22 AMAZING AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALBANIA

Posted by Facts Zeroo August 21, 2020

22 AMAZING AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALBANIA

For 108 years, Albania has been independent. It has become an ever more popular tourist destination during that period. It draws beach-goers, fans interested in traditional, creative cuisine and people who pursue a rich cultural heritage. If you intend to visit this country, I suggest you, to read these some of the most amazing and interesting facts about the country.

1. Where is Albania? What is it?

Albanians do not name Albania, first and foremost, but Shqipëri is the name of the country in its mother tongue.

2. More Albanians reside outside than those in the country

The Albanian immigrant population is vast and extends from its adjoining region, such as Greece and Turkey, to other countries such as the United States and Canada – so far that it is believed that almost 3 million Albanians live outside Albania. After the fall of the Communist dictatorship in 1991 and the subsequent economic downturn, hundreds of thousands emigrated.

3. Via Albanian bus you just could not set your clock

There is no schedule for Albanian buses (recognized as furgons), they go if they are good – or complete.

4. Albania has only one Noble Prize winner

Mother Theresa was born in the Ottoman Empire, Skopje was an Albanian. Her mission to support the needy in Calcutta, India, received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979.

5. In Albania, smile and nod have distinct meanings

When they nod it means "no" and when they shake head they say "yes". Be alert with your brain to answer questions.

6. This is one of the most vulnerable countries in Europe

Albania is one of the nations at highest risk from natural disasters in Europe, as per a 2015 global risk report prepared by the United Nations. Albania alone is known to be at risk of floods in such a region – except for neighboring Serbia and the Netherlands. It experienced massive flooding in 2010, which prompted the relocation of up to 7,000 people.

7. This was an island of communism

A communist state in a communistic sea alone. In a way, Albania, was no part of the Soviet Union, nor was it a satellite republic, nor was Tito-led Yugoslavia in the latter years of the twentieth century. In 1976 Albania's, People's Republic became Albania's Socialist People's Republic. The nation then fell out of most communist powers in the world. Enver Hoxha 's predecessor (and dictator) breaks ties with the USSR, retreats from the Warsaw Pact and loses ties with the PRC.

8. It makes an island of the military bunker as a tourist attraction.

In order to draw more visitors, Albania has converted Sazan Island, the military Island of the Cold War, into a must see attraction, with its nuclear attack bunker. Two sailors remain on the 2-mile island, offering protection to navies that end up Albanian waters. The base is still officially active. Plans are under way to make the island more visitor-friendly, but a Las Vegas-style resort has already been refused.

9. It also has more information about bunkers

So we had the mentality of bunkers, but this is actually the bunker cherry on the cake. Bunkers are scattered in Albania. On average there are 5.7 per sq.km and over 750,000 people in the world. The majority of bunker houses were never used and most were destroyed after the fall of communism. They were built under communist leader Enver Hoxha who was afraid of attack by his enemies (almost all) but many are still put to good use as apartments, coffee houses or museums.

10. When you see one, she knows a traffic light

In the north of Albania in 1995 drivers in Shkodër refused to pay a tax of £13 because of no traffic lights on their city. "It's nonsense," a driver said at the time to Reuters.

11. Albania had a king of Teflon

Zog I is not really the nickname of the 2120 alien conqueror of Earth, but the name of the King of Albania, from 1928 to 1939. The tyrant was the victim of 55 attempts at assassination, including one in which Zog claimed to be the first western leader ever to shoot his allegedly murderer.

12. There are plenty flowers

Albania, although small, contains over 3,250 plant species, representing 30% of all European flora. Llogara is a vivid flora and fauna, while Butrint, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offers archaeological sites from Rome. Llogaras is the most popular place in the country to see its colorful collection, of which there are 15.

13. Yet there are no medals.

Haven't ever won an Olympic gold medal in Albania. Its weightlifting, filming and wrestling events are most common.

14. Use to be called The "weed capital of Europe"

Once the "weed capital of Europe" was named Lazarat, a tiny town in southern Albania that was subject to a huge amount of mafia activities that generated around 900 tons of marijuana a year. 800 police were sent to the area in 2014 to repress the flames of the infringement of rules on non-creasing marijuana loading every day – after a 5-day shoot-out with heavily armed residents, the authorities gained control over the village. But Albania remains the main top destination for the drug, according to the US state dept.

15. And among the most stunning cities in Europe

The Albanian city of Berat, once the Byzantine Empire's border city, boasts an Old Town that was approved by UNESCO, and was regarded to be one of best beautiful sites in Europe.

The history of Albania is as complex as it is fascinating, and includes many locks to western society. No best option to see than the Butrint wildlife conservation referring UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Artifacts of the Early Greek , Roman and Byzantine culture mostly from 6th century BC are on display here. You can see that Albania 's heritage is comparable to that of its predecessors in Europe with works like the Roman theater and colored mosaics over 2000 years of age.

16. Yugoslavia has not been a part of Abania

Albania did not belong to the former Yugoslavia unknown to most of them. The majority of people in the now extinct country group in Albania since it is surrounded by countries like Montenegro, Kosovo and Northern Macedonia. But at the time of Yugoslavia 's establishment in 1918 within a week of World War I, it was already an independent nation.

17. The Ionian Sea is as crystal white.

The second thing about Albania is the beautiful Ionian Sea. This means that there are some of Europe's most beautiful beaches. Hey .... Everybody in Europe, we replied! From the islands of Ksamil to the bright pebbly shores of Dhermi Beach, the Albanian Riviera is already on its way towards being a famous tourist tourist hotspot. It's incredible that Albania beaches are not already swarming with people with its clear blue waters and spectacular mountain cliffs.

18. Eagles Land

You may have seen the massive eagle on the flag of countries if you look into Albania 's history. You should know, however, that the image is more than just a sign that displays the national animal!

The eagle story is about the magnificent bird that follows a young hunter back decades. This hunter was to become the town's crowned king and was called "Shqiptar," or Eagle 's son. The country, as Albanians now call it, will become known as the Region of the Eagle's or as "Shqipëria."

19. Castles and Fortifications

Albania 's history is vibrant and diverse, the castles of which are a prime example! Throughout prehistoric times, this land is populated it's no surprise that several massive fortifications have been constructed over time. Like much of Europe, Albania 's nearly every city and city is hit by a large castle.

Mostly in mountain areas of Gjirokaster and Berat and in the spectacular Butrint wildlife reserve, a few of the finest could be seen. Albania's list of things to do is endless, but the travel world is still unknown for the majority of Albania's tourism sites. We can not imagine it remaining that way with more than 150 castles dating back thousands of years.

20. In just 30 minutes you can go from Albania to Greece

Believe it or not, it takes just a half hour for a fast ferry from Corfu to Saranda Albania! You will cross Ionian Sea in Albania in that short span of time.

You will experience up an entire different scenario, culture and food until you recognize it. It really is a totally different animal once you're around Albania. Yet everybody who visits Greece should know that this ferry is something!

21. The civil war began on the basis of a Ponzi government

In the hands of a corrupt regime, the collapsing of Albanian economy and the ensuing civil war in 1997 began. Just five years earlier, dictatorship had ended, leading to democratic elections and a free society. It is all quite nuanced, but the short version is that a range of pyramid investment schemes have been funded by the government.

A substantial portion of the money was spent on financing illicit activities such as the arms trade and bribery. About half the population of the countries was spent, and when the systems were collapsing, the sum of $1.5 billion was wasted. This led to the government breakdown, protests, local gangs, and rebels taking control of cities and unfortunately ended up killing over 2,000 people.

22. The Riviera of Albania is one of the greatest mysteries in Europe

It's a real pleasure to be in Albania during the summer as you can get to many beautiful beaches. You are undoubtedly attracted to a spot that you didn't know existed until you went to Albania with the Ionian Sea. Although the Albania beaches are along the same shoreline as hotspots like Croatia and Greece, the beaches of Albania are not nearly as spectacular as they are.

Himare and Dhermi were one of the most famous beach towns along the coast, but Ksamil is located in the south. Here you will enjoy a drink from a clear blue sea on one of the many over water sides of the islands.