Divjakë-Karavasta National Park

Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is the largest wetland complex in Albania, consisting of four lagoons (Karavasta, Godullat, Godullat e Pishës, Spiaxho) with an area of nearly 5,000 hectares. It includes the sand dunes and the river delta located in the central part of the Western Region, between the Shkumbin River in the north and the Seman River (Myzeqesa Canal) in the south, 40 km west of the city of Lushnja from the Adriatic coast.

The lagoon of Karavasta is the largest surface (4,100 ha) of this wetland complex; it is 15.4 km long and 4.1 km wide. The maximum depth is 1.3 m, while the average depth is 0.7 m. In the eastern part, the complex is surrounded by the Divjaka Hills, 18 km long and 5 km wide. The highest point is Guri i Gomares with 192 m above sea level, while the total area of the watershed is about 6,500 ha.

The lagoon is separated from the sea by the pine forest of Divjaka and the lagoon of Godulla.

Karavastaja is one of the three Ramsar sites in Albania: it serves as a refuge for a large number of wintering birds, it is also an important site for many species of great conservation interest, such as the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanuscrispus). In addition to its importance as a natural heritage. Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is a park with 51,000 birds, where there are also natural monuments or areas where these individuals stay with each other. This place has about 228 different species of birds that populate the whole area, creating a rare biodiversity in Albania.

Pelican Island (Natural Monument) is located in the north-west of the Karavasta Lagoon. This is a place of great importance for the breeding of Dalmatian Pelicans.

The Wild Pine is also listed as a Natural Monument in Albania. It represents a 410-year-old pine tree located in the southwest of the northern part of the forest.

Some cultural monuments of particular importance are the Byzantine Church, c. of XVIII, in the village of Karavasta e Re (24 km) and the Monastery of Ardenica, c. XVIII - XIV, near the village of Kolonje (28 km).

Divjaka is the closest city to the park (approximately 6 km) with a population of about 13,960, of which about 8,000 citizens live in the territory of the municipality and others in the surrounding villages.

The entrance to the park is carried out via the main road that connects Divjaka with the National Park. The road divides the forest into two parts (North and South). The entrance to the park is located 1.2 km from the center of the park and the beach, while a tax is applied for the entrance of visitors and cars to the park.

The center of the park is located near the beach of Divjaka, approximately 1.2 km southwest of the entrance to the park. Most services are located in the center of the park. Divjaka Beach is a beach of approximately 15 kilometers of white sand bordered by a pine forest.

The park is open every season, but in the warmer seasons there is a much larger number of visitors.