Shkoder County

Shkodër County anchors Albania's cultural north while sharing Europe's most biodiverse lake with Montenegro. Lake Shkodra (Skadar), the Balkans' largest at 370-530 km² depending on season, hosts 270 bird species including endangered Dalmatian pelicans and one of the world's largest pygmy cormorant colonies. Seven endemic fish species, including the prized Krapi i Shkodrës carp, complete an ecosystem that functions as a natural heritage site even without formal UNESCO designation.

The city of Shkodër, 2,400 years old, sits at the confluence of the Buna and Drin rivers—a location that made it a trading crossroads long before modern borders. Today it serves as gateway to the Albanian Alps and Theth village, its hostel scene and cafe culture catering to backpackers en route to mountain treks. This positioning resembles how certain organisms become obligate waypoints in ecological networks—species that must pass through specific locations during migrations.

Despite natural assets, tourism development proceeds slowly. Rozafa Castle charges 400 lekë admission (2025), but the lake shores remain 'little affected by mass tourism.' This preservation creates both opportunity and risk: Shkodër could develop sustainably before carrying capacity is reached, or it could be bypassed entirely by visitors heading to better-marketed Albanian Riviera beaches. The fishing villages of Shirokë and Zogaj, serving lake carp in waterfront restaurants, offer templates for low-impact tourism that maintains authentic character.