Sazan Island

Infobox Islands
name = Sazan

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image caption = Map of island of Sazan (Albania)
image size =
locator
Location map|Albania|lat=40.5|long=19.283333
map_custom = yes
native name =
native name link = Albanian
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location = Bay of Vlora; Adriatic Sea
coordinates = coord|40|30|N|19|17|E|display=inline,title
area = convert|5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on
highest mount =
elevation =
country = Albania
country admin divisions title = County
country admin divisions = Vlorë
country admin divisions title 1 = District
country admin divisions 1 = Vlorë
country admin divisions title 2 =
country admin divisions 2 =
country capital city =
country largest city =
country largest city population =
country leader title =
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population = unihabited
population as of =
density =
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Sazan or Sazani (in Italian Saseno; in Greek Σάσων, "Sason") is a small island, strategically located at the entrance to Bay of Vlora in Albania. It has an area of 5 km², and has no population. It is the largest island in Albania. It is a military facility and sometimes it can be seen by eye from Salento's coasts.

History

[
Strait of Otranto on a map from the beginning of the 17th Century] Known in ancient times as Saso.

In modern times, the island originally belonged to Venice, and became part of the British protectorate of the Ionian Islands following the Napoleonic Wars. In 1864 it was ceded to Greece with the rest of the Ionian Islands. Following the end of the Second Balkan War in 1913, Italy and Austria pressed Greece to evacuate the southern part of modern Albania. Finding the island too unimportant to risk war with Italy, Greece evacuated the island which was in turn occupied by Italy on 30 October 1914, which posted a military commander there. This was later ratified on 26 April 1915 by the secret Treaty of London.

After World War I, Albania formally ceded the island to Italy, 2 September 1920 as part of the Albano-Italian protocol.

It was restored to Albanian control on 10 February 1947 under of the treaties ending World War II.

Postage stamps

During most of the Italian occupation, postage stamps of Italy were used. However, in 1923, eight of the current stamps of Italy were overprinted "SASENO". They are not particularly rare, and cost collectors about 8-10 US$ each, although uses on cover are harder to find.

ee also

*Geography of Albania

ources and references

(incomplete)
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Albania.htm#Saseno%20Island WorldStatesmen- Albania]