About

Narta lagoon extends for about forty square kilometres north of Vlorë, separated from the Adriatic by a narrow barrier strip and fed by freshwater streams from the hills behind. Salt has been extracted here since antiquity — the lagoon's name derives from the old Albanian word for salt — and the salt pans on the western side are still partially worked, their geometric channels and pumping stations visible from the road.

The lagoon is a Ramsar-listed wetland and one of the most significant bird habitats on the Albanian coast. Greater flamingos winter here and occasionally overwinter; Dalmatian and great white pelicans use it on migration; Eurasian spoonbills, herons and a wide range of waders are present through the warmer months.

The Byzantine monastery of Saint Mary on Zvërnec island, reachable by a wooden footbridge across the lagoon's northern arm, adds a human layer to the natural one. The light over the water in the last hour before sunset is the best argument for timing your visit carefully.

Practical info