Bulqizë (Albanian: [ˈbulˈcizə]; Albanian definite form: Bulqiza) is a municipality in Dibër County, northeastern Albania. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Fushë-Bulqizë, Gjoricë, Martanesh, Ostren, Shupenzë, Trebisht, Zerqan with Bulqizë constituting its seat.[1][4] As of the 2023 census, there were 7,875 people residing in Bulqizë and 26,826 in Bulqizë Municipality.[6]

Bulqizë
View of Bulqizë
View of Bulqizë
Flag of Bulqizë
Bulqizë is located in Albania
Bulqizë
Bulqizë
Bulqizë is located in Europe
Bulqizë
Bulqizë
Coordinates: 41°29′N 20°13′E / 41.483°N 20.217°E / 41.483; 20.217
CountryAlbania
RegionNorthern Albania
CountyDibër
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorFestime Mjeshtri (PS)
 • CouncilBulqizë Municipal Council
Area
 • Municipality[1][2]678.51 km2 (261.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2023[6])
 • Municipality
26,826[a]
 • Municipality density59.28/km2 (153.5/sq mi)
 • Administrative unit
7,875
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
8401-8407
Area code(0)219
Websitebulqiza.gov.al

Demographic history

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
19898,712—    
200110,454+20.0%
20118,177−21.8%
20237,875−3.7%
Source: [7][8]

Bulqizë is recorded in the Ottoman defter of 1467 as a hass-ı mir-liva and derbendci settlement in the vilayet of Dulgoberda. Although the register's complete survey on the village is missing, the following household heads are attested: Dimitri Bogdani, Kolë Sharqini, Gjin Kimeza, Gjin Kolandi, Nikolla Budi, Martin Bardi, Progon Buljani, Maqe Kimëza, Istvan Nenada, Progon Bogdani, Dimitri, Todor Damëza, Banek Alakasa, Nikolla Mesina, Budi, Gjergj Garuja, and Gjergj Iglat (from i gjatë, "the tall").[9]

Geography

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Bulqizë lies in the lower north-east of Albania adjacent to the border with North Macedonia. The municipalities of Mat and Tirana lie to the west while at the south is the municipality of Librazhd. There are significant sources of chromite (a chromium ore) mined there since the 1980s, which supports most of the economy of the area. The Bulqizë mine has experienced several gas explosions since 1992 – including one with fatalities – recently likely attributed to seeps of natural hydrogen possibly formed from ophiolites and trapped within a faulted reservoir. [10][11][12]

Notes

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  1. ^ The municipality of Bulqizë consists of the administrative units of Fushë-Bulqizë, Gjoricë, Martanesh, Ostren, Shupenzë, Trebisht, Zerqan and Bulqizë.[1][3][4] The population of the municipality results from the sum of the listed administrative units in the former as of the 2011 Albanian census.[1][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Pasaporta e Bashkisë Bulqizë" (in Albanian). Porta Vendore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Bashkia Bulqizë" (in Albanian). Albanian Association of Municipalities (AAM). Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. ^ "A new Urban–Rural Classification of Albanian Population" (PDF). Instituti i Statistikës (INSTAT). May 2014. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). Fletorja Zyrtare e Republikës së Shqipërisë. p. 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. ^ Nurja, Ines. "Censusi i popullsisë dhe banesave/ Population and Housing Census–Dibër (2011)" (PDF). Tirana: Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). p. 85. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023". INSTAT.
  7. ^ "Albania: All places/communes".
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Institute of Statistics Albania.
  9. ^ Caka, Eduart (2019). Defteri i hollësishëm për zonat e dibrës i vitit 1467. Tiranë: Akademia e studimeve albanologjike instituti historisë. p. 6.
  10. ^ Truche, Laurent; Donzé, Frédéric-Victor; Goskolli, Edmond; Muceku, Bardhyl; Loisy, Corinne; Monnin, Christophe; Dutoit, Hugo; Cerepi, Adrian (2024-02-09). "A deep reservoir for hydrogen drives intense degassing in the Bulqizë ophiolite". Science. 383 (6683): 618–621. doi:10.1126/science.adk9099. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 38330123. S2CID 267548185.
  11. ^ Krywko, Jacek (24 February 2024). "Can we drill for hydrogen? New find suggests additional geological source". Ars Technica.
  12. ^ Hand, Eric (8 Feb 2024). "Gusher of gas deep in mine stokes interest in natural hydrogen". Science.
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