The Skadar Lake is the largest lake in Montenegro and in the Balkans. The lake takes up a surface area of around 369,7 km2, 221,8 of which belong to Montenegro, and the remaining 147,9 to Albania. The length of the lake, measured between Vranjine in Montenegro and Shkodra in Albania, measures around 40 kilometers. The lake is a cryptodepression, which means that its depths are beneath sea level. The lake’s deepest point measures around 6 meters deep. The Bojana river starts in the Skadar Lake, ending its journey in the Adriatic Sea. The Skadar Lake is rich in flora and fauna, as well as islands, cultural monuments and beautiful, pure natural wonder. In 1983, the lake and its surrounding area became a national park.
The first ethnic groups in the area of the Skadar Lake, and Illyrian tribe called the Labeats, settled there during the Iron and Stone Ages. It is thought that the center of the then-Illyrian state was at the Skadar Lake. In the 2nd century, the Illyrians were overrun by the Romans, who constructed impressive settlements in the area, while the Skadar Lake basin became the center of the country of Duklja. Duklja changed its name into Zeta, which later became Montenegro.
