Pukë

Pukë
Municipality

Seal
Pukë
Coordinates: 42°03′N 19°54′E / 42.050°N 19.900°E / 42.050; 19.900Coordinates: 42°03′N 19°54′E / 42.050°N 19.900°E / 42.050; 19.900
Country Albania Albania
County Shkodër
Government
 • Mayor Gjon Gjonaj (SP)
Area
 • Municipality 505.53 km2 (195.19 sq mi)
Elevation 890 m (2,920 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Municipality 11,069
 • Municipality density 22/km2 (57/sq mi)
 • Administrative Unit 3,607
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal Code 4401
Area Code (0)212
Vehicle registration AL
Website Official Website

Pukë is a town and municipality in northern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Gjegjan, Pukë, Qelëz, Qerret and Rrapë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Pukë.[1] The total population is 11,069 (2011 census), in a total area of 505.53 km2.[2] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 3,607.[3] The local football club is called KS Tërbuni Pukë.

At 838 metres above sea level, the town is one of the highest in elevation in Albania and a well-known ski area. It is 150 km from Albania's capital, Tirana.

History

Situated on the road from the Adriatic to Kosovo, the town developed during the 4th–2nd centuries B.C. In ancient times, it was known as Picarea. The ancient town was destroyed by a barbarian invasion. The town has also been known as Pezhve. This area has a 2,000-year-old tradition of resin sculpture. The remains of this tradition are located in a quarter of Pukë town. In the 20th century, Pukë was expanded as a military base and a centre of Catholic Education. The distinguished Albanian poet Migjeni worked there from 1936 to 1937. The school where he worked as a teacher is a tourist attraction. The town is surrounded by a 400-hectare massif covered with pine trees. Since the end of the communist era, there has been a spread of disease in the pines caused by pine processionary moths, whose nests are conspicuous.

Puka is home to 7 Northern Albanian tribes and 3 of the Kanun.

The region also has its own Kanun, a set of traditional Albanian laws and is known as Kanuni i Pukës (English: The Kanun of Pukë) and used mainly in Northern Albania and Kosovo.[4]

This region was inhabited by The Illyrian tribe Pirustae.[5]

The hotel standing in the town square has been upgraded and now boasts a micro brewery producing Puka Beer, which is a lager in draught form.

The name Pukë comes from Latin via publica "public road" as it was located on an old trade route.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ Law nr. 115/2014
  2. ↑ Interactive map administrative territorial reform
  3. ↑ 2011 census results
  4. ↑ https://vargmal.org/dan1242
  5. ↑ http://www.blue-albania.com/GeneralInfo5-Puka.htm

The author refers to processionary disease in Pukë on a cycle trip through Albania, including a stay in the town, described on page 213

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