Lake Koman

Lake Koman (Albanian: Liqeni i Komanit) is a reservoir on the Drin River in northern Albania. Lake Koman is surrounded by dense forested hills, vertical slopes, deep gorges, and a narrow valley, completely taken up by the river. Besides the Drin, it is fed by the Shala and Valbona Rivers. The lake stretches in an area of 34 km² (13 sq mi), its width being 400 m (0.25 mi). The narrowest gorge, which is surrounded by vertical canyon walls, is more than 50 m (0.031 mi) wide. The reservoir was constructed between 1979 and 1988 near the village of Koman with a height of 115 m (377 ft).[2]

Lake Koman
Lake Koman
Lake Koman Show map of Albania Lake Koman Show map of Balkans
Location	Kukës, Shkodër
Coordinates	42°13′7″N 19°53′56″E
Primary inflows	Drin, Shala, Valbona
Primary outflows	Drin
Basin countries	Albania
Max. length	34 km (21 mi)
Surface area	13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)[1]
Max. depth	34 m (112 ft)[1]
Surface elevation	170 m (560 ft)[1]
Settlements	Fierzë, Koman

The combination of specific topography and hydrological conditions have contributed to the formation of different habitats.[3] The golden jackal, red fox, european badger, eurasian otter, beech marten, european polecat are the primary predatory mammals.[3] A high number of bird species have been observed in the region, including the common kingfisher, common quail, grey heron, eurasian wryneck, great spotted woodpecker and black-headed gull.[3]

The Lake Koman Ferry operates daily on the lake from Koman to Fierza. The ferry connects the city of Bajram Curri to the region of Tropojë. The journey takes about two and a half hours and is also popular with the foreign tourists.[4] Smaller boats bring people and goods to remote villages, which are often far away from the lake, but can only be reached by water.

The vertical canyons of the lake are sometimes comparable to the Scandinavian fjords.[5]