View source for Sazan

{{Short description|Island in Albania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox island
| name             = Sazan
| image_name       = Sazan_Island,_Albania_2016_02.jpg
| image_caption    = Sazan seen from the [[Karaburun Peninsula, Albania|Karaburun Peninsula]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|40|29|37|N|19|16|50|E|region:AL-LU|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2         = 5.7
| length_km        = 4.8
| width_km         = 2
| elevation_m      = 344
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="SIpeaks">{{cite web|author1=Agjencia Kombëtare e Bregdetit|title=MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SAZANI ISLAND, ALBANIA|url=http://www.bregdeti.gov.al/doc%20pdf/Sazani%20island%20management%20plan%20130115.pdf|website=bregdeti.gov.al|page=11|language=en}}</ref>
| pushpin_map      = Albania
| pushpin_relief      = yes
| pushpin_label_position = left
| country          = [[Albania]]
| country_admin_divisions_title      = State
| country_admin_divisions            = [[Vlorë County]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1    = Municipality
| country_admin_divisions_1          = Vlorë
| module = {{Infobox lighthouse | qid = Q33412384 | embed=yes
| yearbuilt = 1871 (first)
| yearlit  = 1920s (current)
| shape = cylindrical tower attached to a 2-storey keeper's house<ref name=listoflights113>{{cite ngall|113|2015|}}</ref><ref>{{Cite rowlett|alb|access-date=6 April 2017}}</ref>
}}}}
'''Sazan''' ({{lang-sq-definite|Sazani}}) is an [[Albania|Albanian]] uninhabited [[island]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The [[Islands of Albania|largest]] of Albania's islands, it is a designated [[military exclusion zone]]; it lies in a strategically important location between the [[Strait of Otranto]] and the mouth of the [[Bay of Vlorë]], marking the border between the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea|Ionian]] seas.
In 2010, {{convert|2721.87|ha}} of the island's surrounding marine area was designated as the [[Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park|Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Management Plan for National Marine Park Karaburun-Sazan|url=http://mcpa.iwlearn.org/docs/management-plan-for-mpa-karaburun-sazani|website=mcpa.iwlearn.org|page=10|language=en|quote=The total area of National Park Karaburun-Sazan is 12,570.82 ha, with marine area near Karaburuni having 9,848.95 ha and marine area near Sazani island having 2,721.87 ha.}}</ref> In clear weather, Sazan is sometimes visible from the coast of [[Salento]], [[Italy]], to its west. The island has been open to the public since July 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2015/07/26/fotolajm-anija-e-pare-turistike-me-119-turiste-mberriti-ne-sazan/|title=FOTOLAJM/ Anija e parë turistike me 119 turistë mbërriti në Sazan|date=26 July 2015|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> The island has a surface area of {{convert|5.7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is {{convert|4.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide, and its coastline measures about {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Agjencia Kombëtare e Bregdetit |title=MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SAZANI ISLAND, ALBANIA |url=http://www.bregdeti.gov.al/doc%20pdf/Sazani%20island%20management%20plan%20130115.pdf |website=bregdeti.gov.al |page=9 |language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Staße von otranto.jpg|170px|left|thumb|The [[Strait of Otranto]] on a map from the beginning of the 17th century.]]
Sazan was known as ''Sason'' (Σάσων) to the ancient Greeks, and ''Saso'' to the ancient Romans. Pseudo-Scylax mentioned it in his ''[[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax|Periplus]]''.<ref>[https://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/graeca/Chronologia/S_ante06/Skylax/sky_p001.html Pseudo Scylax, Periplous, §26]</ref> [[Polybius]] wrote that there had been a military encounter there in 215 BC between the forces of [[Philip V of Macedon]] and the Romans. The island was part of the [[Roman Empire]], and later came under [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] rule.
In 1279, it was captured by the [[Capetian House of Anjou|Anjou of Naples]], and in the 14th century, it was held by Albanian lords, often under the protection of the [[Republic of Venice]].
Around 1400, the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] captured it, but by 1696 it was controlled by the Venetians. In 1815, it came under the protection of Britain along with the [[Ionian Islands]], which were made [[United States of the Ionian Islands|an autonomous republic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pyrroulas.blogspot.com/2009/03/island-of-sazan-saseno.html|title=The island of Sazan (Saseno, Σασων)|last=Sk|date=24 March 2009|website=pyrroulas|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Saseno - Coronelli Vincenzo - 1688.jpg|170px|left|thumb|Map of Sazan Island in 1688.]]
In 1864, the island was ceded to [[Greece]] along with the rest of the [[Ionian Islands]]. But Greece did not occupy it, and it came under the ''de facto'' control of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]]. It was not until the [[First Balkan War]], in 1912, that Greece landed soldiers on the island and formally claimed it, calling it ''Sasona'' (Σάσωνα). After the end of the [[Second Balkan War]] in 1913, [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] and [[Austria-Hungary]] pressed Greece to evacuate all of [[Northern Epirus]], including the island. Due to the risk of starting a war with Italy, Greece evacuated it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.protothema.gr/stories/article/673204/nisos-sason-/|title=Νήσος Σάσων: Πώς παραχωρήθηκε στην Αλβανία με Νόμο|date=22 April 2017 }}</ref>
Italy in turn occupied it on 30 October 1914, and established a military commander on the island, which is called Saseno in Italian. This was later ratified on 26 April 1915 by the secret [[Treaty of London (1915)|Treaty of London]]. After [[World War I]], Albania formally ceded the island to Italy on 2 September 1920 as part of the [[Vlora War#Armistice|Albano-Italian protocol]].
The island was part of Italy from 1920 until after [[World War II]], administratively part of [[Lastovo|Lagosta]], in the province of [[Zadar|Zara]]. In those years the Italian authorities built a [[lighthouse]] and some naval fortifications, and populated the island with a few families of fishermen relocated from [[Apulia]].<ref>Olinto Mileta. ''Popolazioni dell'Istria, Fiume, Zara e Dalmazia 1850–2002''. ediz. A.D.E.S. Trieste, 2005</ref> The island was united to the Italian [[Governatorate of Dalmatia]] in 1941 during [[World War II]] and ceded to Albania on 10 February 1947, under the postwar [[Treaty of peace with Italy (1947)|peace treaty]] with Italy.
===Post-World War II===
During the [[Cold War]] between the [[Soviet Union]] and the United States, Albania relied heavily on the Soviet Union. During that time, the Soviets built a base for [[Whiskey-class submarine]]s and a chemical/biological weapons plant on the island and surrounding areas. After the fall of [[communism]] four submarines remained at Pasha Limani port in the bay of Vlore.<ref name=SazanSubase>{{cite web|title=Take a Look Inside These Abandoned Submarines & Bases|url=http://www.historyinorbit.com/take-a-look-inside-these-abandoned-submarines-and-bases/38|work=History in Orbit website|author=Ryan|page=38|date=15 March 2015|access-date=6 July 2018|archive-date=11 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211174200/http://www.historyinorbit.com/take-a-look-inside-these-abandoned-submarines-and-bases/38/|url-status=dead}}</ref> To this day, many Soviet-era [[gas masks]] can still be found scattered around the valley of the island.
The island now is uninhabited but there is a small Italo-Albanian naval base, used mainly to counter [[contraband]] between southern Italy and Albania and as a training field for the British [[Royal Navy]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.secondorisorgimento.it/rivista/cultura/italbania.htm |title=Cooperation between Italy and Albania (in Italian) |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306203809/http://www.secondorisorgimento.it/rivista/cultura/italbania.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=SazanSubase/> In 2010, the island's surrounding sea waters, and those of adjacent [[Karaburun Peninsula, Albania|Karaburun Peninsula]] were proclaimed a National Marine Park by the Albanian government.
== Environment ==
=== Geography and climate ===
[[File:Sazan-island-map-english.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Map of Sazan Island]]
Sazan is the largest island in the country and Albania's westernmost point. It is strategically located at the entrance to the [[Bay of Vlorë]], in the eastern [[Strait of Otranto]] separating [[Italy]] from Albania. It is also located at the informal junction line of the [[Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]] inside the [[Mediterranean Sea]], which is just to the south according to international scientific bodies.
The island is composed of [[limestone]] rocks, which was formed during the [[Cretaceous period]], while the eastern part is partially composed of terrigenic and cleistogenic deposits.<ref name="SIecology">{{cite web|author1=Agjencia Kombëtare e Bregdetit|title=MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SAZANI ISLAND, ALBANIA|url=http://www.bregdeti.gov.al/doc%20pdf/Sazani%20island%20management%20plan%20130115.pdf|website=bregdeti.gov.al|page=18|language=en}}</ref> It has four peaks, the highest standing at {{convert|344|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[above sea level]] followed by two peaks in the center {{convert|331|m|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|307|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and the lowest with {{convert|228|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the south of the island.<ref name="SIpeaks"/> Sazan has a coastline of about {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} characterized by sandy beaches, capes, rocky cliffs and underwater fauna. [[File:Shen Nicolo Bay - Sazan 2023.png|thumb|Bay of St. Nicholas]] Along its western shore the cliffs descending up to {{convert|40|m|mi|abbr=on}} underwater. Capes of the island include the Bay of Paradise (''Gjiri i Parajsës''), Bay of St. Nicholas (''Gjiri i Shënkollit''), Cape of Shënkoll, Cape of Kallam, Cape of Jug, Cape of Pëllumba, and Cape of Pulbardha.<ref name="SIpeaks"/>
The island has a climate unusual in Albania, due to its maritime location. It is not [[Mediterranean climate|mediterranean]] but rather [[subtropical]] on account of its warm winters and hot summers.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The climate and vegetation resemble those of the south of [[Crete]] in [[Greece]], [[Tunisia]] and even parts of [[Egypt]]. The flora is different from that of the rest of Albania in that it is subtropical. A small [[tornado]] or [[waterspout]] was spotted along the coast coming inland in August 2002.<ref>http://www.tornadoit.org/lefoto28.htm Trombe marine e tornado sull'isola di Saseno (Albania) nell'agosto 2002, Tornadoit.org</ref>
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Sazan (1991–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 16.3
|Feb high C = 17.5
|Mar high C = 18.6
|Apr high C = 20.1
|May high C = 22.9
|Jun high C = 25.6
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 25.8
|Oct high C = 23.4
|Nov high C = 19.6
|Dec high C = 17.4
|Jan low C = 10.2
|Feb low C = 10.5
|Mar low C = 11.7
|Apr low C = 13.3
|May low C = 16.4
|Jun low C = 21.3
|Jul low C = 23.7
|Aug low C = 23.4
|Sep low C = 21.2
|Oct low C = 16.5
|Nov low C = 13.1
|Dec low C = 11.1
|Jan precipitation days = 10
|Feb precipitation days = 9
|Mar precipitation days = 7
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 4
|Jun precipitation days = 3
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 2
|Sep precipitation days = 4
|Oct precipitation days = 7
|Nov precipitation days = 10
|Dec precipitation days = 11
|source 1 = METEOALB Weather Station
|date=August 2010
}}
=== Flora and fauna ===
[[File:Jacobaea maritima.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jacobaea maritima]] can be found on the eastern coast.<ref name="SIflora"/>]]
[[Biogeographically]], Sazan Island falls within the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]] terrestrial [[ecoregion]] of the [[Palearctic realm|Palearctic]] [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub]]. Due to the combination of southern geographic [[latitude]] and high [[altitude]] and as well the variation of climate, geological and hydrological conditions have contributed to the formation of a unique [[flora]] inside the island.
The variety of flora and vegetation can be explained by its strategically position between the western and eastern [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref name="SIflora">{{cite web|author1=Agjencia Kombëtare e Bregdetit|title=MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SAZANI ISLAND, ALBANIA|url=http://www.bregdeti.gov.al/doc%20pdf/Sazani%20island%20management%20plan%20130115.pdf|website=bregdeti.gov.al|pages=21–26|language=en}}</ref> The island is home to 435 species (419 [[Indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]]) of [[vascular plant]]s, or 8.2% of Albania's entire vascular flora.<ref name="SIflora"/> There are only one endemic (''Limonium anfractum'') and three subendemic (''Centaurea pawlowski'', ''Scutellaria rupestris'' and ''Verbascum guicciardini'') plants.<ref name="SIflora"/> The varied relief creates various ecological environments for plants, further diversified by the dominant rock types which form siliceous and calcareous terrain on the territory of the park. The rocky shores and [[limestone]] sea [[cliff]]s on the southern corners of Sazan are home to numerous [[halophile]] species such as [[Trifurcula eurema|lotus cytisoides]] and [[Limonium|limonium anfractum]].<ref name="SIflora"/> The forests of Sazan are generally composed of [[shrub]]s, [[sclerophyll]] forests with [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]], [[deciduous]] forests with [[hophornbeam]] and [[south European flowering ash]].<ref name="SIflora"/>
[[File:Pracht-Kieleidechse.JPG|thumb|left|The [[dalmatian Algyroides]] is the most remarkable reptile on Sazan.<ref name="SIfauna"/>]]
Due to its specific topography, climatic, hydrological and geological conditions, the island is characterized by housing a unique vegetation and biodiversity. The fauna is represented by 15 species of [[mammal]]s (including 8 species of bats such as the [[common pipistrelle]], and [[soprano pipistrelle]]<ref name="SIfauna" />), 39 species of [[bird]]s,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Euronatur |title=ADRIATIC FLYWAY – BIRD CONSERVATION ON THE BALKANS |url=https://www.euronatur.org/fileadmin/docs/Vogeljagd-Kampagne/Adriatic_Flyway_Proceedings_04-05-17.pdf |website=euronatur.org |pages=107–118 |language=en |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516001729/https://www.euronatur.org/fileadmin/docs/Vogeljagd-Kampagne/Adriatic_Flyway_Proceedings_04-05-17.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 8 species of [[reptile]]s, 1 species of [[amphibia]] and as well as 122 species of invertebrates.<ref name="SIfauna">{{cite web|author1=Agjencia Kombëtare e Bregdetit|title=MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SAZANI ISLAND, ALBANIA|url=http://www.bregdeti.gov.al/doc%20pdf/Sazani%20island%20management%20plan%20130115.pdf|website=bregdeti.gov.al|pages=27–35|language=en}}</ref> The bird species in Sazan with high conservation value include 23 [[songbird]]s, 5 [[bird of prey]]s, 3 [[pigeon]]s, and 3 [[Swift (bird)|swift]]s.<ref name="SIfauna"/>
The amphibians are represented by 1 of which include the [[Bufo viridis|green toad]] nesting in the wet deciduous forests and the forest streams. There are 8 reptile species. The [[Mediterranean house gecko]], [[Testudo hermanni|testudo hermanni boettgeri]], [[Balkan pond turtle]], [[sheltopusik]], [[blue-throated keeled lizard]], [[Balkan wall lizard]], [[Montpellier snake]] and [[Balkan whip snake]] are present in most rocky, and wet natural habitats throughout the island.<ref name="SIfauna"/>
There are between 122 identified species, including 113 [[insect]]s, but their actual number is estimated to be higher.<ref name="SIfauna"/> Among the insects are 40 are [[beetle]]s, 16 [[Butterfly|butterflies]], 22 [[heteroptera]], 20 [[orthoptera]], 5 [[dragonflies]] and 10 [[hymenoptera]].<ref name="SIfauna"/>
== See also ==
{{Commons category|Sazan}}
* [[Geography of Albania]]
* [[Islands of Albania]]
* [[Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park]]
* [[Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast|Albanian Adriatic]] and [[Albanian Ionian Sea Coast|Ionian Sea Coast]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
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[[Category:Islands of Albania]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Albania]]
[[Category:Vlorë County]]
[[Category:Geography of Vlorë County]]
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