Butrint Lagoon () is a
salt
In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...
lagoon
A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') an ...
south of
Saranda,
Albania
Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
, located in direct proximity of the
Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by dense forested hills, rocky coast and complemented by saltwater and freshwater marshlands. The lake has a length of and a width of , with a surface area of . The maximum depth of the lake is . At the south, the
Vivari Channel connects the lagoon to the sea.
Flora and fauna
Butrint is particularly known for the diversity of
flora
Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...
and
fauna
Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...
. The southern portion of the lake is situated within the boundaries of
Butrint National Park and has been recognised as a
wetland
A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...
of international importance by designation under the
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar site, Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on We ...
.
The lake has also been identified as an important
Bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...
and
Plant Area, because it supports significant numbers of bird and plant species.
See also
*
Butrinti
*
Butrint National Park
*
Venetian Acropolis Castle
*
Venetian Triangular Castle
*
Channel of Vivari
*
Geography of Albania
*
Lakes of Albania &
Lagoons of Albania
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butrint
Butrint
Butrint
Wetlands of Albania
Geography of Vlorë County
Tourist attractions in Vlorë County
Important Bird Areas of Albania
Ramsar sites in Albania
Albanian Ionian Sea Coast
Butrint National Park