page_title: Divjakë-Karavasta National Park
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Divjakë-Karavasta National Park / Geography
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Typisches Ökosystem im Nationalpark Divjaka-Karavasta in Albanien English: Typical Habitat in Divjakë-Karavasta National Park in Albania
context_page_description: The Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is a national park in western Albania, sprawling across the Myzeqe Plain in the direct proximity to the Adriatic Sea. The park spans a territory of 222.3 square kilometres containing remarkable features such as wetlands, salt marshes, coastal meadows, floodplains, woodlands, reed beds, forests and estuaries. Because of the park's important and great availability of bird and plant species, it has been identified as an important Bird and Plant Area of international importance.
  Among the largest in the Mediterranean Sea, the lagoon of Karavasta has been recognised as a wetland of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention. It is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a large strip of sand and was formed by the sediments of which has been discharged by Shkumbin and Seman. Located near the sea, the park experiences mediterranean climate, with temperatures that ranges between 12 °C in February and 24 °C in August.
  The particular climate has favored the development of a vast array of floral and faunal species with an immense quality.
context_section_description: The Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is strategically located in the southeastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It lies mostly between latitudes 40° and 55° N and longitudes 19° and 29° E. The park occupies 222.30 km² (85.83 sq mi) in Fier County in southwestern Albania comprising a substantial section of the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast. The most adjacent town to the park is Divjakë located in the east from the park entrance. The approximately 35 kilometres long coastline is relatively flat, running from the mouth of Shkumbin to the mouth of Seman.
  The park's mandate includes the protection of the lagoon of Godulla and Karavasta and the estuaries of Shkumbin in the north and Seman in the south. The bodies of water of the park are chiefly affected by the inflow of those rivers, which bring sand, silt and shells, which in turn form numerous small islands and narrow spits. Due to these deposits, the lagoon bottom is relatively smooth and flat with a low salinity and a high amount of biomass that considerably affects the colour of the lagoons.
  The river of Shkumbin begins at the eastern part of the mountains of Valamara in Korçë County. At Gryka e Shkumbinit, the river, which until then was trapped in a narrow valley, breaks through the Skanderbeg Mountains and enters the coastal region until it reaches the northern part of the park, where it flows into the Adriatic Sea. However, the river of Seman begins at the confluence of the Osum River and Devoll River as well in Korçë County. Its estuary, located in the southern part of the park, is considerably swampy and characterized by the presence of water basins and ponds.
caption: A typical habitat located within the park.
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