Dibër (municipality)


Dibër is a municipality in Dibër County, northeastern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Arras, Fushë-Çidhën, Kala e Dodës, Kastriot, Lurë, Luzni, Maqellarë, Melan, Muhurr, Peshkopi, Selishtë, Sllovë, Tomin, Zall-Dardhë and Zall-Reç. The seat of the municipality is the town Peshkopi. The total population is 61,619, in a total area of 938.65 km2. It is coterminous with the former Dibër District.

Geography

The area is located on the middle stretches of the Drin river, on the border with Macedonia. The eastern and western borders are formed by mountain ranges, with the broad river valley of the Drin running from south to north between them. On the eastern side, the valley floor rises gradually for some time, then suddenly rises steeply to high mountains. On this terrace-like area at the base of the mountains there are many settlements, including the municipal capital, Peshkopi. The Korab mountains, which form the border with Macedonia, include Mount Korab, which is the tallest mountain in Albania and Macedonia, at 2764 metres.
The very rugged mountainous area to the west includes the Lurë National Park.

Demographics

Despite the municipality's proximity to Macedonia, Dibër's ethnic make-up is relatively homogeneous, but there is a small Macedonian minority living in the villages around Maqellarë. Unlike the Macedonians who live around Lake Prespa, Macedonians in Dibër have no linguistic rights and no autonomous subdivisions. There has been an active campaign to change this situation for almost ten years.
Almost 90 percent of the population are Muslim, while the Macedonian minority is Orthodox. The Khalwati order has a khanqah in the village of Herbel, while Allajbegi's Mosque in Maqellarë is a recognised cultural monument.
Albanians and Macedonians in the area often have relatives in Macedonia, so there is a lot of interaction across the national border. Like all the rural municipalities of Albania, Dibër is heavily effected by emigration.