Pogradec Lake is a place of breathtaking beauty in every season, resembling a scene from a fairy tale. It is one of Albania’s most precious and unique natural assets. The lake is part of the larger Lake Ohrid, situated within Albania’s borders and extending into North Macedonia. It is distinguished by its remarkable diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, and natural contrasts. The region includes Lake Ohrid (a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site), the Pogradec Basin, the Çërrava Threshold, Dry Mountain, and the eastern part of the Mokra Highlands.
Pogradec Lake is the deepest tectonic lake in the Balkans, reaching a depth of 289 meters. It is classified as a tectonic lake due to its geological formation. The ancient islands of Lin and Ohrid have gradually transformed into peninsulas. The Lin Peninsula, in particular, has preserved clear traces of its lacustrine origin, evident in its wet soil and dark alluvial deposits. Recent archaeological discoveries indicate that Lin is home to the oldest known pile-dwelling settlement in Europe, reinforcing the historical significance of the Illyrian civilization in the region.The lake receives water from surface runoff, underground springs, and inflows from Lake Prespa. Approximately 50% of the water in the St. Naum and Tushemisht springs, located on the southern shore of Lake Ohrid, originates from Lake Prespa.
Flora and Fauna
The biodiversity of Lake Pogradec is closely linked to its water quality and ecosystem conditions. The lake’s coastal vegetation consists of 125 plant species, including 9 species of aquatic plants. The fish fauna is particularly rich, with 60% of its species being endemic. There are 21 native fish species, 11 of which are commercially important, including two well-known salmonid species: the Koran (Salmo letnica) and the Belushka (Salmothymus ohridanus). Other significant fish species found in the lake include the European bleak (Alburnus alburnus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and Ohrid roach (Rutilus rubilio ohridanus).
Ohrid Lake and the Prespa Lakes form a critical core of the Biosphere Reserve. The lake is of global significance due to the high number of endemic species, including living fossils such as gastropod mollusks and vertebrates like fish. Within the protected area, 13 types of natural habitats have been identified under the Natura 2000 habitat classification, along with 12 significant floristic species and 9 endemic species. Additionally, 2 species are listed in Annex IV of the EU Habitat Directive, and 1 species is protected under the Bern Convention.
Ohrid Lake is particularly notable for its rich diversity of endemic species, including over 80 types of diatoms (single-celled algae). The lake also hosts an endemic macroalga, Chara ohridana, while its surrounding terrestrial habitats feature rare and endemic plant species such as Festucopsis serpentini and three unique dandelion species (Taraxacum ohrid, Taraxacum oppidanum, and Taraxacum meyeri).On July 5, 2019, due to its extraordinary biological and cultural significance, the Albanian portion of Lake Ohrid, along with its surrounding landscape, was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s World Mixed Natural and Cultural Heritage List.
