Albania

Albania's lakes run from the high mountains on its borders down to the Adriatic and Ionian coasts. Two of Europe's oldest lakes, Ohrid and Prespa, lie on its eastern border, shared with North Macedonia and Greece.

In the north, Lake Shkodër (Skadar), the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, stretches into Montenegro, and the reservoirs of the Drin wind through deep mountain valleys, best seen from the ferry across Lake Koman. Along the coast, lagoons such as Karavasta and Narta are known for their birds.

Most lakes are a short drive from towns such as Pogradec and Shkodër, and summer is the season for swimming in the larger ones.