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Kukesi General Info

Kukësi lies at the north-east part of the republic of Albania, linked in the Esat with the city of Prizren (Kosovë) through the custom of Morina, and at the inner side of the territory, is linked with  Hasi in North, Puka in West, and Peshkopia in South. 

Kukësi or new Kukësi is placed at the foot of Gjallica Mountain, (2487m) and is one of the newest cities in Albania. The old Kukës is now under the waters of the artificial lake of Fierza, with a surface of 72.5 km2. The new Kukës finished to be constructed at 1976. The lake was created for the new hydro electric power house. The lake is fed by two rivers, the Black Drini (from Ohrid Lake) and White Drini (from the mountains of Rugova, Kosovë). Both of these brunches, create the Drini River, longest in Albania (287 km) which runs in the Adriatic through the Gulf of Lezha. The union of two rivers has given to Kukës, a nice shape of a peninsula which offers a picturesque view in every season. 

The area of Kukës, is characterized by a wonderful nature, with attractive landscapes, natural monuments, various points and places, becoming so a pleasant destination for the green and white tourism. 

Climate 

The climate is characterized from a cold rough winter and a short hot summer. The annual degrees go to  11.9 grade C. The medium of extreme degrees go from 3.9 until 25.4 grade C. The annual rainfalls go to 800 until 1100 mm. The wind flows with a medium of 3.5m/s in winter 3.1m/s in spring 2.3m/s in autumn.

History

The town was relocated as part of a hydroelectric scheme. The old Kukës was submerged beneath an artificial lake in 1976, the lake being held back by crumbling Chinese-built dams. The new town was built in the 1970s,  in the plateau nearby which is 320m over the sea level. Kukësi i Ri is surrounded by the artificial lake of Fierza and it looks like a peninsula from the above. It is linked with the other parts of the country by three bridges. On the East it faces the snow covered mountain of Gjallica, 2468m over the sea level. Illyrian tombs were found nearby Kukës. It was a small Roman settlement, a stopping point on a branch road leading to the Via Egnatia, and a minor Ottoman market centre and trading post on the road to southern Kosovo. Just before the First World War it was there where Albanian resistance stopped Serbian invasion in 1912.

Kukës was briefly on the world stage during the Kosovo conflict when many hundreds of thousands (500.000) of Kosovan refugees crossed the frontier and were housed in camps in and around Kukës. Kukës is the only town to get nominated for a Nobel prize. 

There is also a local historical museum and a carpet factory. The food industry is confined only to production of alcoholic drinks produced in a drink factory, and to some local small workshops producing drinks and dairy products.

The region of Gora

It is an ethnographic region in the east-side of Kukës. Documented since 1348 as the mountain of Zerca, Kacina, Gllava Kallabaku etc. the region of Gora includes the villages; Shishtavec, Borje, Oreshka, Cernaleva, Orgjost, Zapod, Kosharisht, Pakisht. 

Gjallica and Kallabaku mark the boundary of the area of Gora. It has a rough relief, which is characterized by a fresh summer and cold long winter. The agriculture and handicrafts make the economy of this area. It is populated during the medieval period.

At the 1923 the political events, divided Gora in two parts. From 39 villages of Gora 28 are part of Kosova and 11 remained in Albania. The inhabitants are called “groans” from the neighborhood. One of the most mentioned and important villages in this region is Shishtaveci, which is also the capital commune of the region.

Shishtaveci

Shishtaveci is famous as the village of the skiing champions and this is an long standing tradition in this place. Recommended for winter activities, you will always spend an adventure time.
The tableland of Shishtaveci as all the chain of the mountains of this area in general, has a mountain cold climate, rough, long and wet, while the summer is short and fresh.
The medium of degrees goes to  7.1 grade C; (January) and 18 grade C (July).
The annual medium of the rainfalls is 858 mm, a big part of it is in snow, which goes to 1-1.60 m at year.
 

The natural monuments

Geomonuments
 
 
The outfall of Çaja. Situated at the vicinity of the village of Çaja, in the valley of Bushtrica, 750 m on the sea level. Longitude 25 km, latitude 20-30 m, deepness 100-200 m. It disposes unexplored caves, with geomorphologic, didactic, and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Bushtricë.
 
The glacial circus of Zepa. Situated at the mountain of Zepa, near the  Arrën village, 1900 m on the sea level. Composed from calcareous, it is over 500 m long, 300 m wide, and with some carstic forms. It has geomorphologic, didactic, and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Arrën.
 
The Morning Stone, near of Shishtaveci village, 1900 m on the sea level. The name comes from a simple reason, it is the place of the rising of the sun in the morning. It is a sandy stone, with the form of cone, 25 m, long, 13 m wide and 11 m high, with a surface of 176 m2. It has geomorphologic, didactic, spiritual and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Vana’s Outfall-Shishtavec.
 
The Eagle’s Stone. It is situated near of Borje village, Shishtavec commune, 1580 m on the sea level. It consists in a conglomeratic rock with longitude 100 m, latitude  80 m. It is over 27 m high and disposes geomorphologic, didactic and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Shishtavec-Borje.
 
The canyon of Bicaj, near of Bicaj village. It is formed from calcareous, 2,5 km long, 4-6 m wide and 150-200 m deep. It has geomorphologic, didactic and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Bicaj.
 
The canyon of Vanave. It is situated near of Rexhepaj village and Kukës city, at the valley of Luma, 600 m on the sea level. Calcareous rock, 3,5 km long, 30-40 m wide and until 300 m deep. It is crossed from the road Kukës-Topojan-Shishtavec. There are alot of unexplored  caves. It has geomorphologic, biological, didactic and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Topojan.
 
The canyon of Arni. It is situated near of Surroi village. Represents carstic landscape, full of pointed  carstic forms, 1.5-2 km long and 200-230 m wide. It has geomorphologic, biological, didactic and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës- Surraj-Arrën.
 
 Hydromonuments
 The Bog of Kukësi. Situated at right side of Black Drini, at the third terrace, near of the village of  Bushat, Bicaj commune. It consist in the fogy system, as remain of the old lake which is leaving the ultimate period of the life. Longitude 500 m, latitude 300 m. It has geomorphologic, biological, didactic and tourist interest. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës- Bicaj-Bushat.
 
The Red Source in Gjallicë. Situated near of the village of Dërshan, 2200 m on the sea level. The carst spring runs out through the tectonic-carst split  of the calcareous. It has clean water and creates an attractive point of natural interest. It has tourist values.
Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës- Shishtavec-Gjallicë.
 
The spring of Kolesiani. Situated near of Kolesiani village, commune of Bicaj,  430 m on the sea level. It has clean water and creates an attractive point of natural interest. It has tourist values. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës-Kolesian.
The Wihte Spring. Situated near the village of Turaj, commune of  Topojan, 1750 m on the sea level.  It has clean water and creates an attractive point of natural interest. It has tourist values. Can be visited following the itinerary Kukës- Shishtavec-Turaj.
 
 
Biomonuments
 
The Pine-tree of Gjegjanit. Situated near of the village of Gjegjan, 700 m on the sea level, altitude  20 m, diameter 1 m, the  perimeter of the crown 27-29 m and age of over 300 vyears. It has a lot of values and can be visited according to the itinerary Kukës- Gjegjan.
 
The acorn-trees of Kalisi. Situated near of Kalisi village, 1200 m on the sea level. There are a group of trees of an age over 150-250 years old, altitude 15 m, diameter 1-3 m.
It has a lot of values and can be visited according to the itinerary Kukës- Kalis.
 
The forest of Oak-trees in Novosej. Near of the village with the same name, in the commune of Shishtavec, 1410 m on the sea level. It represents a forest of 3 hectares, higher than the normal latitude of the girdle of the oak-trees. The trees are young,  4-5 m high, diameter 7-10 cm. It has a lot of values and can be visited according to the itinerary Kukës-Novosej.
 
The Birch-tree of Shishtaveci, near of the village, 1300-1390 m o the sea level. It represents a forest of 33 hectares, latitude 13-17 m, diameter  20-30 cm, age of 40-45 years, damaged after ’90.  It has a lot of values and can be visited according to the itinerary Kukës- Shishtavec.
 
 
The Elm-tree, “Laku i Topojanit”, near of the village of Tërshan, commune of Bicaj, 1450-1600 m on the sea level. It represents a forest of elm-tree, 34 hectares, latitude of  20-25 m, diameter  1 m, age of 160-200 vjet. It has a lot of values and can be visited according to the itinerary Kukës-Kolesian-Tërshan.