to the mouth of the Vjosë.[28][29] The first account of the Illyrian groups
comes from Periplus of the Euxine Sea, a Greek text written in the 4th century BC.[30] The Bryges
were also present in central Albania, while the south was inhabited by the Epirote Chaonians, whose
capital was at Phoenice.[30][31][32] Other colonies such as Apollonia and Epidamnos were
established by Greek city-states on the coast by the 7th century BC.[30][33]

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

The artistic history of Albania has been particularly influenced by a multitude of ancient and medieval
people, traditions and religions. It covers a broad spectrum with mediums and disciplines that include
painting, pottery, sculpture, ceramics and architecture all of them exemplifying a great variety in style
and shape, in different regions and period.

The rise of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire in the Middle Ages was accompanied by a
corresponding growth in Christian and Islamic art in the lands of Albania which are apparent in
examples of architecture and mosaics throughout the country.[349] Centuries later, the Albanian
Renaissance proved crucial to the emancipation of the modern Albanian culture and saw
unprecedented developments in all fields of literature and art whereas artists sought to return to the
ideals of Impressionism and Romanticism.[350] However, Onufri, Kolë Idromeno, David Selenica,
Kostandin Shpataraku and the Zografi Brothers are the most eminent representatives of Albanian art.

The architecture of Albania reflects the legacy of various civilisations tracing back to the classical
antiquity. Major cities in Albania have evolved from within the castle to include dwellings, religious
and commercial structures, with constant redesigning of town squares and evolution of building
techniques. Nowadays, the cities and towns reflect a whole spectrum of various architectural styles. In
the 20th century, many historical as well as sacred buildings bearing the ancient influence were
demolished during the communist era.[351]

Ancient architecture is found throughout Albania and most visible in Byllis, Amantia, Phoenice,
Apollonia, Butrint, Antigonia, Shkodër and Durrës. Considering the long period of rule of the
Byzantine Empire, they introduced castles, citadels, churches and monasteries with spectacular wealth
of visible murals and frescos. Perhaps the best known examples can be found in the southern Albanian
cities and surroundings of Korçë, Berat, Voskopojë and Gjirokastër. Involving the introduction of
Ottoman architecture there was a development of mosques and other Islamic buildings, particularly
seen in Berat and Gjirokastër.

A productive period of Historicism, Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism merged into the 19th century,
best exemplified in Korçë. The 20th century brought new architectural styles such as the modern
Italian style, which is present in Tirana such as the Skanderbeg Square and Ministries. It is also
present in Shkodër, Vlorë, Sarandë and Durrës. Moreover, other towns received their present-day
Albania-unique appearance through various cultural or economic influences.

Socialist classicism arrived during the communist era in Albania after the Second World War. At this
period many socialist-styled complexes, wide roads and factories were constructed, while town
squares were redesigned and numerous of historic and important buildings demolished. Notable
examples of that style include the Mother Teresa Square, Pyramid of Tirana, Palace of Congresses and
so on.

Three Albanian archaeological sites are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These
include the ancient remains of Butrint, the medieval Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastër, and
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region site shared with North Macedonia since 2019.[352]
[353] Furthermore, the royal Illyrian tombs, the remains of Apollonia, the ancient Amphitheatre of
Durrës and the Fortress of Bashtovë has been included on the tentative list of Albania.

CUISINE

Throughout the centuries, Albanian cuisine has been widely influenced by Albanian culture,
geography and history, and as such, different parts of the country enjoy specific regional cuisines.
Cooking traditions especially vary between the north and the south, owing to differing topography and
climate that essentially contribute to the excellent growth conditions for a wide array of herbs, fruits,
and vegetables.[354]

Albanians produce and use many varieties of fruits such as lemons, oranges, figs, and most notably,
olives, which are perhaps the most important element of Albanian cooking. Spices and other herbs
such as basil, lavender, mint, oregano, rosemary, and thyme are widely used, as are vegetables such as
garlic, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, as well as legumes of all types.
With a coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian in the Mediterranean Sea, fish, crustaceans, and
seafood are a popular and an integral part of the Albanian diet. Otherwise, lamb is the traditional meat
for different holidays and religious festivals for both Christians and Muslims, although poultry, beef,
and pork are also in plentiful supply.

Tavë kosi ("soured milk casserole") is the national dish of Albania, consisting of lamb and rice baked
under a thick, tart veil of yoghurt. Fërgesë is another national dish, made up of peppers, tomatoes, and
cottage cheese. Pite is also popular, a baked pastry with a filling of a mixture of spinach and gjizë
(curd) or mish (ground meat).

Petulla, a traditional fried dough, is also a popular speciality, and is served with powdered sugar or
feta cheese and different sorts of fruit jams. Flia consists of multiple crêpe-like layers brushed with
cream and served with sour cream. Krofne, similar to Berliner doughnuts, are filled with jam, or
chocolate and often eaten during winter.

Coffee is an integral part of the Albanian lifestyle. The country has more coffee houses per capita than
any other country in the world.[355] Tea is also enjoyed both at home or outside at cafés, bars, or
restaurants. Çaj Mali (Sideritis tea) is enormously beloved, and a part of the daily routine for most
Albanians. It is cultivated across Southern Albania and noted for its medicinal properties. Black tea is
also popular.

Albanian wine is also common throughout the country, and has been cultivated for thousands of years.
Albania has a long and ancient history of wine production, and belongs to the Old World of wine
producing countries.

MUSIC

Albanian folk music is a prominent part of the national identity, and continues to play a major part in
overall Albanian music. Folk music can be divided into two stylistic groups, mainly the northern
Gheg varieties, and southern Lab and Tosk varieties. Northern and southern traditions are contrasted
by a rugged tone from the north, and the more relaxed southern form of music.

Many songs concern events from Albanian history and culture, including traditional themes of honour,
hospitality, treachery, and revenge. The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by two
Himariot musicians, Neço Muka and Koço Çakali, in Paris, during their work with Albanian soprano
Tefta Tashko-Koço. Several gramophone compilations were recorded at the time by the three artists,
which eventually led to the recognition of Albanian iso-polyphony as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage.[359]

Festivali i Këngës is a traditional Albanian song contest organised by the national broadcaster Radio
Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). The festival is celebrated annually since its inauguration in 1962 and
has launched the careers of some of Albania's most successful singers including Vaçe Zela and
Parashqevi Simaku.[360] It is significantly a music competition among Albanian performers
presenting unreleased songs in premiere, composed by Albanian authors and voted by juries or by
public.

Contemporary artists Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, Era Istrefi, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Bleona, Elvana Gjata,
Ermonela Jaho, and Inva Mula have achieved international recognition for their music,[361] while
soprano Ermonela Jaho has been described by some as the "world's most acclaimed soprano".[362]
Albanian opera singer Saimir Pirgu was nominated for the 2017 Grammy Award.

SPORTS

Albania participated at the Olympic Games in 1972 for the first time. The country made their Winter
Olympic Games debut in 2006. Albania missed the next four games, two of them due to the 1980 and
1984 boycotts, but returned for the 1992 games in Barcelona. Since then, Albania have participated in
all games. Albania normally competes in events that include swimming, athletics, weightlifting,
shooting and wrestling. The country have been represented by the National Olympic Committee of
Albania since 1972. The nation has participated at the Mediterranean Games since the games of 1987
in Syria. The Albanian athletes have won a total of 43 (8 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze) medals from
1987 to 2013.

[30/10, 15:08] Hurry Now And Apply: Popular sports in Albania include football, weightlifting,
basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, rugby union and gymnastics. Football is by far the most
popular sport in Albania. It is governed by the Football Association of Albania (Albanian: Federata
Shqiptare e Futbollit, F.SH.F.), which has membership in FIFA and UEFA.

The Albania national football team, ranking 51st in the World in 2017 (highest 22nd on 22 August
2015) have won the 1946 Balkan Cup and the Malta Rothmans International Tournament 2000, but
had never participated in any major UEFA or FIFA tournament, until UEFA Euro 2016, Albania's first
ever appearance at the continental tournament and at a major men's football tournament. Albania
scored their first ever goal in a major tournament and secured their first ever win in European
Championship when they beat Romania by 1–0 in a UEFA Euro 2016 match on 19 June 2016.[364]
[365] The most successful football clubs are Skënderbeu, KF Tirana, Dinamo Tirana, Partizani and
Vllaznia.

Weightlifting is one of the most successful individual sport for the Albanians, with the national team
winning medals at the European Weightlifting Championships and the rest international competitions.
Albanian weightlifters have won a total of 16 medals at the European Championships with 1 of them
being gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze. In the World Weightlifting Championships, the Albanian
weightlifting team has won in 1972 a gold in 2002 a silver and in 2011 a bronze medal.

LITERATURE

The cultural renaissance was first of all expressed through the development of the Albanian language
in the area of church texts and publications. The Protestant reforms invigorated hopes for the
development of the local language and literary tradition, when cleric Gjon Buzuku translated the
Catholic liturgy into Albanian, trying to do for Albanian what Martin Luther had done for German.
Meshari (The Missal) written by Gjon Buzuku was published in 1555 and is considered one of the
first literary work of written Albanian during the Middle Ages. The refined level of the language and
the stabilised orthography must be the result of an earlier tradition of written Albanian, a tradition that
is not well understood. However, there is some fragmented evidence, pre-dating Buzuku, which
indicates that Albanian was written from at least the 14th century.

[30/10, 15:09] Hurry Now And Apply: Albanian writings from these centuries must not have been
religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist Marin Barleti,
who in his book Siege of Shkodër (Rrethimi i Shkodrës) from 1504, confirms that he leafed through
such chronicles written in the language of the people (in vernacula lingua) as well as his famous
biography of Skanderbeg Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis (History of
Skanderbeg) from 1508. The History of Skanderbeg is still the foundation of Skanderbeg studies and
is considered an Albanian cultural treasure, vital to the formation of Albanian national self-
consciousness.

During the 16th and the 17th centuries, the catechism (E mbësuame krishterë) (Christian Teachings)
from 1592 written by Lekë Matrënga, (Doktrina e krishterë) (The Christian Doctrine) from 1618 and
(Rituale romanum) 1621 by Pjetër Budi, the first writer of original Albanian prose and poetry, an
apology for George Castriot (1636) by Frang Bardhi, who also published a dictionary and folklore
creations, the theological-philosophical treaty Cuneus Prophetarum (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by
Pjetër Bogdani, the most universal personality of Albanian Middle Ages, were published in Albanian.
The most famous Albanian writer in the 20th and 21st century is probably Ismail Kadare.

GEOGRAPHY

With an area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), Albania is situated along the Mediterranean Sea on the
Balkan Peninsula in South and Southeast Europe.[131] The country is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to
the west, Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, Greece
to the south and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is positioned between latitudes 42° and 39° N, and
longitudes 21° and 19° E. Geographic coordinates include Vërmosh at 42° 35' 34" northern latitude as
the northernmost point, Konispol at 39° 40' 0" northern latitude as the southernmost point, Sazan at
19° 16' 50" eastern longitude as the westernmost point and Vërnik at 21° 1' 26" eastern longitude as
the easternmost point.[132] Mount Korab, rising at 2,764 m (9,068.24 ft) above the Adriatic, is the
highest point, while the Mediterranean Sea, at 0 m (0.00 ft), is the lowest point. The country extends
148 km (92 mi) from east to west and around 340 km (211 mi) from north to south.

Albania possesses a diverse and varied landscape with mountains and hills that traverse its territory in
various directions. The country is home to extensive mountain ranges, including the Albanian Alps in
the north, the Korab Mountains in the east, the Pindus Mountains in the southeast, the Ceraunian
Mountains in the southwest and the Skanderbeg Mountains in the centre. In the northwest, the country
boasts the remarkable Lake of Shkodër, recognised as the largest lake in Southern Europe.[133]
Towards the southeast, the Lake of Ohrid emerges, renowned as one of the world's oldest
continuously existing lakes.[134] Further to the south, the expanse includes the Large and Small Lake
of Prespa, distinguished as some of the highest positioned lakes in the Balkans. Rivers rise mostly in
the east of Albania and discharge into the Adriatic Sea but as well as into the Ionian Sea to a lesser
extent. The longest river in the country, measured from its mouth to its source, is the Drin that starts at
the confluence of its two headwaters, the Black and White Drin. Of particular concern is the Vjosë,
which represents one of the last intact large river systems in Europe.

CLIMATE

The climate of Albania exhibits a distinguished level of variability and diversity due to the differences
in latitude, longitude and altitude.[135][136] Albania experiences a Mediterranean and Continental
climate, characterised by the presence of four distinct seasons.[137] According to the Köppen
classification, Albania encompasses five primary climatic types, spanning from Mediterranean and
subtropical in the western half to oceanic, continental and subarctic in the eastern half of the country.
[138] The coastal regions along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas in Albania are acknowledged as the
warmest areas, while the northern and eastern regions encompassing the Albanian Alps and the Korab
Mountains are recognised as the coldest areas in the country.[139] Throughout the year, the average
monthly temperatures fluctuate, ranging from −1 °C (30 °F) during the winter months to 21.8 °C (71.2
°F) in the summer months. Notably, the highest recorded temperature of 43.9 °C (111.0 °F) was
observed in Kuçovë on 18 July 1973, while the lowest temperature of −29 °C (−20 °F) was recorded
in Shtyllë, Librazhd on 9 January 2017.[140][141]

Albania receives most of the precipitation in winter months and less in summer months.[136] The
average precipitation is about 1,485 millimetres (58.5 inches).[139] The mean annual precipitation
ranges between 600 millimetres (24 inches) and 3,000 millimetres (120 inches) depending on
geographical location.[137] The northwestern and southeastern highlands receive the intenser amount
of precipitation, whilst the northeastern and southwestern highlands as well as the Western Lowlands
the more limited amount.[139] The Albanian Alps in the far north of the country are considered to be
among the most humid regions of Europe, receiving at least 3,100 mm (122.0 in) of rain annually.
[139] Four glaciers within these mountains were discovered at a relatively low altitude of 2,000
metres (6,600 ft), which is extremely rare for such a southerly latitude.

DIASPORA

Historically, the Albanian people have established several communities in many regions throughout
Southern Europe. The Albanian diaspora has been formed since the late Middle Ages, when they
emigrated to places such as Italy, especially in Sicily and Calabria, and Greece to escape either
various socio-political difficulties or the Ottoman conquest of Albania.[366] Following the fall of
communism, large numbers of Albanians have migrated to countries such as Australia, Canada,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Scandinavia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Albanian minorities are present in the neighbouring territories such as the west of North Macedonia,
the east of Montenegro, Kosovo in its entirety and southern Serbia. In Kosovo, Albanians are the
largest ethnic group in the country. Altogether, the number of ethnic Albanians living abroad is
estimated to be higher than the total population inside Albania.

REFERENCES

Wikipedia.org