Çorovodë

40°30′N 20°13′E / 40.500°N 20.217°E / 40.500; 20.217Country AlbaniaCountyBeratMunicipalitySkraparElevation300 m (1,000 ft)Population • Total4,051Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal CodeArea Code0312Websitehttp://bashkiacorovode.gov.al

Çorovodë (Albanian definite form: Çorovoda) is a town and a former municipality in Berat County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision and the seat of the municipality Skrapar.^[1] The population at the 2011 census was 4,051.^[2] It was the seat of the former Skrapar District.

The river Osum passes through the city. Upstream it forms canyons and caves.^{[citation needed]} The river provides opportunities for kayaking and other aquatic sport.

History

The smaller Çorovoda River also flows through the city and mouths into the Osum river. The name of the town derives from the Bulgarian word for "black water". Five km northeast of Çorovodë it formed the Gradec Canyon. In one of its cliffs the presumably biggest cave of Albania named "Pirogosh" is located. Allegedly, two kings, Piro and Goshi, named it. Also of note is the Ottoman-era Kasabashi stone bridge over the Çorovoda river.^{[citation needed]}

During the period of communist rule in Albania, the town was a closed city that had a military airport, as well as other critical war infrastructure.

Tourism

Çorovodë is known for activities like rafting and mountain hiking. The Osum river is a river that pass between canyons that makes rafting hard and hosts annual rafting contests and championships. ^{[citation needed]} There are many mountains and hikes in the area.^{[citation needed]}

• Bogova Reserve
• Osum Canyon
• Pirogoshi Cave

Notable people

• Xhelal bej Koprencka, modern Albania's founding father
• Ilir Meta (born 1969), Albanian President

See also

• Pirogoshi Cave
• Osum Canyon

References