Geography of Kosovo
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
|---|---|
| Region | Balkans |
| Coordinates | 42°36′00″N 20°51′00″E / 42.6000°N 20.8500°E |
| Area | Ranked 166th |
| • Total | 10,887 km2 (4,203 sq mi) |
| • Land | 99% |
| • Water | 1% |
| Borders |
|
| Highest point | Gjeravica, 2,656 m (8,714 ft) |
| Lowest point | White Drin, 297 m (974 ft) |
| Longest river | White Drin, 122 km (76 mi) |
| Largest lake | Lake Gazivoda 9.2 km2 (4 sq mi) |
| Climate | Continental |
| Terrain | Mountainous |
| Natural resources | coal, zinc, lead, silver, chromium, etc. |
Kosovo is a landlocked country situated in Southeastern Europe, in the center of Balkan Peninsula. With an area of 10,887 km2 (4,203 sq mi), it is one of the smallest countries in Europe by area, but one of the most populated, with a population of 1,859,203 (2014 estimate) inhabitants (159/km2).
The border of Kosovo is approximately 702 km (436 miles) long and it borders Albania to the southwest (112 km), Macedonia to the southeast (159 km), Montenegro to the west (79 km), and Serbia to the north and east (352 km).[1]
Considering its small size, Kosovo has a great variety of topographical features. Most of Kosovo's terrain is mountainous with the highest peak Gjeravica 2,656 m or 8,714 ft. There are two main plain regions, the Dukagjini basin in the west, and the Plain of Kosovo in the east.
The main rivers in the country are the White Drin, running towards the Adriatic Sea, the South Morava in the Goljak area, and Ibar in the north. Sitnica, a tributary of Ibar, is the longest river lying completely within Kosovo. The biggest lakes are Gazivoda, Radonjić, Batlava and Badovac.
Climate
Kosovo is located between the Mediterranean Sea and mountainous regions of Southeast Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. This geographic location gives the country its large annual temperature range. Summer temperature highs can reach +30 °C (86 °F), winter's temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F).[2] According to the Strahler classification map the climate in Kosovo is considered moist continental.[3] The country experiences warm summers and cold and snowy winters.
Mountains and mountain ranges
See: List of mountains in Kosovo
Most of Kosovo's terrain is mountainous. The Šar Mountains are located in the south and south-east, bordering the Republic of Macedonia. This is one of the region's most popular tourist and skiing resorts, with Brezovica and Prevalac as the main tourist centres. Most of the territory of Sharr mountains in Kosovo is declared as National Park.
The region of Kosovo's mountainous area, including the highest peak Gjeravica, at 2,656 m (8,714 ft) above sea level, is located in the south-west and western part of the country, bordering Albania and Montenegro.
The Kopaonik mountains are located in the north. The central region of Drenica, Crnoljeva and the eastern part of Kosovo, known as Goljak, are mainly hilly areas.
Bodies of water
Although Kosovo is landlocked, there are several notable rivers and lakes within its borders. The main rivers are the White Drin, running towards the Adriatic Sea, with the Erenik among its tributaries, the Sitnica, the South Morava in the Goljak area, and Ibar in the north. The main lakes are Gazivoda Lake (380 million m³) in the north-western part, Radoniq lake (113 million m³) in the south-west part, Batlava Lake (40 million m³) and Badovc Lake (26 million m³) in the north-east part. Other smaller scenic lakes include Zemra Lake, Đeravica Lake and Liqenat Lake. Kosovo is also home to the following waterfalls:
- The 25 metres (82 ft) Drin Waterfall is located at the mouth of the White Drin River.
- The Mirusha Waterfalls are a series of falls on the Miruša River (a tributary of the Drin) in the municipality of Mališevo in western Kosovo, on the Metohija region.
In the Bifurcation of Nerodimka river, it contains the only example in Europe (and one of only two in the world) where a river divides with the resultant water flows ending up in different seas (the Black Sea and the Aegean)
Rugova Valley and Canyon
One of Kosovo's most prominent geological features is the Rugova Canyon in the Alpet Shqiptare. The 25 km (16 mi) long canyon near the border with Montenegro was formed by the flow of the Pećka Bistrica. The canyon was declared a Protected National Monument in 1988, and will be included in a proposed Bjeshket e Nemuna/Prokletije National Park, approved by the Kosovo Parliament in 2003.
Plains
There are two main plains in Kosovo. The Metohija basin is located in the western part of the Kosovo, and the Plain of Kosovo occupies the eastern part. Between the two basins there is low hills area of Drenica.
The plain of Kosovo is on average higher that the plain of Metohija for about 100 metres (328 ft).
Average height of the plain of Kosovo is 550 m (1,804 ft) and the average height of the plain of Metohija is 450 m (1,476 ft).
Gadime Cave
Gadime Cave is a cave composed of Paleozoic marble, located in the village of Donje Gadimje on the eastern side of the Kosovo Valley. The northern passage contains displays of aragonite speleothems in a variety of rare formations.[4][5]
References
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html
- ^ Geography
- ^ Strahler & Strahler. (2006).Introducing Physical Geography, Boston:John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- ^ Mermerna Pecina, Tony Oldham, 2002
- ^ Around Kosovo: It's Better to See it Once Than Hear About it 100 Times, Valerii Petrushka
See also
External links
Wikimedia Atlas of Kosovo
Geography of Kosovo travel guide from Wikivoyage- Visit Kosovo - Tourism Website
- Kosovo Caves Gadimje
