Lake Scutari

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Scutari
image_lake = Lac de Shkodra.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
coords = coord|42|9|59|N|19|19|33|E|type:waterbody_region:ME/AL|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Morača River
outflow = Bojana River
catchment =
basin_countries = Albania, Montenegro
length = km to mi|48|abbr=yes|wiki=yes
width = km to mi|14|abbr=yes
area = 370 km² – 530 km²
depth =
max-depth = m to ft|44|abbr=yes|wiki=yes
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = m to ft|6|abbr=yes
islands =
cities =

Lake Scutari, also called Lake Skadar (Albanian: "Liqeni i Shkodrës", Serbian: Скадарско језеро / "Skadarsko jezero"), is a lake on the border of Montenegro with Albania, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania (Albanian: "Shkodra" or "Shkodër", Serbian: "Skadar", Italian: "Scutari"). The origin of the name comes from the Greek "Skoutari".

Its surface, m to ft|6|abbr=yes|wiki=yes above sea level, can vary between km2 to mi2|370|abbr=yes|wiki=yes and km2 to mi2|530|abbr=yes, of which 2/3 is in Montenegro. The lake is a cryptodepression, filled by the Morača River and drained into the Adriatic by the km to mi|41|abbr=yes|wiki=yes-long Bojana River, which forms the international border on the lower half of its length.

Infobox_protected_area | name = Lake Skadar National Park
iucn_category = II

---

caption = Lake Skadar and surrounding area
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Montenegro
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 15
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 19
long_minutes = 15
long_seconds =
long_direction = E
area = km2 to mi2|400|abbr=yes|wiki=yes (40.000 ha)
established = 1983
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

The Montenegrin part of the lake and its surrounding area were declared a national park in 1983. It is one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having 270 bird species, among which are some of the last pelicans in Europe, and thus popular with birders. The lake also contains habitats of seagulls and herons and is abundant in fish, especially in carp, bleak and eel.

In 1996, by Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, it was included in the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance.

External links

* [http://www.ulcinjtoday.com/Skadar-Lake.html Visitor's Guide to Skadar Lake]
* [http://www.visit-montenegro.com/english/priroda/skadarsko.htm The Skadarsko Lake and Rijeka Crnojevica]
* [http://www.turizamcg.com/atrakcije/skadarsko_jezero/skadarsko_jezero.htm Skadarsko jezero] (in Serbian, with a lot of images)
* [http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/REREP/Biodiversity/skadar/SkadarLake.html Description of Skadar Lake with photos]
* [http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/serbia/mont1/Montenegro97.html Description of birding opportunities on Skadar Lake]