Albania: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Albania

Albania is in southeastern Europe, on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula. About three-quarters of the country is mountains and hills, and its coast faces two seas. It is known for ancient ruins, Ottoman-era towns and wild rivers.

About Tirana

Tirana sits on a plain in central Albania, with Mount Dajti rising to the east. It is known for Skanderbeg Square and its brightly painted buildings.

Fun facts about Albania

1. Albania's red flag shows a black double-headed eagle, and the golden eagle is the national animal.
2. The coast of Albania touches two seas: the Adriatic Sea in the west and the Ionian Sea in the southwest.
3. Mount Korab, on the eastern border, is the highest mountain in Albania, rising more than 2,700 metres.
4. The Albanian language forms its own separate branch of the Indo-European language family, with no close relatives.
5. Butrint, an ancient city with Greek and Roman ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Albania.
6. Vjosa National Park, created in 2023, protects one of Europe's last wild rivers along its whole free-flowing length.