Geography of Kosovo
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
|---|---|
| Region | Southeast Europe (Balkans) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10,887 km2 (4,203 sq mi) |
| • Land | 99% |
| • Water | 1% |
| Coastline | 0 km (0 mi) |
| Borders |
|
| Highest point | Gjeravica 2,656 m (8,714 ft) |
| Lowest point | White Drin 297 m (974 ft) |
| Longest river | White Drin 122 km (76 mi) |
| Largest lake | Lake Ujman 9.2 km2 (4 sq mi) |
| Climate | Temperate Zone Continental and Mediterranean |
| Terrain | Mountains, Hills, Forest, urban |
Balkan Peninsula enclosed by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania to the southwest. It has no direct access to the Mediterranean Sea but its rivers flow into three seas, the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea
.
The country possesses impressive and contrasting
Kosovo stretches over the west and east, respectively. Additionally, Kosovo consists of multiple geographic and ethnographic regions, such as Drenica, Dushkaja, Gollak, Has, Highlands of Gjakova, Llap, Llapusha and Rugova
.
The country is a quite rich country for its
Lumëbardhi i Prizrenit
.
The climate of the country is mostly defined by its geographical location in the southeastern part of the
european continent and strongly influenced by the seas in the west, south and east. It enjoys a combination of a continental climate and a mediterranean climate
, with four distinct seasons.
Kosovo is characterised by rich
grey wolf, lynx and golden eagle
.
Territory
Borders
The
Southeastern Europe. It borders the countries of Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast and Albania to the southwest.[3] The land area of the country is 10,910 square kilometres (4,210 sq mi), being the 161st
largest country in the world.
The border between Kosovo and
Sharr Mountains. The border between Kosovo and Montenegro
measures at only 79.165 km (49.191 mi) in length, making it the shortest border in the country. This border is rugged and mountainous associated with the Albanian Alps. The border between Kosovo and Serbia stretches for a total of 380.068 km (236.163 mi) and is situated along the northern and eastern edge of the country.
Physical geography
Topography
The country of
Kosovo
.
Most of the country is mountainous and hilly. The southern and southeastern edge is distinguished by the Sharr Mountains.Balkan Peninsula, which is best described in their name.
Sharr Mountains National Park were established to protect the landscape, scenery and natural environment of the country.[8][9] They represent the most important regions of vegetation and biodiversity in the country, because they provide excellent conditions for a great wild and plant life.[10][11]
The
Hydrography
Lake of Leqinat within the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park
in the west of Kosovo.A landlocked country, there are several notable rivers and lakes within the country's borders. The drainage basin of the Black Sea comprises 50.7 percent of the territory of the country and totals 5,520 square kilometres (2,130 sq mi), which makes it the largest in Kosovo.[15] The main rivers in the section of the country of the river basin are the rivers of Ibar and Sitnica.
In contrast, 43.5 percent of the country's territory is encompassed by the drainage basin of the
Lumbardhi i Deçanit. The rest belongs to the Aegean Sea drainage basin, where the largest river by far is the Lepenac.[15]
The
Nerodimka is of particular significance because it represents Europe's only instance of a river bifurcation
flowing into two seas, the Black and Aegean Sea. The bifurcation of the river is considered to be an artificial phenomenon, but created under extremely favorable natural conditions.
A number of natural lakes are located in the mountain ranges at various altitudes amongst them the
thermal and mineral water springs.[16]
The main lakes are
Liqenat Lake
.
Biodiversity
stretches in the west.
Kosovo is characterised by a diverse
hydrological and morphological
conditions.
In terms of phytogeography, the land area of Kosovo lies within the Boreal Kingdom, specifically within the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. Its territory can be conventionally subdivided into four terrestrial ecoregions of the Palearctic realm, amongst them the Balkan and Dinaric mixed forests.
Kosovo is particularly rich in remote and mountainous landscapes endowed with
The country has only two designated
Sharr Mountains
that cuts across the landscape along the border between Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Climate
Kosovo is located between the
Balkan Peninsula. This geographic location gives the country its large annual temperature range. Summer temperature highs can reach +30 °C (86 °F), winter's temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F).[22] According to the Strahler classification map the climate in Kosovo is considered moist continental.[23]
The country experiences warm summers and cold and snowy winters.
The climatic area of the
Dukagjin, which includes the watershed of the White Drin river, is influenced very much by the hot air masses, which cross the Adriatic Sea. Medium temperatures during winter range from 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) to sometimes 22.8 °C (73.0 °F). The average annual precipitation of this climatic area is about 700 mm (28 in) per year. The winter is characterized by heavy snowfalls. The climatic area of the mountains and forest parts is characterized by a typical forest clime, that is associated with heavy rainfalls (900 to 1,300 mm (35 to 51 in) per year), and summers that are very short and cold, and winters that are cold and with a lot of snow. Finally, it can be stated that the Kosovo territory is characterized by a sunny climate with variable temperature and humidity conditions.[24]
Extreme points
Elevation
- Highest point: Gjeravica, at 2,656 m (8,714 ft) m, 42°32′1″N 20°08′24″E / 42.53361°N 20.14000°E, Deçan, District of Peja[25]
- Lowest point: White Drin Valley near the border with Albania, at 297 m (974 ft), 42°9′45.7″N 20°32′43″E / 42.162694°N 20.54528°E, Vërmicë, Prizren[26]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geography of Kosovo.
References
- ^ Gani Gashia, Florim Isufi, Shpejtim Bulliqia, Ibrahim Ramadania. "Correlation between discharge, river Basin surface and rainfall quantity in Kosova" (PDF). publisher-connector.core.ac.uk. pp. 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
Kosovo waters flows towards the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Kosovo Biodiversity Assessment" (PDF). ww.ammk-rks.net. pp. 1–66.
- ^ [1], CIA - The World Factbook
- ^ Ministria e Punëve të Brendshme e Kosovës. "STRATEGJIA KOMBËTARE E REPUBLIKËS SË KOSOVËS PËR MENAXHIMIN E INTEGRUAR TË KUFIRIT" (PDF). mpb-ks.org (in Albanian). pp. 1–93.
- ^ "SHARR/ŠAR PLANINA – KORAB – DEŠAT/DESHAT" (PDF). envsec.org. pp. 1–132.
- ^ Zeqir Veselaj (2010). "Bjeshkët e Nemuna perla natyrore e Kosovës" (PDF). documents.rec.org (in Albanian). pp. 29–32.
- ^ Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Planifikimit Hapësinor - Instituti i Kosovës për Mbrojtjen e Natyrës. "STUDIM MBI ARSYESHMËRINË E SHPALLJES SË TERRITORIT TË BJESHKËVE TË NEMUNA PARK NACIONAL" (PDF). ammk-rks.net (in Albanian). pp. 13–14.
- ^ "PËR PARKUN KOMBËTAR "BJESHKËT E NEMUNA"" (PDF). ammk-rks.net (in Albanian).
- ^ "PËR PARKUN KOMBËTAR "SHARRI"" (PDF). ammk-rks.net (in Albanian).
- ^ "Qenan Maxhuni: Biodiversiteti i Kosoves" (PDF) (in Albanian). AKMM/IKMN. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "VLERAT E TRASHËGIMISË NATYRORE TË KOSOVËS" (PDF). ammk-rks.net (in Albanian). 2005.
- ^ "Shala e Bajgores Nė Vėshtrim Historik". Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ^ Mermerna Pecina Archived 2008-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Tony Oldham, 2002
- ^ Around Kosovo: It's Better to See it Once Than Hear About it 100 Times, Valerii Petrushka
- ^ a b c Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Planifikimit Hapësinor - Instituti i Kosovës për Mbrojtjen e Natyrës (2010). "Report The State of Water in Kosovo R" (PDF). ammk-rks.net. Prishtina. pp. 31–39.
- ^ [2] Archived 2015-04-03 at the Wayback Machine Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals of Kosovo
- ^ a b "Kosovo Biodiversity Assessment" (PDF). ammk-rks.net. 2003. pp. 1–66.
- ^ "Brown Bear Conservation Action Plan for Europe" (PDF). nina.no.
- ^ "Action Plan for Grey Wolf Canis lupus Conservation and Management" (PDF). daba.gov.lv. 2017.
- ^ "STATSU AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE BALKAN LYNX (Lynx lynx martinoi MIRIĆ, 1978) AND ITS PREY" (PDF). catsg.org.
- ^ "Overview of Nature Protection Progress in Kosovo" (PDF). landscapeonline.de (in Albanian). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- ^ "Geography". Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ Strahler & Strahler. (2006).Introducing Physical Geography, Boston:John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- ^ "Climatic Conditions". Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
- ^ "Kosovo | History, Map, Flag, Population, Languages, & Capital | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Kosovo Geography – Be In Kosovo". Retrieved 2023-11-25.
