Kosovo

I

Introduction

Kosovo (Albanian, Kosova), republic on the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe, bordered on the north and east by Serbia, on the south-east by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), on the south-west by Albania, and on the west by Montenegro. Formerly part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and latterly an autonomous region within Serbia, it was run under a United Nations administration (UNMIK) from 1999 before declaring its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. The area of Kosovo is approximately 10,887 sq km (4,203 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Prishtinë (Serbian, Priština).

II

Land and Resources

The republic is predominantly hilly and mountainous with two central flat fluvial basins (the Metohija basin in the west and the Kosov basin in the east) separated by the Cicavica mountains. The average altitude is 800 m (2,624 ft). Several high mountain ranges encircle the country with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m (6,562 to 8,000 ft). To the north are the Kopaonik mountains and to the south the Šar Mountains. Gjeravica (Ðeravica), part of the Prokletije mountain range near the border with Albania, is the republic’s highest mountain at 2,565 m (8,415 ft). Karst scenery is widespread along with pasture and wooded lands.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The main rivers are the White Drin, which forms the headwaters of the Drin and which runs towards the Adriatic Sea; the Sitnica; the South Morava; and the Ibar, which flows into the Danube. The biggest lakes are the Gazivoda in northern Kosovo, Radonjić, Batlava, and Badovac. Kosovo also has a large number of karst springs, thermal and mineral water springs, glacial valleys and lakes, and artificially created lakes.

B

Climate

Kosovo has a generally continental climate with cold, dry winters and warm, humid summers. Temperatures range from 30° C (86° F) in the summer months of July and August to as low as –10° C (14° F) in the winter months of December and January. The maximum precipitation is in winter, when snow regularly falls, especially at higher elevations.