Erseka
Encyclopedia
Ersekë is a town in southeastern Albania
. Founded in the 17th century, Erseka is the capital of the Kolonjë District
. Situated at the foot of the Gramos
mountains, it is a small alpine town at 1050 meters in altitude, making it one of the highest towns in Albania.
, a Greek
tribe that belonged to the Chaonian group.
The history of the town began at the 17th century. At 1785 city was populated from 100 families. At 1914 it came under the control of the Northern Epirote
forces, which repelled the newly established Albanian gendarmerie units from the region.
, Tirana
and local artists. The ethnographic museum also houses a collection of traditional costumes, textiles and other crafts, unique to the Erseka region.
In the center of the town is an obelisk
, work of Odhise Paskali
, which dates 28 November 1938.
and a stadium with a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
production throughout Albania. Of the 133 hectares allocated to orchards, 119 is set aside for apple farms, producing about 947 tons a year. With over 1300 hectares of productive land still unused, fruit tree farmers are trained and familiar with apple agro-technology and have received fruit saplings from countries like Greece
and the Republic of Macedonia
. There are two nurseries that produce saplings for apples, yielding 800 saplings a year.
The region is also known for its honey
production. Formed a few years ago, the Beekeeping Association consists of 70 beekeeper
s and produces 4000 kg of honey a year. With over 3080 hectares used for farming, the region yields about 4500 tons of cereal grain
, 2350 tons of wheat
and 2080 tons of corn a year. About 66,000 tons of alfalfa
and forage crops
are produced, which are used for livestock cultivation. The region has three wheat factories for milling
, including five centers for mass bread
production. In addition, medical plants can be found in the region. Currently they are cultivated and gathered privately.
With the region's vast pasture land, the quality of the region's livestock production is high. Erseka-Kolonja farmers currently breed about 5500 cattle, 4200 cows, 40,000 sheep and 22,000 goats. Its livestock produces about 98,500 kv of milk a year and 1451 tons of meat. Last year, farmers worked with UPRA, France
and SBI Korce. They imported Tanranteze cattle stock, which has led to increases in the production of milk and meat. Erseka has one milk/cheese factory and several points of collection and treatment of milk.
There are 250 businesses registered with the municipality. There are 6 construction firms, 16 transportation firms and a private bus company. Erseka is also renowned for its woodcrafts, stone carving and carpet weaving tradition.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Founded in the 17th century, Erseka is the capital of the Kolonjë District
Kolonjë District
The Kolonjë District , is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Korçë County. It has a population of 14,318 . The district has an area of 805 km². It is in the south-east of the country, and its capital is Ersekë. Other towns in this district include Leskovik to the south...
. Situated at the foot of the Gramos
Gramos
Gramos is a village and a former community in Kastoria peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nestorio, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 28 . The village is an old Aromanian settlement, named after the nearby...
mountains, it is a small alpine town at 1050 meters in altitude, making it one of the highest towns in Albania.
History
The Kolonja range was originally inhabited by the DassaretaeDassaretae
The Dassaretae , or Dexaroi, were an ancient Greek tribe of Epirus on the border with Illyria near Lake Ohrid. They were the northern-most subtribe of the Chaonians. Theopompus writes of fourteen Epirotian tribes, speakers of a strong west-Greek dialect, of which the Dexaroi were a part...
, a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
tribe that belonged to the Chaonian group.
The history of the town began at the 17th century. At 1785 city was populated from 100 families. At 1914 it came under the control of the Northern Epirote
Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
The Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was a short-lived, self-governing entity founded on February 28, 1914, in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, by the Greeks living in southern Albania ....
forces, which repelled the newly established Albanian gendarmerie units from the region.
Culture, Music and Arts
The "Fan Stilian Noli" center hosts several artistic and cultural shows throughout the year. Its main theater of 400 seats hosts performances by various groups from KorçëKorçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
, Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
and local artists. The ethnographic museum also houses a collection of traditional costumes, textiles and other crafts, unique to the Erseka region.
In the center of the town is an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, work of Odhise Paskali
Odhise Paskali
Odhise Paskali is one of the most acclaimed Albanian sculptors. For his contribution, he was awarded the People's Artist of Albania award.-Early life:Paskali was born in 1903 in Përmet, Albania...
, which dates 28 November 1938.
Sports
Besides cultural activities, the town has its own football team KS Gramozi ErsekëKS Gramozi Ersekë
Klubi Sportiv Gramozi Ersekë is an Albanian football club based in Ersekë.The club played the 2008-2009 season in the Albanian First Division. They reached Kategoria e pare after winning the Kategoria e dyte title in the 2007/2008 season. They finished fourth with 55 points and, having won 5-2 a...
and a stadium with a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
Economy, Agriculture
Erseka-Kolonja is known for its appleApple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
production throughout Albania. Of the 133 hectares allocated to orchards, 119 is set aside for apple farms, producing about 947 tons a year. With over 1300 hectares of productive land still unused, fruit tree farmers are trained and familiar with apple agro-technology and have received fruit saplings from countries like Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. There are two nurseries that produce saplings for apples, yielding 800 saplings a year.
The region is also known for its honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production. Formed a few years ago, the Beekeeping Association consists of 70 beekeeper
Beekeeper
A beekeeper is a person who keeps honey bees for the purposes of securing commodities such as honey, beeswax, pollen, royal jelly; pollinating fruits and vegetables; raising queens and bees for sale to other farmers; and/or for purposes satisfying natural scientific curiosity...
s and produces 4000 kg of honey a year. With over 3080 hectares used for farming, the region yields about 4500 tons of cereal grain
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
, 2350 tons of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and 2080 tons of corn a year. About 66,000 tons of alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
and forage crops
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
are produced, which are used for livestock cultivation. The region has three wheat factories for milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
, including five centers for mass bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
production. In addition, medical plants can be found in the region. Currently they are cultivated and gathered privately.
With the region's vast pasture land, the quality of the region's livestock production is high. Erseka-Kolonja farmers currently breed about 5500 cattle, 4200 cows, 40,000 sheep and 22,000 goats. Its livestock produces about 98,500 kv of milk a year and 1451 tons of meat. Last year, farmers worked with UPRA, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and SBI Korce. They imported Tanranteze cattle stock, which has led to increases in the production of milk and meat. Erseka has one milk/cheese factory and several points of collection and treatment of milk.
There are 250 businesses registered with the municipality. There are 6 construction firms, 16 transportation firms and a private bus company. Erseka is also renowned for its woodcrafts, stone carving and carpet weaving tradition.
Notable people
- Ahmed Sirri Dede
- Themistokli GërmenjiThemistokli GërmenjiThemistokli Gërmenji was one of the activists of the Albanian National Awakening, the leader of the Albanian irregulars from 1909 to 1914, and the prefect of police of Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë from 1916 to 1917.- Biography :...
- Thoma Kaçori
- Shahin KolonjaShahin KolonjaShahin Kolonja was an Albanian journalist and politician.Born in Starje, southern Albania Kolonja was a graduate of the school of civil service and had served as director of several idadiye schools. Later he was arrested in Bitola and sentenced to three years in prison for disseminating...
- Skender Petro Luarasi
- Gani Malushi
- Dhori Qiriazi
- Sevasti Qiriazi-Dako
- Agim QirjaqiAgim QirjaqiAgim Qirjaqi was an Albanian actor and television director. As an actor his filmography was extensive, while as a director his output was limited to some television work. He worked with a number of prominent Albanian directors, including Dhimitër Anagnosti and Gjergj Xhuvani...
- Zalo Prodani
- Fehim ZavalaniFehim ZavalaniFehim Zavalani was an Albanian journalist and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. He was also the editor of Bashkimi i Kombit, one of the most important Albanian newspapers of the era...
- Tajar Zavalani
- Dhimitër Vangjeli