Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Albania

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Albania.

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Did You Know?

20 curious facts about Albania.

The Albanian word for the country is Shqiperia, meaning The Land of the Eagles.
The word Albania comes from Albanoi, which was the name of an Illyrian tribe in the 2nd century B.C.
A rare fish called koran is found in only two places in the world. One is Russia, the other is Lake Ohrid near Shkodra. It is similar to trout or carp, with a delicate, delicious flavor
Butrint, near the town of Sarandë, is an ancient Roman city dating from the 2nd century B.C. It is recognized as a world archaeological treasure. UNESCO contributes funds for its preservation.

In the mountains of Albania, announcements of a death, birth or marriage are passed from one house to another by a gunshot or a shout that echoes through the mountains.
About 20% of the Albanian work force lives and works in Greece or Italy. They send money home to support their relatives.
Like many Mediterranean countries, businesses open early in the morning, usually 7 AM, and close for a siesta at lunchtime. They reopen at 4 PM and stay open until 7 PM
About 10,000 Albanians make their livelihood hunting frogs. Albania exports 400 tons of live and frozen frogs every year, mostly to France and Italy, where frog legs are considered a delicacy.
A traditional sport for women in Albania is mountain climbing races. For men, tug of war and arm wrestling competitions are ways to show off their strength.
Several Albanian athletes have competed in the Olympic Games and other international events as representatives of Greece. One of these was Pyrros Dimas, a weightlifter, who won a gold medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996.