Travel Guide Velipoja

Velipoja/Velipojë (pronounced "vélipoïa"/"vélipoïeu") has a population of around 4,500 and is part of the municipality of Shkodra. The town lies 15 km northwest of Shëngjin, 22 km northwest of Lezha(via Shëngjin) and 31 km south of Shkodra (frequent minibus service in summer).The last town on the Albanian coast before Montenegro, this seaside resort lies between the Viluni marshes and the border marked by Ada Bojana island, Franz-Joseph islet and the Buna delta. Long poor and neglected, the Velipoja region (from the Slavic veli polje, "large field") remains dedicated to agriculture, hunting and fishing. Its 14 km long sandy beach, which stretches as far as Shëngjin, and its beautiful landscape have led to strong development since the fall of the communist regime. Very popular in summer (around 100,000 Kosovars in July and August), the area remains relatively unspoilt. At least on the surface. Because of the lack of cooperation between Albania and Montenegro, the Buna delta, once a vast bird sanctuary, is dying as a result of tourism-related pollution and the modification of waterways caused by the construction of hydroelectric power stations upstream. The sea is heavily polluted and swimming is not recommended, even if the water appears clean. A large part of the beach has been taken over by bars, so that public spaces have become rare.