Geography (Albania)
===================


     Total area:
         28,750 km2
     Land area:
         27,400 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly larger than Maryland
     Land boundaries:
         720 km total; Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
         (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
     Coastline:
         362 km
     Maritime claims:
       Continental shelf:
         not specified
       Territorial sea:
         12 nm
     Disputes:
         Kosovo question with Serbia and Montenegro; Northern Epirus question with
         Greece
     Climate:
         mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior
         is cooler and wetter
     Terrain:
         mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
     Natural resources:
         crude oil, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel
     Land use:
         arable land 21%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and
         woodland 38%; other 22%; includes irrigated 1%
     Environment:
         subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast
     Note:
         strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea
         and Mediterranean Sea)