Geography
Alone among the counties of Albania, Berat neither borders the sea nor another country. It is bounded by Elbasan County to the north, Korçë County to the east, Gjirokastër County to the south and Fier County to the west. The biggest river is the Osum which flows through the town of Berat itself and joins the Molisht River. Berat is bounded by Tomorr (known as "Mount Olympus" or "the throne of gods "(2,416 metres (7,927 ft)), and Shpirag (1,218 metres (3,996 ft) high) mountains, which are covered with rich pine forests. A deep ravine cut by the Osum River on its west side, which is 915 metres (3,002 ft) deep in lime stone rock formation is where the Berat city is situated on stepped terraces. Other rivers include the Çorovoda River which passes through the town of Çorovodë home to the canyon known as "Pirogosh".
The geographical formations of the region are frequently mentioned in local folklore. According to legend, Tomorr Mountain personified a giant who fought his brother Shpirag or Shpiragu, personified by a nearby mountain, for the love of a young woman. The two brothers fought bitterly for her affections and ended up killing each other. Deep in sorrow, the legend states, the grieving woman for whom they had contested wept over their deaths; her tears created the Osum River. She was then said to have turned to stone, becoming the foundation on which Berat Castle is now built. Both Tomorr and Shpirag mountains are visible from Berat.
The climate in the region is generally Mediterranean, but varies by local topography. There are diverse microclimates in the county, including Alpine. Summers are dry while heavy rains are experienced during the winter. Climate conditions near Berat are conducive to farming and related agricultural industries.
Read more about this topic: Berat County
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