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Kosovo

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Kosovo is a country located in Southeast Europe. It is a landlocked nation, which means it does not touch any ocean. You can find it sitting near Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia.

Qendra historike e Prizrenitaa
Qendra historike e Prizrenitaa

The land has many different shapes and features. There are high plains and rolling hills across the area. You will also see tall mountains with very high peaks. The weather changes depending on where you stand. It can feel like the warm Mediterranean or the cold Alpine regions.

Parku Kombëtar Bjeshkët Nemuna , Liqeni i madh ne Liqenat , Rugove
Parku Kombëtar Bjeshkët Nemuna , Liqeni i madh ne Liqenat , Rugove

Nearly 1.6 million people live in this country. Most of the people, about 92 per cent, are ethnic Albanians. Pristina is the capital and the largest city for the people.

Prishtina nga Katedrala 1
Prishtina nga Katedrala 1

Other big cities include Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Peja. The name Kosovo might come from a South Slavic word for a blackbird. This refers to a field called the Blackbird Field. This field is a famous place in the eastern part of the country.

37 Prizreni - Xhamia e Sinan Pashës - The Sinan Pasha Moscue
37 Prizreni - Xhamia e Sinan Pashës - The Sinan Pasha Moscue

History in this land goes back thousands of years. Long ago, a group called the Dardani lived here. They even built the Kingdom of Dardania.

Dardanian Kingdom (late 3rd century BC)
Dardanian Kingdom (late 3rd century BC)

Later, the Roman Empire took control of the area. The Romans built a very important city called Ulpiana.

ULPIANA foto Arben Llapashtica 2016
ULPIANA foto Arben Llapashtica 2016

This city was a center for culture and money. It was even rebuilt by an emperor named Justinian I. Many other towns grew near Roman roads or busy mines.

Many different groups have ruled Kosovo over the centuries. The Ottoman Empire ruled the land for nearly five hundred years. This period ended in 1912 after the Balkan Wars. In the 1900s, the land was part of Yugoslavia. There was a difficult war between 1998 and 1999. After that, the United Nations helped manage the area. On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared itself an independent country.

Gebäude der UNMIK NEW BORN SIGN PRISTINA KOSOVO Giv Owned Image 23 August 2008
Gebäude der UNMIK NEW BORN SIGN PRISTINA KOSOVO Giv Owned Image 23 August 2008

Today, at least 110 United Nations members recognize it.

Kosovo is now a developing country with a growing economy. It has seen much economic growth over the last ten years. The country is a member of many global groups. It belongs to the World Bank and the International Olympic Committee.

Kosovo Security Force FSK-KSF
Kosovo Security Force FSK-KSF

Kosovo has also applied to join the European Union. It wants to be part of many more international teams. This shows how the country is working to connect with the rest of the world.

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🖼️ Images & Media (44)
National_Anthem_of_the_Republic_of_Kosovo.ogg
File:Hyjnesha_muze.jpg
Hyjnesha_muze.jpg
File:Dardanian Kingdom (late 3rd century BC).png
Dardanian Kingdom (late 3rd century BC).png
File:ULPIANA foto Arben Llapashtica 2016.jpg
ULPIANA foto Arben Llapashtica 2016.jpg
File:Arkeologji - Periudha Romake - Kllokot.JPG
Arkeologji - Periudha Romake - Kllokot.JPG
File:Gračanica Monastery, 2013-1.jpg
Gračanica Monastery, 2013-1.jpg
File:Manastir Visoki Dečani (Манастир Високи Дечани) - by Pudelek..jpg
Manastir Visoki Dečani (Манастир Високи...
File:Xhamia_e_Madhe_Prishtine.JPG
Xhamia_e_Madhe_Prishtine.JPG
File:Qendra historike e Prizrenitaa.jpg
Qendra historike e Prizrenitaa.jpg
File:Serbia1913.png
Serbia1913.png
File:Germans in Kosovska Mitrovica.jpg
Germans in Kosovska Mitrovica.jpg
File:Flag of SFR Yugoslav Albanian Minority.svg
Flag of SFR Yugoslav Albanian Minority.svg

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