Albania is rich with mountains and hills ideal for skiing and climbing and even cave exploration. There\'s also 280 miles (450km) of unspoilt coastline.
10 October 2007
Name: Republic of Albania
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro.
Population: 3.2 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Tirana
Major language: Albanian, Greek
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 lek = 100 qindars
Main exports: Chromium and chrome products, processed foodstuffs
GNI per capita: US $2,080 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .al
International dialling code: +355
Climate: Mild temperate, cool, cloudy, wet winters, clear dry summers. Cooler in the interior.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
Notes: Albania shook off the shawl of communism in 1992 when general elections were won by the Democratic Party but the country still struggles with its new democratic guise.
Highlights