
Vlorë County (Albanian pronunciation: [vlɔɽ(ə)]; Albanian: Qarku i Vlorës) is one of the 12 counties of Albania with the city of Vlorë being the county capital. The county spans 2,706 square kilometres (1,045 sq mi) and has a total population of 146,681 people as of 2023. It borders the counties of Fier and Gjirokastër, as well as the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Greece borders Vlorë to the south.
Vlorë County Qarku i Vlorës (Albanian) | |
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Beaches at Ksamil | |
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Coordinates: 41°N 20°E / 41°N 20°E | |
Country | |
Seat | Vlorë |
Subdivisions | Seven municipalities, 197 towns and villages |
Government | |
• Council chairman | Ervis Moçka |
Area | |
• Total | 2,706 km2 (1,045 sq mi) |
• Rank | 5th |
Population (2023) | |
• Total | 146,681 |
• Rank | 7th |
• Density | 54/km2 (140/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
HDI (2022) | 0.797 very high · 2nd |
NUTS Code | AL035 |
Website | Official Website |
Vlorë is geographically a very mountainous county. The county stretches along the Adriatic Sea and especially the Ionian Sea, forming the Albanian Riviera. The county has a coastline of 244 kilometres (152 mi). The coasts on the west can be very steep and rocky with green panoramic vistas and high mountains in the hinterland, including the Ceraunian Mountains. The highest natural point is Çikë, at 2,044 metres (6,706 ft). The northwest of the county is mostly located on the peninsula of Karaburun, with a rough relief, steep cliffs, bays and rocky beaches.
With about than 146,000 inhabitants in 2023, Vlorë is the seventh most populous county within Albania, and the third most populous within the Southern Region. Albanians constitute the ethnic majority of the county, including the capital. Greeks, Aromanians, and a few Roma also are present in the ethnic composition of the county.
The port city of Vlorë is the capital of Vlorë County. It is where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. Sarandë is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera, situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the central Mediterranean, about 14 km (8.7 mi) east of the north end of the Greek island of Corfu. The Butrint National Park, Llogara National Park and Karaburun Sazan National Marine Park are located in Vlorë County. The ancient city of Butrint is an archeological site in Vlorë County, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë. It is located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel and is part of the Butrint National Park.
History
During Roman antiquity, the city of Vlorë, the homonymous county capital, was known as Aulón (Ancient Greek: Αυλών, Latin: Aulona, meaning channel or glen in Greek, and possibly a translation of another indigenous name). The city was mentioned for the first time by Ptolemy (2nd century CE) among the towns of the Illyrian Taulantii.
The coastal area of Vlorë was one of those Illyrian sites that had experienced pre-urban activity beginning from the 11th–10th centuries BCE. In classical antiquity the Bay of Vlorë constituted the southern limit of the Illyrian coast. The coastal area of the Bay was settled by Ancient Greek colonists, who traditionally founded Oricum, Thronion and Aulon. The latter city, however, dates to the Roman period. but a large fortified port-town that was inhabited from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century AD is placed, now partially submerged, in Triport, northwest of present-day Vlorë. Illyrians were found in the hinterland of the Bay. The Ceraunian Mountains represented a natural border between Illyria and Epirus. The area to the south of the mountains was inhabited by the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians. On the Epirote coast the Ancient Greeks developed the town of Sarandë, which they referred to as Onchesmos (or Anchiasmos). Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital of Phoenice (modern-day Finiq). Another Chaonian settlement was Chimera, identified with Himarë,
In the Middle Ages, the region was part of the Byzantine Empire, while during the Slavic invasion there is evidence that Byzantine rule was maintained in the area.
In 1204 the region became part of the Despotate of Epirus, but later returned to the Byzantine Empire. In 1335 Albanian tribes were in possession of the area between Berat and the bay of Vlorë, while in 1345 after the Serbian invasion an independent principality was formed in Vlorë.
In the middle of the 14th century the aristocratic Delvina family ruled Delvinë, and in 1354 Mehmet Ali Pasha Delvina was testified as the owner of the castle and the city.
The Ottoman Empire captured the region in 1417, while in 1432, Albanian rebels freed Vlorë and expelled the Ottomans from the area. As part of the Ottoman Empire, The region became a sanjak centre in Rumelia Eyalet under the name Avlonya.
On November 28, 1912, Ismail Kemal declared the Albanian National Awakening in Vlorë, during the First Balkan War. The region became Albania's first freed region following its independence, but was invaded by Italy in december 1915, during World War I. The region remained occupied by Italian forces until an Albanian rebellion forced the Italians out of Albania in 1920. Italy invaded Vlorë again in 1939. The region remained under Italian occupation until Italy surrendered to the allies in 1943. Subsequently, Nazi Germany occupied the region until 1944. The city was liberated in 1944 by communist forces under Enver Hoxha.
During the World War II, Sazan Island became the site of a German and Italian submarine base and naval installations; these installations were heavily bombed by the Allies.
After World War II, with Albania ruled by a Communist Party, the port was leased out to the Soviet Union for use as a submarine base. During 1960 and 1961 it served as a theater in the aftermath of the decision of Enver Hoxha to denounce Nikita Khrushchev's reforms. In April 1961 the Soviet Union, resenting being pushed out after considerable investment in the naval facilities at Pasha Liman Base, threatened to occupy the region with Soviet troops, and cut off all Soviet economic, military and technical aid to Albania.
Geography
Location
Vlorë is one of the twelve counties of Albania located in the east, south and southwest of the Southern Region. The county lies between latitudes 41° N, and longitudes 20° E. It measures an area of 2,706 km2 (1,045 sq mi) placing it the fifth largest in Albania and the third largest in the Southern Region, behind Korçë County and Gjirokastër County. It is bordered by the counties of Fier to the north and Gjirokastër to the east, the country of Greece to the south and the Adriatic Sea in the northwest, as well as the Ionian Sea in the west.
The county of Vlorë is divided into seven municipalities; Delvinë, Finiq, Himarë, Konispol, Sarandë, Selenicë and Vlorë. The municipalities are further subdivided into 200 towns and villages in total.
In Vlorë, there are five islands, notably the Ksamil Islands. The combined areas of the four Ksamil islands measure only 7.1 hectares (17.5 acres), and forms part of the larger Butrint National Park.
Sazan Island is located strategically between the Strait of Otranto and the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë and has an area of 5.7 km2 (2.2 sq mi) with no civil population. In addition to being the largest island in Albania, it is a military facility and sometimes in clear weather it may be seen by eye from the coast of Salento, Italy. More than half of the island's surrounding marine area forms part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park.Stillo Island is rocky and sparsely vegetated. It has an area of half an hectare, with an approximate length of 80 meters and a width of 100 meters. It is located in the Ionian Sea, 200 meters off the coast of Cape Stillo. Tongo Island is a rocky island, its waters rich in aquatic life. The island is situated about 300 metres (984 feet) off the Greek coast. It has an area of 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres). The Zvërnec Islands are two islands located in Narta Lagoon. The larger island is nearly completely covered with tall pine trees and is connected to the mainland by a 270m long wooden bridge. It is 430 metres (1,410 ft) in length and 300 metres (980 ft) in width. It has an area of around 8.8 hectares (22 acres). The smaller island has a smaller vegetation, being 230 metres (750 ft) in length and 100 metres (330 ft) in width, with an area of little more than 1 hectare (2.5 acres).
- The Ceraunian Mountains lie along the Albanian Riviera with Maja e Çikës being the highest point.
- The four islands of Ksamil in the south.
- The Llogara Pass divides the Ceraunian Mountains into a western and an eastern range.
- Sarandë is the southernmost most populous city within the county.
Biodiversity
Phytogeographically, the county completely falls within the Illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub.
Protected areas
The county of Vlorë has many ecosystems. Within the county there are three national parks, namely Llogara National Park, Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park and Butrint National Park.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1950 | 113,007 | — |
1960 | 148,879 | +31.7% |
1969 | 183,367 | +23.2% |
1979 | 218,674 | +19.3% |
1989 | 264,556 | +21.0% |
2001 | 192,982 | −27.1% |
2011 | 175,640 | −9.0% |
2023 | 146,681 | −16.5% |
Source: |
The population of Vlorë, as defined by the Institute of Statistics of Albania, was found in 2023 census to be 146,681. The province is 87.61% Albanian, 8.21% Greek, 0.33% Aromanian, 0.31% Romani, 0.96% Egyptian and 1.26% is not available.
Islam is the predominant religion in the county. In 2023, 38.26% of the population declared themselves as Muslim, out of which 6.31%pt declare themselves as Bektashi Muslims. This is followed by believers without denomination at 21.74%. Christianity makes up 18.98% of the total population. This includes Orthodox, Evangelist and Roman Catholic believers.
The most densely populated areas are the coastal cities of Vlorë, Sarandë and Himarë, while vast regions, such as the highlands, are very sparsely populated.
Economy
Vlorë County has the second highest human development after Tirana County, and has a High Human Development Rating within Albania.
The county remains a major seaport and commercial centre, with a significant fishing and industrial sector. The city of Vlorë is the economic hub of the county. The surrounding region of the city is mainly agricultural and pastoral; a large producer of petroleum, natural gas, bitumen and salt. Vlorë has grown in importance as an agricultural center with large-scale planting of olive and citrus fruit trees, and as a center of the food processing, oil and bitumen export industries.
According to the World Bank, Vlorë has made significant steps in the ease of starting a business in 2016. It ranks seventh among 22 cities in Southeastern Europe, being placed higher than the capital Tirana, Belgrade and Sarajevo.
Tourism has become a major industry in recent years, with many hotels, recreational centers, and vast beaches. In Sarandë, tourism is the main driver of the economy. It is a significant tourist destination on the Ionian Sea, and by far one of the most popular destinations in Albania. Vlorë County is considered a prosperous region, one with varied attractions, plants and mountains, rivers and lakes, springs and virgin beaches, citrus plantations, olive groves and vineyards, pastures and woods, fish and shellfish farming and desirable hunting places.
In short, Vlorë County's location is advantageous in terms of development of tourism. Sarandë's stony beaches are respectable, and there are plenty of sights in and around town, including the ancient archaeological site of Butrint and the hypnotic Blue Eye Spring.
See also
- Geography of Albania
- Divisions of Albania
- Politics of Albania
References
- "Kryetari – Keshilli i Qarkut Vlore".
- "Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023" (PDF). INSTAT.
- UNICEF. "ObservatOri për të drejtat e Fëmijëve Qarku vlOrë" (PDF). observator.org.al (in Albanian). p. 1.
- google book reference: Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features, and Historic Sites By Adrian Room Published by McFarland, 2005, ISBN 978-0-7864-2248-7, 433 pages.
- The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. 1974. p. 479. ISBN 0-85229-290-2.
- Bereti, Quantin & Cabanes 2011, pp. 11, 13.
- Bereti 1993, p. 143.
- Shpuza 2022, p. 553.
- Zindel et al. 2018, p. 346.
- Bejko et al. 2015, p. 4.
- Hammond & Wilkes 2012, p. 726.
- Cabanes 2008, p. 171.
- Malkin 2001, pp. 192–193.
- Papadopoulos 2016, p. 440.
- Fasolo 2005, p. 178.
- Volpe et al. 2014, p. 300.
- De Simone 2017, p. 1867.
- Bejko et al. 2015, p. 4
- Strabo, The Geography, Book VII, Chapter 7.5: "...these mountains one comes to Onchesmus, another harbor, opposite which lie the western extremities of Corcyraea."
- Bowden, William. Epirus Vetus: The Archaeology of a Late Antique Province. London: Duckworth, 2003, ISBN 0-7156-3116-0, p. 14. "Anchiasmos (Onchesmos)"
- Hodges, Richard. Saranda - Ancient Onchesmos: A Short History and Guide. Butrint Foundation, 2007. ISBN 99943-943-6-3
- Talbert, Richard J.A. and Bagnall, Roger S. Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, 2000, p. 815. "harbor, cape or town in Epirus between Onchesmos and Bouthroton."
- Eidinow, Esther. Oracles, Curses, and Risk Among the Ancient Greeks. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 0-19-927778-8 "Onchesmos was the principal port of Phoinike, the capital of Chaonia,..."
- Richard Stillwell (14 March 2017). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press. pp. 211–. ISBN 978-1-4008-8658-6.
- An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by The Copenhagen Polis Centre for the Danish National Research Foundation by Mogens Herman Hansen, 2005, page 340.
- Winnifrith Tom. Shattered eagles, Balkan fragments. Duckworth, 1995, ISBN 978-0-7156-2635-1, p. 102
- Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond. Migrations and invasions in Greece and adjacent areas. Noyes Press, 1976, ISBN 978-0-8155-5047-1, p. 61 "By 1335 they were in possession also of the area between Berat and the Gulf of Valona"
- Giakoumis, Konstantinos (2010). "The Orthodox Church in Albania Under the Ottoman Rule 15th-19th Century". In Schmitt, Oliver Jens (ed.). Religion und Kultur im albanischsprachigen Südosteuropa [Religion and culture in Albanian-speaking southeastern Europe]. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9783631602959.
- İnalcik, Halil (1954). Hicr ı835 tarihli sûret-i defter-i sancak-i Arvanid (in Turkish). Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınlarından.
- "2011 census results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6376. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- National Tourism Agency. "Albanian Nature and Active Holidays" (PDF). Republic of Albania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- Proclamation of Karaburun-Sazan as National Marine Park, April 2010
- "Division of Albania".
- "Census of Population and Housing". Institute of Statistics Albania.
- "ALBANIA POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2023" (PDF). www.instat.gov.al. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- "ALBANIA POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2023" (PDF). www.instat.gov.al. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- "Economy".
Bibliography
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- Bereti, Vasil (1993). "Gjurmë të fortifikimeve në vendbanimin në Treport / Traces de fortifications dans l'habitat à Treport". Iliria. 23: 143–159. doi:10.3406/iliri.1993.1622.
- Bereti, Vasil; Quantin, François; Cabanes, Pierre (2011). "Histoire et épigraphie dans la région de Vlora (Albanie)". REA. 113 (1).
- Cabanes, Pierre (2008). "Greek Colonisation in the Adriatic". In Tsetskhladze, Gocha R. (ed.). Greek Colonisation: An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas. Vol. 2. Brill. pp. 155–186. ISBN 9789047442448.
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. .
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- Fasolo, Michele (2005) [2003]. La via Egnatia I. Da Apollonia e Dyrrachium ad Herakleia Lynkestidos. Viae Publicae Romanae (in Italian). Vol. 1. Rome: Istituto Grafico Editoriale Romano.
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- Shpuza, Saimir (2022). "D'un limên à une polis. Orikos aux périodes archaïque et classique". In Brancato, Rodolfo (ed.). Schemata: la città oltre la forma : per una nuova definizione dei paesaggi urbani e delle loro funzioni: urbanizzazione e società nel Mediterraneo pre-classico : età arcaica. Edizioni Quasar. ISBN 9788854912755.
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{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link) - Zindel, Christian; Lippert, Andreas; Lahi, Bashkim; Kiel, Machiel (2018). Albanien: Ein Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 9783205200109.
External links
Media related to Vlorë County at Wikimedia Commons
Vlore County Albanian pronunciation vlɔɽ e Albanian Qarku i Vlores is one of the 12 counties of Albania with the city of Vlore being the county capital The county spans 2 706 square kilometres 1 045 sq mi and has a total population of 146 681 people as of 2023 It borders the counties of Fier and Gjirokaster as well as the Adriatic and Ionian Sea Greece borders Vlore to the south Vlore County Qarku i Vlores Albanian CountyBeaches at KsamilFlagEmblemCoordinates 41 N 20 E 41 N 20 E 41 20Country AlbaniaSeatVloreSubdivisionsSeven municipalities 197 towns and villagesGovernment Council chairmanErvis MockaArea Total2 706 km2 1 045 sq mi Rank5thPopulation 2023 Total146 681 Rank7th Density54 km2 140 sq mi Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST HDI 2022 0 797 very high 2ndNUTS CodeAL035WebsiteOfficial Website Vlore is geographically a very mountainous county The county stretches along the Adriatic Sea and especially the Ionian Sea forming the Albanian Riviera The county has a coastline of 244 kilometres 152 mi The coasts on the west can be very steep and rocky with green panoramic vistas and high mountains in the hinterland including the Ceraunian Mountains The highest natural point is Cike at 2 044 metres 6 706 ft The northwest of the county is mostly located on the peninsula of Karaburun with a rough relief steep cliffs bays and rocky beaches With about than 146 000 inhabitants in 2023 Vlore is the seventh most populous county within Albania and the third most populous within the Southern Region Albanians constitute the ethnic majority of the county including the capital Greeks Aromanians and a few Roma also are present in the ethnic composition of the county The port city of Vlore is the capital of Vlore County It is where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28 1912 Sarande is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the central Mediterranean about 14 km 8 7 mi east of the north end of the Greek island of Corfu The Butrint National Park Llogara National Park and Karaburun Sazan National Marine Park are located in Vlore County The ancient city of Butrint is an archeological site in Vlore County some 14 kilometres south of Sarande It is located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel and is part of the Butrint National Park HistoryDuring Roman antiquity the city of Vlore the homonymous county capital was known as Aulon Ancient Greek Aylwn Latin Aulona meaning channel or glen in Greek and possibly a translation of another indigenous name The city was mentioned for the first time by Ptolemy 2nd century CE among the towns of the Illyrian Taulantii The coastal area of Vlore was one of those Illyrian sites that had experienced pre urban activity beginning from the 11th 10th centuries BCE In classical antiquity the Bay of Vlore constituted the southern limit of the Illyrian coast The coastal area of the Bay was settled by Ancient Greek colonists who traditionally founded Oricum Thronion and Aulon The latter city however dates to the Roman period but a large fortified port town that was inhabited from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century AD is placed now partially submerged in Triport northwest of present day Vlore Illyrians were found in the hinterland of the Bay The Ceraunian Mountains represented a natural border between Illyria and Epirus The area to the south of the mountains was inhabited by the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians On the Epirote coast the Ancient Greeks developed the town of Sarande which they referred to as Onchesmos or Anchiasmos Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital of Phoenice modern day Finiq Another Chaonian settlement was Chimera identified with Himare In the Middle Ages the region was part of the Byzantine Empire while during the Slavic invasion there is evidence that Byzantine rule was maintained in the area In 1204 the region became part of the Despotate of Epirus but later returned to the Byzantine Empire In 1335 Albanian tribes were in possession of the area between Berat and the bay of Vlore while in 1345 after the Serbian invasion an independent principality was formed in Vlore In the middle of the 14th century the aristocratic Delvina family ruled Delvine and in 1354 Mehmet Ali Pasha Delvina was testified as the owner of the castle and the city The Ottoman Empire captured the region in 1417 while in 1432 Albanian rebels freed Vlore and expelled the Ottomans from the area As part of the Ottoman Empire The region became a sanjak centre in Rumelia Eyalet under the name Avlonya On November 28 1912 Ismail Kemal declared the Albanian National Awakening in Vlore during the First Balkan War The region became Albania s first freed region following its independence but was invaded by Italy in december 1915 during World War I The region remained occupied by Italian forces until an Albanian rebellion forced the Italians out of Albania in 1920 Italy invaded Vlore again in 1939 The region remained under Italian occupation until Italy surrendered to the allies in 1943 Subsequently Nazi Germany occupied the region until 1944 The city was liberated in 1944 by communist forces under Enver Hoxha During the World War II Sazan Island became the site of a German and Italian submarine base and naval installations these installations were heavily bombed by the Allies After World War II with Albania ruled by a Communist Party the port was leased out to the Soviet Union for use as a submarine base During 1960 and 1961 it served as a theater in the aftermath of the decision of Enver Hoxha to denounce Nikita Khrushchev s reforms In April 1961 the Soviet Union resenting being pushed out after considerable investment in the naval facilities at Pasha Liman Base threatened to occupy the region with Soviet troops and cut off all Soviet economic military and technical aid to Albania GeographyLocation Vlore is one of the twelve counties of Albania located in the east south and southwest of the Southern Region The county lies between latitudes 41 N and longitudes 20 E It measures an area of 2 706 km2 1 045 sq mi placing it the fifth largest in Albania and the third largest in the Southern Region behind Korce County and Gjirokaster County It is bordered by the counties of Fier to the north and Gjirokaster to the east the country of Greece to the south and the Adriatic Sea in the northwest as well as the Ionian Sea in the west The county of Vlore is divided into seven municipalities Delvine Finiq Himare Konispol Sarande Selenice and Vlore The municipalities are further subdivided into 200 towns and villages in total In Vlore there are five islands notably the Ksamil Islands The combined areas of the four Ksamil islands measure only 7 1 hectares 17 5 acres and forms part of the larger Butrint National Park Sazan Island is located strategically between the Strait of Otranto and the entrance to the Bay of Vlore and has an area of 5 7 km2 2 2 sq mi with no civil population In addition to being the largest island in Albania it is a military facility and sometimes in clear weather it may be seen by eye from the coast of Salento Italy More than half of the island s surrounding marine area forms part of the Karaburun Sazan National Marine Park Stillo Island is rocky and sparsely vegetated It has an area of half an hectare with an approximate length of 80 meters and a width of 100 meters It is located in the Ionian Sea 200 meters off the coast of Cape Stillo Tongo Island is a rocky island its waters rich in aquatic life The island is situated about 300 metres 984 feet off the Greek coast It has an area of 2 5 hectares 6 2 acres The Zvernec Islands are two islands located in Narta Lagoon The larger island is nearly completely covered with tall pine trees and is connected to the mainland by a 270m long wooden bridge It is 430 metres 1 410 ft in length and 300 metres 980 ft in width It has an area of around 8 8 hectares 22 acres The smaller island has a smaller vegetation being 230 metres 750 ft in length and 100 metres 330 ft in width with an area of little more than 1 hectare 2 5 acres The Ceraunian Mountains lie along the Albanian Riviera with Maja e Cikes being the highest point The four islands of Ksamil in the south The Llogara Pass divides the Ceraunian Mountains into a western and an eastern range Sarande is the southernmost most populous city within the county Biodiversity Phytogeographically the county completely falls within the Illyrian deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic Mediterranean forests woodlands and scrub Protected areas The county of Vlore has many ecosystems Within the county there are three national parks namely Llogara National Park Karaburun Sazan Marine Park and Butrint National Park DemographicsHistorical populationYearPop 1950113 007 1960148 879 31 7 1969183 367 23 2 1979218 674 19 3 1989264 556 21 0 2001192 982 27 1 2011175 640 9 0 2023146 681 16 5 Source The population of Vlore as defined by the Institute of Statistics of Albania was found in 2023 census to be 146 681 The province is 87 61 Albanian 8 21 Greek 0 33 Aromanian 0 31 Romani 0 96 Egyptian and 1 26 is not available Islam is the predominant religion in the county In 2023 38 26 of the population declared themselves as Muslim out of which 6 31 pt declare themselves as Bektashi Muslims This is followed by believers without denomination at 21 74 Christianity makes up 18 98 of the total population This includes Orthodox Evangelist and Roman Catholic believers The most densely populated areas are the coastal cities of Vlore Sarande and Himare while vast regions such as the highlands are very sparsely populated Religion in Vlore County 2011 census religion percentMuslim 42 14 Prefer not to answer 20 92 Orthodox 13 74 Believers without denomination 10 97 Atheist 6 01 Not relevant not stated 3 05 Catholic 1 92 Bektashi 1 08 Other Christian 0 07 Evangelist or Protestant 0 06 Others 0 03 EconomyCruise tourism is an important segment of the tourism sector in Sarande Vlore County has the second highest human development after Tirana County and has a High Human Development Rating within Albania The county remains a major seaport and commercial centre with a significant fishing and industrial sector The city of Vlore is the economic hub of the county The surrounding region of the city is mainly agricultural and pastoral a large producer of petroleum natural gas bitumen and salt Vlore has grown in importance as an agricultural center with large scale planting of olive and citrus fruit trees and as a center of the food processing oil and bitumen export industries According to the World Bank Vlore has made significant steps in the ease of starting a business in 2016 It ranks seventh among 22 cities in Southeastern Europe being placed higher than the capital Tirana Belgrade and Sarajevo Tourism has become a major industry in recent years with many hotels recreational centers and vast beaches In Sarande tourism is the main driver of the economy It is a significant tourist destination on the Ionian Sea and by far one of the most popular destinations in Albania Vlore County is considered a prosperous region one with varied attractions plants and mountains rivers and lakes springs and virgin beaches citrus plantations olive groves and vineyards pastures and woods fish and shellfish farming and desirable hunting places In short Vlore County s location is advantageous in terms of development of tourism Sarande s stony beaches are respectable and there are plenty of sights in and around town including the ancient archaeological site of Butrint and the hypnotic Blue Eye Spring See alsoGeography portalGeography of Albania Divisions of Albania Politics of AlbaniaReferences Kryetari Keshilli i Qarkut Vlore Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023 PDF INSTAT UNICEF ObservatOri per te drejtat e Femijeve Qarku vlOre PDF observator org al in Albanian p 1 google book reference Placenames of the World Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6 600 Countries Cities Territories Natural Features and Historic Sites By Adrian Room Published by McFarland 2005 ISBN 978 0 7864 2248 7 433 pages The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica 1974 p 479 ISBN 0 85229 290 2 Bereti Quantin amp Cabanes 2011 pp 11 13 Bereti 1993 p 143 Shpuza 2022 p 553 Zindel et al 2018 p 346 Bejko et al 2015 p 4 Hammond amp Wilkes 2012 p 726 Cabanes 2008 p 171 Malkin 2001 pp 192 193 Papadopoulos 2016 p 440 Fasolo 2005 p 178 Volpe et al 2014 p 300 De Simone 2017 p 1867 Bejko et al 2015 p 4 Strabo The Geography Book VII Chapter 7 5 these mountains one comes to Onchesmus another harbor opposite which lie the western extremities of Corcyraea Bowden William Epirus Vetus The Archaeology of a Late Antique Province London Duckworth 2003 ISBN 0 7156 3116 0 p 14 Anchiasmos Onchesmos Hodges Richard Saranda Ancient Onchesmos A Short History and Guide Butrint Foundation 2007 ISBN 99943 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Konstantinos 2010 The Orthodox Church in Albania Under the Ottoman Rule 15th 19th Century In Schmitt Oliver Jens ed Religion und Kultur im albanischsprachigen Sudosteuropa Religion and culture in Albanian speaking southeastern Europe Frankfurt am Main Peter Lang pp 95 96 ISBN 9783631602959 Inalcik Halil 1954 Hicr i835 tarihli suret i defter i sancak i Arvanid in Turkish Turk Tarih Kurumu Yayinlarindan 2011 census results PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2017 07 17 Law nr 115 2014 PDF in Albanian p 6376 Retrieved 25 February 2022 National Tourism Agency Albanian Nature and Active Holidays PDF Republic of Albania Archived from the original PDF on 31 July 2009 Retrieved 4 March 2011 Proclamation of Karaburun Sazan as National Marine Park April 2010 Division of Albania Census of Population and Housing Institute of Statistics Albania ALBANIA POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2023 PDF www instat gov al Retrieved 28 November 2024 ALBANIA POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2023 PDF www instat gov al Retrieved 28 November 2024 Economy BibliographyBejko Lorenc Morris Sarah Papadopoulos John Schepartz Lynne 2015 The Excavation of the Prehistoric Burial Tumulus at Lofkend Albania ISD LLC ISBN 978 1938770524 Bereti Vasil 1993 Gjurme te fortifikimeve ne vendbanimin ne Treport Traces de fortifications dans l habitat a Treport Iliria 23 143 159 doi 10 3406 iliri 1993 1622 Bereti Vasil Quantin Francois Cabanes Pierre 2011 Histoire et epigraphie dans la region de Vlora Albanie REA 113 1 Cabanes Pierre 2008 Greek Colonisation in the Adriatic In Tsetskhladze Gocha R ed Greek Colonisation An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas Vol 2 Brill pp 155 186 ISBN 9789047442448 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Avlona Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press De Simone Carlo 2017 Illyrian In Klein Jared Joseph Brian Fritz Matthias eds Handbook of Comparative and Historical Indo European Linguistics Vol 3 Walter de Gruyter pp 1867 1872 ISBN 978 3 11 054243 1 Fasolo Michele 2005 2003 La via Egnatia I Da Apollonia e Dyrrachium ad Herakleia Lynkestidos Viae Publicae Romanae in Italian Vol 1 Rome Istituto Grafico Editoriale Romano Hammond N G L Wilkes J J 2012 Illyrii In Hornblower Simon Spawforth Antony Eidinow Esther eds The Oxford Classical Dictionary OUP Oxford p 726 ISBN 978 0 19 954556 8 Malkin Irad 2001 Greek Ambiguities Between Ancient Hellas and Barbarian Epirus In Malkin Irad ed Ancient Perceptions of Greek Ethnicity Center for Hellenic Studies colloquia Vol 5 Center for Hellenic Studies Trustees for Harvard University pp 187 212 ISBN 978 0 674 00662 1 Papadopoulos John 2016 Komai Colonies and Cities in Epirus and Southern Albania The Failure of the Polis and the Rise of Urbanism on the Fringes of the Greek World In Molloy Barry P C ed Of Odysseys and Oddities Scales and Modes of Interaction Between Prehistoric Aegean Societies and their Neighbours Oxbow Books pp 435 460 ISBN 978 1 78570 232 7 Shpuza Saimir 2022 D un limen a une polis Orikos aux periodes archaique et classique In Brancato Rodolfo ed Schemata la citta oltre la forma per una nuova definizione dei paesaggi urbani e delle loro funzioni urbanizzazione e societa nel Mediterraneo pre classico eta arcaica Edizioni Quasar ISBN 9788854912755 Volpe Giuliano Disantarosa Giacomo Leone Danilo Turchiano Maria 2014 Porti approdi e itinerari dell Albania meridionale dall Antichita al Medioevo Il Progetto Liburna Ricerche Archeologiche in Albania Aracne 287 326 doi 10 4399 978885487245516 inactive 1 November 2024 ISBN 978 88 548 7245 5 a href wiki Template Cite journal title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint DOI inactive as of November 2024 link Zindel Christian Lippert Andreas Lahi Bashkim Kiel Machiel 2018 Albanien Ein Archaologie und Kunstfuhrer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19 Jahrhundert in German Vandenhoeck amp Ruprecht ISBN 9783205200109 External linksMedia related to Vlore County at Wikimedia Commons