Albania · Central Albania

Karavasta Lagoon

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Laguna e Karavastasë

Karavasta Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Albania and one of the largest on the Mediterranean. It spreads across the Myzeqe coastal plain near Divjakë, separated from the Adriatic by a wide strip of sand, and lies inside Divjakë-Karavasta National Park. It is renowned for the Dalmatian pelican, and it is a Ramsar wetland and an Important Bird Area.

How it formed

Karavasta is a coastal lagoon: a body of shallow water cut off from the Adriatic by a broad strip of sand. Pine trees and small sandy islands mark the shore.

History

The name Karavasta was first recorded in 1297, when people of the principality of Matarango attacked and robbed a ship that had stopped in the lagoon. It comes from a Greek word meaning a place of anchorage, and in the Middle Ages the lagoon seems to have been navigable and to have served as a natural harbour, and perhaps as a place where ships were built.

Nature

The lagoon is the home of a notable share of the Dalmatian pelicans of Europe, and BirdLife International has named it an Important Bird Area because it supports significant populations of several bird species. It lies in the Illyrian deciduous forests ecoregion and has a Mediterranean climate.

Pelicans

This is the only place in Albania where Dalmatian pelicans nest: about 250–300 breeding pairs, which is roughly 5% of the world's population. Breeding runs from about March to July, and numbers rise above 2,000 in winter when birds arrive from other colonies. The pine forest along the sandy barrier was planted in the 1960s to stop erosion, and it gives roosts to birds of prey and migrants.

Gallery

4 photos

Photo: Albinfo · CC BY 4.0

Photo: Julien Seguinot · CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: albinfo · CC0

Photo: Genti Mile · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Divjakë

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The lagoon lies near Divjakë. A park rehabilitation project that began in 2014 included a hunting moratorium, which brought birdwatching back. The area is known for a very active mosquito season, so plan accordingly, and check the park's official pages for access and fees.

When to go

April–May and September–October suit migration and a wide variety of birds, and autumn is often called the best balance of birds, weather and crowds. June–July is breeding season, hot and quiet, with the worst mosquitoes. The best hours are about 6–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.

Boat trips

Flat-bottomed boats leave from the visitor-centre area and the tours take 1.5–2 hours, covering about 8–10 km. A tour usually needs four to six people, so solo travellers may wait. The visitor centre, on the western shore near Karavasta village, has an observation tower about 12 m high; call ahead to check opening and guides.

Practical tips

There are no food vendors at the lagoon, so bring water and snacks, and the nearest restaurants are in Divjakë. Bring cash, binoculars (8–10x) and repellent. In wet seasons the last 5–7 km from Divjakë can be muddy or flooded, so a 4x4 helps. Stay on the paths and keep away from the nesting islands. The beach resort of Divjakë is 3–5 km from the lagoon and is mainly a summer place.