The lake is placed in Zetsko-skadarska valley 7km far from the sea. 2/3 of it belong to Montenegro and 1/3 is located on Albanian territory. Depending on the water level, the lake surface varies from 370 to 530km2. A Montenegrin part of the Skadar lake, with 40 000m2 surface together with the coast, was proclaimed national park. The lake presents crypto-depression which means that some parts of its bottom are under the sea level. There are around 30 such places and they are called “oke”. The deepest “oko” is Radus, at least 60m deep. The average depth is 6m.

While cruising along the lake, one can notice its jagged coastline with many bays, islands and peninsulas projecting into it. The coast is swampy, covered with a high reed, while the lake surface is covered with a carpet made of swampy plants with yellow and white chestnuts, and a special plant called kesoranja. The southern part of the lake is rocky and it contains the relict forests of the horse chestnuts.

By Ramsar convention in 1996, Skadar lake was included into the swamps world list as an important habitat of water birds, Here, the bird watchers will enjoy their hobby – the Skadar lake, the habitat of 270 bird species, many of them rare and endangered. The trademark of this lake is curly pelican. Around 40 fish species lives in the lake and the most interesting among them are autochthonous species such as carps and bleaks. It is interesting that even some saltwater fish might be found here – eel, salmon and many other secies. During hunting season, the hunters and fishermen are random visitors.

In the basin around the Skadar lake, there were around 20 monastery complexes . That is why this area was called “Zeta’s Holy Hill” (Zetska Sveta Gora). Lesendro and other fortifications bear witness to battles fought here between Montenegrins and Turks. Monasteries, churches, fortifications and sacral monuments recall memories of the old rulers, Balsic family and Crnojevic family.

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