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Butrint Lagoon

Lake and tourist attraction in Albania

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated July 25, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Butrint Lagoon (Albanian: Liqeni i Butrintit) is a salt lagoon south of Saranda, Albania, located in direct proximity of the Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by dense forested hills, rocky coast and complemented by saltwater and freshwater marshlands. The lake has a length of 7.1 km (4.4 mi) and a width of 3.3 km (2.1 mi), with a surface area of 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi). The maximum depth of the lake is 24.4 m (80 ft). It is shaped like a giant footprint, pointing north. At its south, the Vivari Channel connects the lagoon to the sea.

01Flora and fauna

Butrint is particularly known for the diversity of its flora and fauna. The southern portion of the lake is situated within the boundaries of Butrint National Park and has been recognised as a wetland of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention. The lake has also been identified as an important Bird and Plant Area, because it supports significant numbers of bird and plant species.

Near the shore arrangements to the breeding of Mediterranean mussels
Near the shore arrangements to the breeding of Mediterranean mussels
A view from the north of the lake
A view from the north of the lake
Forests of Butrint
Forests of Butrint
Watch videos about Butrint LagoonExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Butrint Lagoon”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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Related topics

Butrint

Butrint was an ancient Greek polis and later Roman city and the seat of an early Christian bishopric in Epirus. Originally a settlement of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians, it later became part of the state of Epirus and later a Roman colonia and a Byzantine bishopric.

Butrint National Park

Butrint National Park is a national park in Vlorë County, southern Albania. It is located 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Sarandë.

Venetian Fortress of Butrint

The Venetian Fortress of Butrint is a castle on the Butrint Peninsula in southern Albania. The castle is located by the Channel of Vivari within the Butrint National Park and close to the neighbouring Venetian Triangular Castle.