Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of "Albanian Ionian Sea Coast"

⭐ In the context of the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast, the Karaburun Peninsula is considered…

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⭐ Core Definition: Karaburun Peninsula, Albania

The Karaburun Peninsula (Albanian: Gadishulli i Karaburunit), also known as Cape Linguetta, is a peninsula of the Mediterranean Sea located in Southern and Southeastern Europe, which is almost completely surrounded by both the Adriatic Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south. It is located in Southwestern Albania along the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast, whereas the Strait of Otranto separates it from Italy. The Strait of Mezokanal separates the peninsula from Sazan Island, while in the southeast stretches the Bay of Vlorë. In classical antiquity, its name was the "Akrokeraunian Peninsula" (Ακροκεραύνιο ακρωτήριο), whose name was derived from the eponymous Akrokeraunian mountains; this is because, in terms of geology, the Rrëza e Kanalit on the peninsula represent the continuation of said mountains, which are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that extends parallel to the Ionian Sea. Karaburun peninsula is sometimes called Ceraunian Peninsula due to the name of the mountain range. Formed during the mesozoic era of the cretaceous and paleogene period, the crests of the mountain range form a northwest-southeast line with a series of distinct peaks along its irregular structure that are broken apart by steep and unequally slopes. The highest peaks are namely, the Maja Çaderës, Maja e Flamurit, Maja e Koretës and Maja e Ilqes.

The western section comprises a rough relief and is dotted with sandy and rocky beaches, sea caves, steep cliffs and several bays amongst them Cave of Haxhi Ali, Cape of Gjuhëz, Bay of Skaloma, Bay of Arushë, Bay of Dafinë, and most notably Bay of Grama, where ships and vessels anchored during classical antiquity. On the high and steep rock faces of the bay, which served also as a marble quarry, there are hundreds of rock inscriptions dating back to the 4th century BC.

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👉 Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Albanian Ionian Sea Coast

The Albanian Ionian Sea Coast (Albanian pronunciation: [brɛˈɡdɛ:ti jˈɔn]Albanian: Bregdeti Jon) is a coastline of the north-eastern Ionian Sea, that encompasses the south-western border of the Republic of Albania, stretching from the southern half of Karaburun Peninsula, across the historical region of Labëria, the city of Sarandë, the mountains of the Ceraunians, and the Albanian Riviera, to the Lake of Butrint, where the Strait of Corfu separates the country from Greece.

Albania is located in Southern and South-eastern Europe in the western section of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders on Montenegro to the north-west, Kosovo to the north-east, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The coastline occupies a total length of 446 kilometres (277 mi) and explicitly marked by a mountainous landscape supplied with deep bays, numerous islands, high cliffs, rocky and sandy coasts and unique marine life.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Ceraunian Mountains

The Ceraunian Mountains (Albanian: Malet e Vetëtimës, Albanian pronunciation: [ˈmalet e vetəˈtiməs], 'Thunderbolt Mountains') are a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania, within the Vlorë County.

The mountain range rises on the northeastern bank of the Ionian Sea and protrudes into the Adriatic Sea. It extends for approximately 100 km (62 mi) in a southeast-northwest direction near Sarandë, along the Albanian Riviera, close to Orikum. Geologically, the Karaburun Peninsula belongs to the Ceraunian Mountains, and is separated from the rest by the Llogara Pass (1,027 metres (3,369 ft)) forming the western part of the Ceraunian mountain range, called Acroceraunian Mountains (Albanian: Malet Akrokeraune). The mountains are about 24 km (15 mi) long and about 4–7 km (2.5–4.3 mi) wide. The highest peak is Çikë with an elevation of 2,044 metres (6,706 ft).

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Vlorë County

Vlorë County (Albanian pronunciation: [vlɔɽ(ə)]; Albanian: Qarku i Vlorës) is one of the 12 counties of Albania with the city of Vlorë being the county capital. The county spans 2,706 square kilometres (1,045 sq mi) and has a total population of 146,681 people as of 2023. It borders the counties of Fier and Gjirokastër, as well as the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Greece borders Vlorë to the south.

Vlorë is geographically a very mountainous county. The county stretches along the Adriatic Sea and especially the Ionian Sea, forming the Albanian Riviera. The county has a coastline of 244 kilometres (152 mi). The coasts on the west can be very steep and rocky with green panoramic vistas and high mountains in the hinterland, including the Ceraunian Mountains. The highest natural point is Çikë, at 2,044 metres (6,706 ft). The northwest of the county is mostly located on the peninsula of Karaburun, with a rough relief, steep cliffs, bays and rocky beaches.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Strait of Otranto

The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width between Punta Palascìa, eastern Salento, and Karaburun Peninsula, western Albania, is less than 72 km (45 miles; 39 nautical miles). The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Çikë (mountain)

Çikë, (Albanian pronunciation: [mali i tʃikəs]) at 2,044 metres (6,706 ft) above sea level, is the highest peak of the Ceraunian Mountains range in Albania which extends approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) along the Albanian Riviera in a northwesterly direction from Sarandë to the Karaburun Peninsula. With a prominence of 1,563 metres (5,128 ft), Çikë is the 85th most prominent mountain peak in Europe.

The climate is Mediterranean, having hot summers and generally warm to cool, dry winters. The mount falls within the Illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. The mount is also part of the Llogara National Park, which is noted for its rich biodiversity and vegetation. The western flank of the mount is vegetated by species such as the Bulgarian fir, Austrian pine, Bosnian pine and Macedonian pine.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Oricum

Oricum (Ancient Greek: Ὤρικον, Ὤρικος or Ὠρικός; Latin: Oricum or Oricus; Albanian: Oriku or Orikum) was a harbor on the Illyrian coast that developed in an Ancient Greek polis at the south end of the Bay of Vlorë on the southern Adriatic coast. It was located at the foot of the Akrokeraunian Mountains, the natural border between ancient Epirus and Illyria. Oricum later became an important Roman city between the provinces of Epirus Vetus and Epirus Nova in Macedonia. It is now an archaeological park of Albania, near modern Orikum, Vlorë County. Oricum holds such a strategic geographical position that the area has been in continuous usage as a naval base from antiquity to the present-days.

It appears that the site of Oricum was uninhabited before the 6th century BC. In the early period contacts between the Greeks and the local Illyrians were evidently absent in the hinterland of the site. Early Greek sources describe Orikos as a harbor (Greek: λιμήν, limen). Findings from the proto-urban period in Orikos provide evidence of extensive contacts primarily with the Greek world. Like other ports of southern Illyria, the site of Orikos was a place of exchange of products and a meeting point between the outside world and the Illyrians located in the hinterland. In the Classical period Orikos was likely part of the peraia of Korkyra.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Cave of Haxhi Ali

The Cave of Haxhi Ali (Albanian: Shpella e Haxhi Aliut or Shpella e Ilirëve) is a karst cave located in the limestone cliffs of the Karaburun Peninsula in southwestern Albania, near the Cape of Gjuhëz in Vlorë County. The cave measures approximately 30 meters (98 ft.) in length, with a variable width between 10 and 12 meters (33-39 ft.), and a height off about 18 meters (59 ft.)

The cave is named after Haxhi Ali, a historical figure described as an Albanian sailor and warrior from Ulcinj, who is said to have sought refuge there with his son. Archaeological discoveries within the cave, including artifacts associated with ancient trade and travel, suggest that it was used historically by traders and travelers.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Cape of Gjuhëz

The Cape of Gjuhëz (Albanian: Kepi i Gjuhëzës) is a rocky cape northwest of Karaburun Peninsula as well as the westernmost point of continental Albania. It projects 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) into the sea in the form of the tongue, thus the origin of its name. The altitudes of the cape slope gradually towards the water, whereas the southern shores form 30 to 40 metres (98 to 131 ft) high steep cliffs that fall directly to the Ionian Sea. The cape lacks vegetation, while limestone rocks, highly eroded by Karst are spread over whole the area.

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Karaburun Peninsula, Albania in the context of Bay of Grama

Grama Bay (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈɟiːɾi i ˈgraːməs]Albanian: Gjiri i Gramës) is a bay in the Ionian Sea situated along the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast on the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe. It is one of many bays of the western Ceraunian Mountains along the Albanian Riviera south of the Karaburun Peninsula. The bay is primarily known as a touristic place, and for the engraved inscriptions in the surrounding coastal cliffs as its name relieves.

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