Velipojë ( sq-definite, Velipoja) is a village and a former municipality in

Shkodër County Shkodër County ( sq, Qarku i Shkodrës) is a county in northwestern Albania, with the capital in Shkodër. The county spans and had a total population of 197,177 people as of 2021. The county borders on the counties of Lezhë, Kukës and the cou ...

, northwestern

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...

. The population at the 2011 census was 5,031.2011 census results
Buna-muendung

Velipojë is situated on the estuary of the Buna river (the only navigable river of Albania), where it flows into the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...

while constituting the natural border with

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. The administrative unit of Velipojë has a population of around 10,000, spread over several small settlements, the largest of which is the town of Velipojë itself. Since 2005, Velipoje lies within the boundaries of

Buna River-Velipoja Protected Landscape Buna may refer to: Places * Buna village, a small Bosnia and Herzegovina village at the confluence of the Buna and Neretva rivers * Buna, Kenya, captured by Italy in the East African Campaign * Bouna, Ivory Coast or Buna * Buna, Papua New Guinea ...

. Its economy is based on agriculture (

arable land Arable land (from the la, arabilis, "able to be ploughed") is any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.''Oxford English Dictionary'', "arable, ''adj''. and ''n.''" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013. Alternatively, for the ...

and livestock,

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...

and

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

), some fishing, and chiefly tourism. The scenery is largely unspoilt: a mixture of sea-coast, river estuary, heathland, thick pine woods, farmland, and high mountains. It has been remarked by visitors that the heath-land to the north of Velipoja is very reminiscent of Scottish scenery. The area is a prime site for birdwatching,

game A game is a structured form of play (activity), play, usually undertaken for enjoyment, entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator s ...

shooting and fishing. A long, sandy curative beach with a seaside promenade is a popular attraction in the summer. In recent years, several projects have been instituted with the aim of conserving the environment (including the marine life of the Buna) and the encouragement of

ecological tourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

. There have also been recent efforts to develop

fish farm upright=1.3, Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye">mariculture.html" ;"title="Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture">Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye, Scotland Fish farming or ...

ing. The area has many small hotels and guest houses. There is a market, where local farmers sell their produce. In the commune, there is a church-sponsored kindergarten, several primary schools, two secondary schools, and one gymnasium. There is also a small theatre and a thriving local football team,

KS Ada Velipojë KF Ada is an Albanian football club based in the city of Velipojë which is situated in Shkodër County. The club's home ground is the Reshit Rusi Stadium and they currently compete in the Kategoria e Dytë. History The club was founded on 6 ...

and ground. Historically a poor area, and like the rest of the country subject to much emigration, Velipojë has recently begun to expand as a tourist resort, favoured especially by the inhabitants of

, the chief city of northern Albania, which lies about inland. The construction of the highway that started in 2021 linking Shëngjin with Velipojë will further develop tourism and the local economy. Velipoja hosts the Land and Sand Art Festival consisting of carving sand sculptures along the beach.Land and Sand Art Festival
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References

External links

InVelipoja.com Tourist Guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velipoje Former municipalities in Shkodër County Seaside resorts in Albania Administrative units of Shkodër Villages in Shkodër County

See also

References

External links