Dibër (municipality)

Dibër (definite Albanian form: Dibra) is a municipality in Dibër County, northeastern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Arras, Fushë-Çidhën, Kala e Dodës, Kastriot, Lurë, Luzni, Maqellarë, Melan, Muhurr, Peshkopi, Selishtë, Sllovë, Tomin, Zall-Dardhë and Zall-Reç. The seat of the municipality is the town Peshkopi.[1] The total population is 61,619 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 938.65 km2.[3] It is coterminous with the former Dibër District.

"Dibër Municipality" redirects here. Not to be confused with Debar Municipality.
Dibër
Municipality
View of Grama Lake
Emblem
Dibër
Coordinates: 41°41′28″N 20°27′46″E
Country Albania
CountyDibër
Government
 • MayorDionis Imeraj (PS)
Area
 • Municipality938.65 km2 (362.41 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Municipality
61,619
 • Municipality density66/km2 (170/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Dibran/e
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code
8301
Area Code(0)218
WebsiteOfficial Website

Geography

The area is located on the middle stretches of the Drin river, on the border with North Macedonia. The eastern and western borders are formed by mountain ranges, with the broad river valley of the Drin running from south to north between them. On the eastern side, the valley floor rises gradually for some time, then suddenly rises steeply to high mountains. On this terrace-like area at the base of the mountains there are many settlements, including the municipal capital, Peshkopi. The Korab mountains, which form the border with North Macedonia, include Mount Korab, which is the tallest mountain in Albania and North Macedonia, at 2764 metres.

The very rugged mountainous area to the west includes the Lurë National Park.

Demographics

Despite the municipality's proximity to North Macedonia, Dibër's ethnic make-up is relatively homogeneous, but there is a small Macedonian minority living in the villages around Maqellarë. Unlike the Macedonians who live around Lake Prespa, Macedonians in Dibër have no linguistic rights and no autonomous subdivisions. There has been an active campaign to change this situation for almost ten years.

Almost 90 percent of the population are Muslim, while the Macedonian minority is Orthodox. The Khalwati order has a khanqah in the village of Herbel, while Allajbegi's Mosque in Maqellarë is a recognised cultural monument.

Albanians and Macedonians in the area often have relatives in North Macedonia, so there is a lot of interaction across the national border. Like all the rural municipalities of Albania, Dibër is heavily effected by emigration.

See also

References
  1. "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  2. "Population and housing census - Dibër 2011" (PDF). INSTAT. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  3. "Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries" (XLS). Eurostat. Retrieved 2019-09-25.


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