Lake Shkodra joins UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network

Lake Shkodra, the largest lake in the Balkans, has become one of the region's most important tourist destinations after being recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Lake Shkodra, the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, is regarded as one of the region's most significant tourist attractions, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

In June, UNESCO designated Lake Shkodra as a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, adding it to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in recognition of its outstanding ecological value and cross-border importance shared by Albania and Montenegro.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the lake on social media, highlighting its exceptional natural beauty and rich biodiversity.

"The largest lake in the Balkans, now part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, is a natural treasure with extraordinary biodiversity, where breathtaking landscapes and a remarkable variety of flora and fauna make it one of Albania's most unique destinations," Rama wrote.

Lake Shkodra is among Europe's richest freshwater ecosystems, home to 45 species of fish and approximately 270 species of waterbirds, representing about 87 percent of Albania's birdlife.

One of the lake's most iconic inhabitants is the Dalmatian pelican, Europe's largest bird species. The lake reaches a maximum depth of around 45 meters, while the historic city of Shkodra lies along its southeastern shore, from which the lake takes its name.

Photo: Wikipedia