Photo: Inkey · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Bufi, Liqeni i Bufit, is a small lake right next to Lake Butrint, close to the ancient city of Butrint, in Butrint National Park in the far south of Albania. The two lakes were once joined by a wider stretch of water and their waters mixed freely.
History
The landscape around the lakes was declared a national park and protected area in 2000. Since then nature has recovered, forest has taken back the hill of Kalivo, with its ancient settlement east of Lake Butrint, and the two lakes have begun to exchange water again.
Nature
The marshes of Butrint gather many birds, above all during migration: more than 240 species are reported, with thousands of ducks in winter, along with flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans.
Gallery
Visit
Swimming
No reliable information
Tips
A walk from the Triangular Fortress passes the aqueduct, the Roman villa of Diaporit and the prehistoric hillfort of Kalivo, then goes around the lake. A ferry takes people and cars across the Vivari Channel, from about 6 in the morning until late in the evening.
Butrint is about 30 minutes’ drive south of Sarandë, and buses and taxis run from the town. For birds, winter and the spring and autumn migrations are best. The ground is flat and open, with no shade and no hide, and can be wet, so bring binoculars and suitable shoes.
Nearby lakes
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Sources & data
- OpenStreetMap: Liqeni i Bufit (way 41468093), OpenStreetMap contributors
- Wikidata: Lake Bufi (Q114830798), Wikimedia Foundation
- Butrint and its lakes (opinion, Auron Tare), Balkanweb
- Lake Butrint, Albania Travel Guide
- Butrint, Birdingplaces