Vorë (Albanian definite form: Vora) is a municipality in Tirana County, central Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bërxullë, Prezë and Vorë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Vorë.[1] The total population is 25,511 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 82.76 km2 (31.95 sq mi).[3] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 10,901.[2]

Vorë
Vora city center
Vora city center
Flag of Vorë
Official logo of Vorë
Vorë is located in Albania
Vorë
Vorë
Coordinates: 41°23′38″N 19°39′16″E / 41.39389°N 19.65444°E / 41.39389; 19.65444
Country Albania
CountyTirana
Government
 • MayorBlerim Shera (PS)
Area
 • Municipality82.76 km2 (31.95 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit41 km2 (16 sq mi)
Elevation
60 m (200 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Municipality
25,511
 • Municipality density310/km2 (800/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
10,901
 • Municipal unit density270/km2 (690/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code
1032
Area Code(0)47
Websitebashkiavore.gov.al

History

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Map of Vorë Municipality

There is a medieval castle in the constituent village of Prezë.

Gërdec explosions

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The municipality of Vorë includes the small village of Gerdec. In the Albanian Armed Forces' munition store in this settlement, an accident occurred on 15 March 2008, which caused a series of large explosions, lasting for several hours. As a result of these explosions, 26 people died and several hundred were injured. Several hundred houses and two small villages were completely destroyed and 1,500 buildings were damaged.[4][5][6][7]

2020 earthquake

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On January 28, 2020, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Vorë. The official time of the earthquake was 20:48:05 (UTC).[8]

Economy

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The area's economy is positively affected by the large number of nearby offices and the proximity of Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. There is a lot of agriculture but also factories, such as the Coca-Cola Bottling Shqipëria, and consumer services. The town is located on National Road 2, between Tirana and Durrës, to the west of the capital. It is part of the Tirana-Durrës metropolitan region - industrial and commercial facilities extend along the motorway almost all the way from Tirana to Vorë. Many people who have moved from the countryside to urban areas have settled in places like Vorë or Kamëz.[9] However, these migrants prefer places which lie closer to Tirana and, as a result, other satellite settlements have grown much more rapidly in recent years.[10]

Transportation

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Vorë train station

Vorë is an important transport hub for Central Albania. It lies in the middle of the long range of hills known as the Kodra e Gjatë which separates the Plain of Tirana from the plains running along the Erzen and surrounding Durrës to the west. Vorë is located in a pass, not more than 60 m (200 ft) high, which cuts through the Kodra e Gjatë range. Railways, motorways, country roads, and overhead power lines are all routed through this pass. Previously there was a canal as well. The roads from Durrës and the railways run by Hekurudha Shqiptare go on from Vorë through Fushë-Krujë to the northern part of the country and onwards to Tirana in the east. Trains from Tirana to Shkodër have to change locomotive at the Vorë station.

Sport

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Vorë has a soccer team in the Albanian First Division known as FK Vora. The playing grounds are at Fusha Sportive Vorë with a capacity of 1,000 spectators.

Villages

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Villages within the municipality include Ahmetaq, Bërxullë, Breg-Shkozë, Domje, Fushë-Prezë, Gërdec, Gjeç-Kodër, Gjokaj, Kuç, Marikaj, Marqinet, Muçaj, Ndërmjetës, Palaq, Picar, Prezë, Shargë, and Rinas.

References

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  1. ^ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6375. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population and housing census - Tiranë 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. ^ ReliefWeb Overview of Munitions Depot Explosion - Affected Area of Gerdec, Albania (Disaster Map) (PDF-Datei; 1,44 MB)
  5. ^ Neue Zürcher Newspaper, 30 April 2008: Albaniens schwache Institutionen
  6. ^ albanien.ch: Schwere Explosion in Munitionslager (15 March 2008)
  7. ^ "Trümmerfeld Gerdec: Hoffnung auf Überlebende". 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Moderate mag. 5.1 earthquake - Albania on Tuesday, 28 January 2020 - 3 days ago". Volcano Discovery. Volcano Discovery. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ^ Claudia Hanisch. "Migration in Albanien heute. Einflüsse demographischer Entwicklungen und kommunistischer Politik", Neukirchen 2004, S. 55f" (PDF; 450 kB). Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  10. ^ Ines Nurja (2013). "Rezultatet Kryesore/Main Results". In INSTAT (ed.). Censusi i popullsisë dhe banesave / Population and Housing Census – Tiranë 2011 (PDF). Vol. Pjesa/Part 1. Tirana: Adel Print. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2015-05-25.