Editing Geography of Albania (section)

=== Hydrography ===
{{See also|Rivers of Albania|Lakes of Albania|Lagoons of Albania}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
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| image1            = Prespa_Lake_2015.JPG
| alt1              = Lake of Prespa
| caption1          = [[Prespa Lake|Lake of Prespa]] in the southeast
| image2            = Lake_Koman_Albania_2016.jpg
| alt2              = Lake of Koman
| caption2          = [[Lake Koman|Lake of Koman]] in the northeast
}}

The country has a dense network of [[river]]s and streams characterized by a high [[Volumetric flow rate|flow rate]].<ref>{{cite journal|title= The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact|year=2005|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8121855|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008|page=137|quote=Albanian rivers are characterized by a high flow rate; the total annual mean flow is 1308 m<sup>3</sup>s<sup>−1</sup>,which corresponds to an annual water volume of 41,250 km<sup>3</sup>.|last1=Cullaj|first1=Alqiviadh|last2=Hasko|first2=Agim|last3=Miho|first3=Aleko|last4=Schanz|first4=Ferdinand|last5=Brandl|first5=Helmut|last6=Bachofen|first6=Reinhard|journal=Environment International|volume=31|issue=1|pmid=15607787}}</ref> They belong to the [[drainage basin]]s of the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]], [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and [[Black Sea]]. They mostly rise in the mountainous eastern half of the country and have their [[River mouth|mouth]]s in the west along the coasts.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Hasan Özdemır |title=Geomorphometric Analysis of Albania River Basins |url=http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/bitstream/handle/1/353/616-1800-1-PB.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |website=dspace.epoka.edu.al |page=3 |format=PDF}}</ref> They are sustained from snowmelt of the snow-capped mountains or from the abundant precipitation that falls at loftier elevations.

Eight notable rivers, along with their numerous [[tributaries]], make up the river system of the country. The longest river is the [[Drin River|Drin]], which flows for {{convert|285|km}} within the country. Its [[Catchment area (hydrology)|catchment area]] is one of the most [[Biodiversity|biodiverse]] places in Europe and encompasses the lakes of [[Lake of Shkodër|Shkodër]], [[Lake of Ohrid|Ohrid]] and [[Prespa Lake|Prespa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The natural wealth and legacy of the Drin River Basin: inspiring our collective actions|url=http://act4drin.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Act4Drin_Brochure_18_9_2015_single_pages.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909190438/http://act4drin.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Act4Drin_Brochure_18_9_2015_single_pages.pdf |archive-date=2017-09-09 |url-status=live|website=act4drin.net|page=7}}<br>- {{cite web|title=Drin River Basin The blue heart of the Balkans|url=http://mio-ecsde.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/drin-river-basin_brochure_02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909190528/http://mio-ecsde.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/drin-river-basin_brochure_02.pdf |archive-date=2017-09-09 |url-status=live|website=mio-ecsde.org|page=4}}</ref> Of particular concern represent the river of [[Vjosa]] as it is considered as the last remaining wild river in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Fred Pearce|title=Scientists demand halt to damming of Europe's last wild river|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2106908-scientists-demand-halt-to-damming-of-europes-last-wild-river/|website=newscientist.com|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> The country's other rivers are [[Fan (river)|Fan]], [[Ishëm (river)|Ishëm]], [[Erzen River|Erzen]], [[Mat (river)|Mat]], [[Seman (river)|Seman]] and [[Shkumbin]].

With more than 250 [[lake]]s, the country is home to two of the largest lakes in [[List of largest lakes of Europe|Southern Europe]] and one of the oldest in the World. The lakes of the country are predominantly of [[Karst#Hydrology|karstic]] or [[Glacial lake|glacial]] origin.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact|year=2005|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8121855|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008|page=134|last1=Cullaj|first1=Alqiviadh|last2=Hasko|first2=Agim|last3=Miho|first3=Aleko|last4=Schanz|first4=Ferdinand|last5=Brandl|first5=Helmut|last6=Bachofen|first6=Reinhard|journal=Environment International|volume=31|issue=1|pmid=15607787}}</ref> The largest lake in Southern Europe is the [[Lake of Shkodër]] geographically located in the north, shared with Montenegro.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Zamir Dedej |title=International cooperation for shared lakes in southeastern Europe – the Prespa, Ohrid and Skadar regions |url=https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/mtg_reg_europe2004_docs1d5.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150457/https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/mtg_reg_europe2004_docs1d5.pdf |archive-date=2018-09-13 |url-status=live |website=ramsar.org }}<br>- {{cite web |title=Albania and Montenegro: Creating an Integrated Water Resources Plan for the Buna / Bojana Watershed |url=https://www.gwp.org/globalassets/global/toolbox/case-studies/europe/buna_bojana_watershed_final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150450/https://www.gwp.org/globalassets/global/toolbox/case-studies/europe/buna_bojana_watershed_final.pdf |archive-date=2018-09-13 |url-status=live |website=gwp.org |page=5 }}</ref> One of the ancientest lakes in the world is the [[Lake of Ohrid]] located in the southeast, shared with North Macedonia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/99|publisher=UNESCO}}</ref><ref name="Albanian Section">{{cite web |others=[[IUCN]] and [[Ministry of Tourism and Environment (Albania)|Ministria e Mjedisit e Shqipërisë]]|title=Towards Strengthened Governance of the Shared Transboundary Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Lake Ohrid Region – Baseline Assessment of the Lake Ohrid region – Albania |url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/139987 |publisher=UNESCO |pages=1–126 |format=PDF |date=January 2016}}</ref> The highest positioned lakes in Southern Europe are the [[Prespa Lake|Large]] and [[Small Prespa Lake|Small Lake of Prespa]] in the southeast, shared with North Macedonia and Greece.

The country is also home to many [[lagoon]]s of varied shape, size and structure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conservation Status of Albanian Coastal Wetlands and their Colonial Waterbird Populations (Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes) |url=https://vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/235127.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134238/http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/235127.pdf |archive-date=2018-06-13 |url-status=live |website=vliz.be |pages=1–10 }}</ref> They are primarily positioned along the coast in the west of the country and also in the southeast. They contribute to the overall productivity of the coastal waters by supporting a variety of habitats and ecosystems. The largest lagoon in the country is the [[Lagoon of Karavasta]] located between the mouth of Shkumbin and Seman. Another significant lagoons are the lagoons of [[Patoku lagoon|Patoku]], [[Narta Lagoon|Narta]], [[Kunë-Vain-Tale Nature Park|Kunë-Vain]] and [[Butrint lagoon|Butrint]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact|year=2005|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8121855|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008|page=138|quote=Karavasta lagoon represents the largest lagoon inAlbania and is among the biggest of the Adriatic basin; – Lezha lagoons extend on both sides of the Drini delta, Ceka lagoon in the southern part of river delta, Merxhanilagoon and Kenalla pond on its northern side; – Narta lagoon (Vlora) is situated at the southern Adriaticcoast; it is 42 km2 in size and has a depth of 0.3 to 1.0 m.: –  Butrinti lagoon is 16.3 km2 in size with a mean depth of14 m and a maximal depth of 21 m. It is situated in the southern part at the Ionian Sea.|last1=Cullaj|first1=Alqiviadh|last2=Hasko|first2=Agim|last3=Miho|first3=Aleko|last4=Schanz|first4=Ferdinand|last5=Brandl|first5=Helmut|last6=Bachofen|first6=Reinhard|journal=Environment International|volume=31|issue=1|pmid=15607787}}</ref>