Final answer:
Kosovo is the country in the Balkans bordered by Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia. It became independent after the disintegration of Yugoslavia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country that is located in the Balkans and is bordered by Serbia to the north, Montenegro to the south, and Albania to the west, with Macedonia being to the east, is Kosovo. Kosovo was once a province within the former Yugoslavia, which consisted of six provinces before its breakup. The region's core is mountainous, featuring the Dinaric Alps, and has a rich political and cultural geography. The breakdown of Communism in Eastern Europe and the death of Yugoslavia's leader Josip Broz Tito led to increased ethnic tensions and the eventual disintegration of Yugoslavia. This process is often referred to as Balkanization. Today, Kosovo is an independent country, although its status is still contested by some nations.