Pukë

Pukë (definite Albanian form: Puka) 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),[2] in a total area of 505.83 km2.[3] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 3,607.[2] The local football club is called KS Tërbuni Pukë.

Pukë
Municipality
City Center of Pukë
Emblem
Pukë
Coordinates: 42°03′N 19°54′E
Country Albania
CountyShkodër
Government
 • MayorGjon Gjonaj (PS)
Area
 • Municipality505.83 km2 (195.30 sq mi)
Elevation
890 m (2,920 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Municipality
11,069
 • Municipality density22/km2 (57/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
3,607
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code
4401
Area Code(0)212
WebsiteOfficial Website

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

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 (1.5 sq mi) 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.

Anthropology

The settlement is inhabited by the tribe of Puka,[4] itself one of the "seven tribes of Puka" (Albanian: shtatë bajrakët e Pukës).[5] According to tradition, collected by Hyacinthe Hecquard in the mid-19th century, the settlement of Puka had been founded by a Paolo Zenta, who according to Marin Barletius was a relative of Lekë Dukagjini.[4]

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

The toponym may derive from Latin via publica ("public road") as it was located on an old trade route.[5]

Economy

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

Mayors
No. Name Term in office
1 Halit Topalli 1992-1996
2 Halit Furriku 1996-2000
3 Ndue Cara 2000-2003
4 Rrustem Strugaj 2003-2011
5 Beqir Arifaj 2011-2015
6 Gjon Gjonaj 2015 (Incumbent)

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Law nr. 115/2014 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Population and housing census - Shkodër 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.
  4. Elsie 2015, p. 179.
  5. Elsie 2015, p. 178.

Sources

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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