Lake Skadar is the lake on the Albania–Montenegro border that is recognized as Southern Europe’s largest lake.
Also called Lake Shkodër, Shkodra, or Scutari, it takes its name from the Albanian city of Shkodër on its southeastern shore. The lake lies in the western Balkans and is fed chiefly by the Morača River. Its outlet, the Buna, carries water toward the Adriatic Sea.
Its surface area changes substantially with seasonal rainfall and water levels, ranging roughly from 370 to 530 square kilometres. That fluctuation explains why different references may quote different areas without contradicting the identification. Around 65% of the lake lies in Montenegro and about 35% in Albania.
The Montenegrin portion and surrounding land form Lake Skadar National Park, while the Albanian section is protected as a nature reserve and Ramsar wetland. The lake is also famous for birdlife, karst springs, marshes, and historic sites such as Grmožur fortress.