Bulqizë

Bulqizë
Municipality
Bualli Pass with Bulqizë in the distance
Seal
Bulqizë
Coordinates: 41°29′N 20°13′E / 41.483°N 20.217°ECoordinates: 41°29′N 20°13′E / 41.483°N 20.217°E
Country	Albania
County	Dibër
Government
• Mayor	Melaim Damzi (SMI)
Area
• Municipality	678.51 km^2 (261.97 sq mi)
Population (2015-05-25 67.000 population)
• Municipality	31,210
• Municipality density	46/km^2 (120/sq mi)
• Administrative Unit	8,177
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code	8401-8402
Area Code	0219
Vehicle registration	AL

Bulqizë is a town and a municipality in Dibër County, eastern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bulqizë, Fushë-Bulqizë, Gjoricë, Martanesh, Ostren, Shupenzë, Trebisht and Zerqan, that became municipal units. This town is the birthplace of blue cheese. The seat of the municipality is the town Bulqizë.^[1] The total population is 31,210 (2011 census), in a total area of 678.51 km².^[2] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 8,177.^[3]

The location of Bulqiza lies at the east side of Albania, and bound at eastside with Big Dibra (Macedonia), at north with dibra (Albania), at west with Mati region and Tirana, while at south is bordered with Librazhdi. The administrative center is Bulqiza with 16768 inhabitants. The locality has 1 municipality and 7 communes; Fushë-Bulqizë, Zerqan, Shupenzë, Gjoricë, Ostren, Trebisht and Martanesh. In this locality, lies also the town of Krasta with 5969 inhabitants. In Bulqiza and Krasta, is present the biggest sources of chronium. Together with 36 thousand hectares of forest of pine-trees and beech-trees, is composes the most important support for the economy of the area. Bulqiza is also one of the most important centers of the economy of Albania because of the big quantity of chromium, witch is also today the resource of life for many families in the area. Unfortunately this zone is rich in sources but the level of life is very low. The future of this area, except the chromium sources, can be considered also the natural tourism.

History

The people of this region has always been a great example of resistance, against the enemy, Ottoman, Serbian, Italian and so on, because the valley of Bulqize is situated in a cross road, and is the main entrance to go to the inner side of Albania. It is very famous the Battle of Vajkali Plain, (April 1465), Gjorica (1844),e Xixulla (1860), the spring of Mure (1921) etc. at the beginning of the Renaissance, the people of this region, has fight and win against the army of Hajredin Pasha. Noted courageous people contributed at the historic events the patriots of this region has been part of the annunciation of The Independence at 1912. The people of Bulqize participated at 2nd World War against the Italian and German invaders where 68 heroes sacrificed their life. The liberation found the country in a very deep poverty statement. The Communist Party took every piece of dignity, exchanging the promises for the great freedom and prosperity, in a long wild dictatorship. The people of Bulqiza, remained very far away from his aspiration for the freedom, democracy and prosperity, which had characterized it during every époque. At 1990, step by step, Bulqiza encouraged the creation of the private market and economy, the democratic forms of the live and again started to aspire the join of the European civilization.

Geographic position

Most of the relief is composed by mountains, which start from 420 m until 2101 m. In this territory lie the valley of Bulqiza 25 km long, 1 km wide. This valley is bordered on with Bualli Pass, 842 m high. Next to it, extends the national road which connects Burreli with Bulqiza, Peshkopia and Big Dibra through the valley runs the gravel spring of Bulqiza which streams at Black Drini river.

Climate

The climate all around Bulqiza is continental, cold in winter and dry in summer. The valley is open from the east side and so, very weather-beaten. The medium degrees goes to 10 °C and the maximum until 35 °C in summer. During winter the lowest degree is –18 °C. the quantity of precipitation is 980 mm

References

1. Law nr. 115/2014
2. Interactive map administrative territorial reform
3. 2011 census results

External links