Share
Overview
The territory of Krraba lies in the south-eastern part of Tirana, in the middle flowing of the Erzen and Shkumbin River.
The territory of Krraba is one of the most popular hilly areas of our country, with heights that vary from 200-300 m up to 700-900 m.
Its territory has environmental and touristic potential, being ranked among the favourable zones for the visitors who admire nature. The mountainous tourism development in Krraba is supported in the attractive features of this zone such as the clean and fresh air, the morphological forms of the hills and mountain ranges and the rich biodiversity.
Hunting is a very important element which favours the mountainous and sportive tourism making it a source of incomes for local business. On the other hand, the region of Krraba provides even surprises which are challenges for the adventurous tourists and the exercising of the sports with adrenaline such as rafting, canoeing, mountaineering, biking, hiking, etc.
History
The small town of Krraba, founded upon the establishment of the communist system with centralized economy, has it origin in the source of coal of Krraba. This dwelling is found in the south-east of the capital, about 28 km away from it. The Austro-Hungarians started the exploitation of the coal mines in this area in 1916 for military crafts-work purposes.
The first works for the underground exploitation started in 1935 by an Albanian business company, whose production would go as high as 2000 ton/year. At the beginning, only one gallery was functional with the workers that came from Skuterrë village.
In 1945, it re-established as a state company and started the extraction of coal, which is found close to the surface with shallow works, with chimneys and then they moved to the system of exploitation with full capacity. In 1957, the massive exploitation of the mine started, and 2000 workers were brought to Krraba from all over the country, turning it into a small town. The mine of Krraba worked regularly until 1990. After this year it started to become non-functional until it was closed in 2000.
Economy and environment
Before 1990s, the region of Krraba was the centre of the coal mine, which nowadays has been in conservation since 2000. In 1975, the farm of the silk worm was established. The product was used only for the internal market, in the service of the light textile industry and clothes.
Agriculture has been a development tradition since old times. According to the legends, the name of the village Skuterre comes exactly form a “shepherd”.
The vegetation of this region is very rich. It is mainly represented by the generation of the Mediterranean shrubs with permanent and deciduous green plants as well as the forests of Oak trees. The most widespread type of shrubs is: Heather, Hornbeam, Thrush, Irch, etc.
The richness of Krraba area is added even by the variety of medicinal plants, such as: hawthorn, horn flower, bee grass, nettles, mountain tea, camomile, wild rose, rosemary bay, forest hollyhock, St, Join’s wart, etc.
Fauna in the territory of Krraba has been adapted with the mountainous relief, the climate and the vegetation. The predatory mammals are found in this zone, including: the wolf, the fox, the marten. Apart from them, there is the hawk, the royal eagle of the mountain, the falcon, the owl, cuckoo, the squirrel, the owl, the woodpecker, the quail of the mountain, etc.
Tradition
Folk costumes
The folk costumes of Krraba region are very interesting. Their antiquity is proved in some elements of these costumes documented in the archaeological findings, such as: handmade belts, types of trousers, decorations, which are used in the costumes of the brides of Krraba highlands.
In the men’s outfits of Krraba highlands the black xhoka (long heavy coat) with or without sleeve is very typical. Apart from them, this region is very popular for the knitting of the socks with the characteristic motives, etc.
Share