Booming tourism and climate change threaten Albania's coast
From Velipoja in the north where the waves are swallowing a century-old forest, to the tourist hotspot of Golem where galloping construction of hotels and restaurants is accelerating erosion, the country's often spectacular
is under threat.
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"Out of Albania's 273 kilometres (169 miles) of coastline some 154 are affected by erosion," urban planning specialist Besjana Shehu told AFP.
Tourism in the Balkan nation is booming, from 5.1 million visitors in 2018 to 10.1 million in 2023. But new hotels, restaurants and beach bars are also taking their toll on nature.
Rising sea level due to climate change is further complicating the situation.
In Velipoja, a protected area close to the border with Montenegro, the sea is advancing more than five metres a year.
It has already eaten 210 metres into the coastal forest, threatening an entire ecosystem that cannot live in salt water.
Dozens of pine trunks lie strewn on the sand, many uprooted by violent storms late last month.
"Velipoja Park is shrinking," warned Agim Dardha, head of the protected areas agency for the Shkodra region.
"In the past 10 years alone it has lost more than 30 hectares (74 acres)," he said.
Death of an island
Franz Jozeph island at the mouth of the nearby Buna River still figures on the maps and tourist guides.
But it actually vanished in 2012 after being swallowed by the sea.
Named by Austrian cartographers in 1870 after Emperor Franz Joseph I, the island was made up of rich alluvial soil.
Located only 150 metres from the coast, its 19.5 hectares were covered with trees and wild vegetation.
"A paradise for many species of seabirds, a haven of peace for us too... it is totally gone," lamented Lule Coli, who runs a small beach bar nearby.
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But the construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants in the area hastened its death, said Ervis Krymi, geography professor at the Shkodra University.
In Kune, a few kilometres further south, locals are also worried.
There are more big storms every year and the shore now looks like a tree graveyard.
"As a result of climate change in recent years, the sea has become very aggressive, advancing towards the land at a frantic pace that exceeds all forecasts," said Jak Gjini, an environment expert.
In some areas it is pushing 20 metres inland every year, he added.
Flooding
Communist-era bunkers built along the coast in the 1970s have disappeared under the waves.
But the storms also took small seaside bars run by locals. The force of the sea was so strong the sandbag barriers they put up were useless.
"There used to be two bunkers here. Now they're submerged," said Vera Faslliaj, who runs a small restaurant called Poseidon, named after the Greek god of the sea.
"The sea is coming and will take everything... in four or five years there won't be anything left here," she added.
Albanian authorities say that rising sea levels pose severe flood risks to many of the country's urban areas.
By the end of the decade more than a third of coastal areas will suffer direct consequences of flooding, according to the national civil protection agency.
In Golem, just south of the resort city of Durres, hotel owners are worried about the authorities' seeming indifference to finding solutions and curbing uncontrolled building along the coast.
"The sea cannot wait for the authorities to wake up," hotel administrator Edvin Dule said.
Around 70 metres of Golem's beach has been lost in the past 16 years.
Hotels springing up like mushrooms have further exacerbated the erosion and are shrinking the beaches on which they depend to attract tourists, locals say.
"It's a very worrying phenomenon that directly impacts the economy and tourism," Dule said.
"If we cannot offer what tourists expect -- umbrellas, deckchairs and activities on the sand -- we reduce the quality of what we offer, which will translate into lower visitor numbers."
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India.com
15 hours ago
- India.com
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Unlike hill stations that demand a road trip, or coastal towns that ask for a holiday plan, Delhi's picnic spots live right next to you. They're accessible, vast, and forgiving. A place where you can leave the week behind, even if just for a few hours. This is not just about leisure. It's about reclaiming balance. For families. For couples. For solo wanderers. And for a city that often forgets it can breathe. Tired of malls and monuments? These picnic spots are waiting for you 1. Lodhi Garden : The City's Timeless Backyard History doesn't have to feel heavy. In Lodhi Garden, it feels over 90 acres, this garden is where Mughal-era tombs rise gracefully among flowering beds, jogging trails, and wide lawns. Families spread blankets under peepal trees. Friends play frisbee. Elderly couples sip chai while pigeons scatter around domes older than memory. Come here with a basket of sandwiches, or just with a book. The garden doesn't demand much—just your presence. 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Some are about Garden of Five Senses, tucked in Saidul Ajaib near Saket, was designed to awaken—quite literally—all your senses. Pathways curve around sculptures. Fountains break into gentle applause. Fragrant plants line the trails, while amphitheatre-like spaces often host cultural shows. For a picnic, this means more than food and chatter. It's about discovery. Pack light, because this garden isn't about lying still—it's about walking, observing, pausing, and realizing that leisure can be artful. 4. Deer Park : The Wild Heart of South Delhi Think of it as Delhi's version of a secret in Hauz Khas, Deer Park stretches across meadows, water bodies, and trails where peacocks call and deer move quietly through the trees. Joggers and college kids know it well, but for picnickers, it's paradise. You can spread a mat under gulmohar trees, share a quiet meal, and then wander into the ruins of Hauz Khas fort nearby. 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NDTV
a day ago
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India.com
a day ago
- India.com
7 Fascinating Facts About Nainital That Will Change How You See the Lake District of India
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