Shëngjin

Shëngjin
Administrative Unit
Shengjin waterfront
Shëngjin
Coordinates: 41°48′49″N 19°35′38″E / 41.81361°N 19.59389°E / 41.81361; 19.59389Coordinates: 41°48′49″N 19°35′38″E / 41.81361°N 19.59389°E / 41.81361; 19.59389
Country	Albania
County	Lezhë
Municipality	Lezhë
• Administrative Unit	53.4 km2 (20.6 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
• Administrative Unit	8,091
• Administrative Unit density	150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code	4503
Vehicle registration	LE
Website	www.shengjini.com

Shëngjin (Albanian pronunciation: [ʃənˈɟin]; Albanian for St. John, Italian: San Giovanni di Medua) is a coastal town and a former municipality in the Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Lezhë. The population at the 2011 census was 8,091. Shëngjin is a growing tourist destination, well known for its beaches and resort accommodations. Shëngjin is one of many cities within the District of Lezhë and is home to one of Albania's entry ports, Port of Shëngjin.

Shëngjin is a part of the Lezhë County, which has thousands of years of ancient history and unique culture. According to historians, Lezhë is considered as the site of the League of Lezhë where Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg is recognized as a national hero for his efforts to unite the region against the Turks. Shëngjin’s coastline has always provided a key geographic asset to the area for over a thousand years. In 1924, the Albanian government renamed Shengjin as Wilson, in honor of the American President Woodrow Wilson for backing Albania's independence.

The Municipal Unit implements national legislation and local ordinances, while trying to promote the general welfare of its citizens. Over the past years, Shengjin has become an important tourist destination in Albania. Shëngjin's former Komuna has had the privilege of welcoming national leaders as well as foreign dignitaries to the city.

Shëngjin is located approximately 100 meters away from the waters of the Adriatic Sea, and below a mountain side called Rrenci that is approximately 159 meters in height. Shëngjin is also located approximately 60 km from the Tirana Mother Teresa International Airport.

Shëngjin offers a wide arrange of environmentally friendly activities. To the south of the city is a nature preserves called “Pylli me pisha dhe Lagune Kunes” and “Laguna e Vainit”, which offers a beautiful and undisturbed place to enjoy the natural surroundings of wetlands and seafront. Similarly, just north of city center is “Rana e Hedhun” in Gheg Albanian or "Rera e Hedhur" in standard Albanian, which also offers a wonderful experience of rural and undeveloped sand dunes along the coastline.