Geography of Kosovo

Topographic map of Kosovo

The Kosovo lies in South-Eastern Europe in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula . It borders in the north and northeast on Serbia (border length 351.6 km), in the southeast on North Macedonia (158.7 km), in the southwest on Albania (111.8 km) and in the west on Montenegro (78.6 km). The country has an area of ​​10,877 square kilometers and a population of around 1.8 million. The mean population density is 155 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Kosovo is characterized by mountains. Almost all of the country's borders have mountains that are over 2000 meters high. The south-west of Kosovo is taken by the Metohija plain , while the north-east is taken by the Amselfeld plain (Kosovo). Between them lies the Carraleva mountain range . The region around Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, is mainly characterized by coal mining and energy generation.

Spatial structure

See also : List of mountains and elevations in Kosovo

The Šar Planina Mountains

The area of ​​Kosovo is very mountainous. The Šar Planina Mountains form the border with North Macedonia. It rises from the south to the southeast of the country. This area is considered an important destination for mountain tourists, the main destinations being Brezovica and Prevalla . But this region also plays an important role for the flora and fauna. It is a refuge for many species that are otherwise threatened in the country.

The Prokletije or the Northern Albanian Alps stretches across the border triangle of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. The mountain ranges of Bjeshkët e Nemuna të Kosovës of this mountain range are located in western Kosovo in the region west of Peja . The Gjeravica in this chain is at 2656  m. i. J. the highest point in the country. It is located near the border with Albania.

Between these two mountains, Šar Planina and Prokletije, the agriculturally important Metochien plain extends over 65 kilometers . It is characterized by individual ranges of hills, but mostly flat.

To the east, Metohija is bounded by the Carraleva Mountains. These run through the center of the country from the northwest in the southeast direction to the foothills of the Šar Planina Mountains (Alb .: Malet e Sharrit ). The Carraleva divides the country into the Metochien plain in the west and the Amselfeld plain in the east. The Amselfeld plain has an average height of 550  m and the Metochien plain 450  m .

The blackbird field is about 50 kilometers long and is a somewhat smaller plain than Metochien and extends between Vushtrria and Ferizaj . Here are some of the largest cities in the country, such as the capital Pristina , Ferizaj, Gjilan and Vushtrria. To the east of the blackbird field are the mountains of Žegovac . The Kopaonik Mountains are located in northern Kosovo and bordered by Amselfeld in the south.

Waters

See also : List of rivers in Kosovo

Kosovo is a landlocked country . There are several major rivers and lakes within its borders. The 113-kilometer-long White Drin , which flows into the Adriatic , is the country's most important river . Other important rivers are the Sitnica (90 km), the Bistrica e Pejës (62 km), the Bistrica e Deçanit , the Morava e Binqes (60 km), the Ibar and the Lepenac (53 km).

The Liqenat lake in the Rugova mountains

The most important lake is the Gazivoda Lake with an area of ​​around 9.1 square kilometers; it is located in the north-western part of the country. The country has numerous other lakes, for example Lake Batllava (3.27 km²) in the eastern part of Kosovo, Lake Badovac with an area of ​​2.57 km² in the northeast and Lake Radoniq with an area of ​​5.96 km² in the southwest Part. In Bjeshket e Nemuna there are several small mountain lakes such as Lake Leqinat with 1.66 hectares and Lake Drelaj with 0.6 hectares - they are both well-known tourist destinations.

climate

Since Kosovo is located between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous regions of Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, the temperatures fluctuate quite strongly depending on the season. In summer, maximum temperatures reach well over 30 ° C, in winter temperatures of −10 ° C are possible. Kosovo has a continental climate with warm weather in summer and sometimes very cold, snowy winters.

environment and nature

Goats at Novo Brdo

See also : List of Protected Areas in Kosovo

The country has various water sources and waterfalls , such as the Mirusha waterfalls , the Rugova gorge near Peja , the water source of the river Drin , the stalactite cave in Gadime and the valley of the Bistrica near Prizren .

There are two national parks in Kosovo, the Sharr National Park near Prizren and the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park near Peja in the Albanian Alps , as well as the Blinaja nature reserve near Pristina , which is home to critically endangered species. Recently, Kosovo also has a bear forest near Pristina , in which bears reside that were previously not kept in small cages in a species-appropriate manner.

Around 446 km² is made up of oaks , beeches , chestnuts and other different types of conifers , 200 km² is used as arable land , especially for growing wheat , barley , maize , grapes , tobacco , potatoes and plums .

Many rivers in Kosovo are dammed. The formation of reservoirs has made many bodies of water rich in fish. You can find trout , carp , eel , barbel , catfish , pike and plaice , as well as huchen .

Rare animals such as bears , lynx , capercaillie and even turtles still live in various regions of Kosovo . Rare plants such as edelweiss , cyclamen and peonies can also be found. The country also has numerous karst springs , mineral springs and glacial lakes .

Ten largest cities

See also : List of cities in Kosovo

The census carried out in 2011 showed the following population figures for the ten largest cities:

1. Pristina : 198.897
2. Prizren : 177.781
3. Ferizaj : 108,610
4. Peja : 96,450
5. Gjakova : 94,556
6. Gjilan : 90.178
7. Podujeva : 88,499
8. Mitrovica : 71.909
9. Vushtrria : 69,870
10. Suhareka : 59,722

See also

Wikimedia Atlas: Geography of Kosovo  - geographical and historical maps

literature

• Sabri Laçi: Gjeografia e Kosovës dhe trevave shqiptare përtej kufirit të Republikës së Shqipërisë . Progres, Tirana 2006, ISBN 99943-824-4-6 .

Web links

Commons : Geography of Kosovo  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Kosovo: geography
• geography
• Discover Kosovo
• facts and figures

Individual evidence

1. ↑ all limit lengths from www.laenderdaten.de
2. ↑ Kosovo in Figures 2014. (PDF) Statistical Office of Kosovo, September 2015, p. 4 , accessed on October 29, 2016 (English). 
3. ↑ ^{a b} Kosovo Population and Housing Census 2011 - Final Results. (No longer available online.) Agjencia e Statisticsave të Kosovës, archived from the original on March 26, 2016 ; accessed on March 26, 2016 (English, PDF file, 3.91 MB; p. 134). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.