Kosovo: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Kosovo is a small landlocked territory in the Balkans in southeastern Europe, bordered by Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia. Its capital and largest city is Pristina. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Many countries recognise it as an independent state, while Serbia and a number of other countries do not. Kosovo has one of the youngest populations in Europe and is known for its mountains, medieval monasteries and Ottoman-era old towns.

On My Earth Toy you can visit the Newborn monument in Pristina, giant yellow letters unveiled on the day independence was declared. The letters are repainted with new designs each year.

Geography and nature

Kosovo is made up of two main plains surrounded by mountains, including the Šar Mountains in the south and the Accursed Mountains (Prokletije) in the west. The highest point, Gjeravica, rises to 2,656 metres. Rivers, gorges and the Mirusha waterfalls add to the scenery. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are hot and dry. One small river, the Nerodimka, even splits in two, sending part of its water toward the Black Sea and part toward the Aegean Sea.

People, languages and culture

Albanian and Serbian are the official languages. Most people are ethnic Albanians, and there are Serb, Bosniak, Turkish, Roma and other communities. Most residents are Muslim, and there are also Serbian Orthodox and Catholic Christians. Medieval Serbian Orthodox monasteries such as Visoki Dečani and Gračanica are listed by UNESCO, and Prizren's old town has mosques, churches and a stone bridge. Flija, a pancake made of many thin layers cooked slowly under hot coals, is a traditional dish.

History in a nutshell

In ancient times the area was home to the Dardani and later became part of the Roman and Byzantine empires. In the Middle Ages it was a centre of the Serbian state, and the Battle of Kosovo was fought here in 1389. The Ottoman Empire then ruled for about five centuries. In the 20th century Kosovo was part of Serbia and Yugoslavia. After a war in 1998 and 1999, it was placed under United Nations administration, and in 2008 Kosovo declared independence.