Skadarsko

Skadarsko, commonly known as Lake Skadar (Montenegrin: Skadarsko Jezero; Albanian: Liqeni i Shkodrës; English: Lake Skadar or Skadar Lake), is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, spanning the border between Montenegro and Albania. The majority of the lake lies in Montenegro, with a smaller portion in Albania. The lake covers a substantial area (roughly several hundred square kilometers) and features a mosaic of open water, reed beds, and surrounding shorelines. The main inflows are the Morača, Zeta, and Crnojevića rivers, and the outflow is the Bojana (Bojana) River, which drains to the Adriatic Sea.

The lake is a site of high biodiversity and is designated as a Ramsar site and a protected wetland. It supports numerous waterfowl and wading birds, with more than 270 bird species recorded, including pelicans, cormorants, herons, and egrets. The surrounding area includes protected zones such as Skadar Lake National Park on the Montenegrin side, and several conserved landscapes in Albania. The Grmožur fortress sits on a small island within the lake, illustrating the historical human presence along its shores.

Human use centers on fishing, traditional boat transport, and tourism. Towns on the Montenegrin shore include Virpazar and the nearby region of Podgorica; in Albania, Shkodër lies to the northwest, linked by water routes. The lake’s cultural landscape includes historical monasteries, churches, and rural settlements that reflect centuries of interaction between people and the lake environment.