Junik ( sq-definite, Juniku; sr-Cyrl, Јуник) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the Gjakova District in western

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

History

During the Ottoman occupation of the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

, Junik and the Municipality of Junik were part of the Nahiya of Altun-ili during the 15th century. In a 1485 defter of the region, Junik was mentioned with the name ''Lunik''. In the 15th century, around half of Junik's population had typical Albanian anthroponomy. The Ottoman register from 1485 indicates that Junik was mostly inhabited by an Albanian population whom bore Albanian names mixed with Slavic and Christian Junik was also recorded with 52 households in the 1485 register. During the early period of Ottoman occupation, Gjakova and the Gjakova Municipality were part of the Nahiya of Altun-ili. Most of the villages in the Nahiya of Altun-ili were dominated by inhabitants with Albanian anthroponomy, which indicates that during the 15th century (as supported by Ottoman defters), the lands between Junik and Gjakova were inhabited by a dominant ethnic Albanian majority. In 1915, Montenegrin troops entered Albanian villages, and in Junik, Vojvoda Milika Vojvodić from

Morača The Morača ( cnr-Cyrl, Морача, ) is a major river in Montenegro that originates in the northern region in Kolašin Municipality under Mount Rzača. It meanders southwards for before emptying into Lake Skadar. Its drainage basin covers ...

terrorized the local population. According to Milan Scekic in Radio Petnica, Montenegrin officials, especially in Metohija, acted as petty tyrants, disregarding laws and oppressing locals. Vojvodić, as Junik’s municipal president, abused his power so severely that even some Montenegrin gendarmes resented him—not out of sympathy for Albanians, but because he hoarded illicit gains instead of sharing them.https://www.radiopetnjica.me/2019/07/16/milan-scekic-muslimani-iz-novooslobodjenih-krajeva-crne-gore-u-prvom-svjetskom-ratu-1914-1916/

Geography

Junik is located between

Deçan Deçan (, ; , ) is a town and municipality in the district of Gjakova, Kosovo. The municipality has an area of and it includes the town and 37 smaller settlements. According to the last census of 2024, the municipality has a population of 27,7 ...

and

Gjakova Gjakova or Đakovica, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the sixth largest city of Kosovo and seat of the Gjakova Municipality and the District of Gjakova, Gjakova District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjakov ...

along Kosovo's mountainous border with

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

. It has a convenient geographical position because it extends to the north-west of the Dukagjin plain, located in the left side of the Erenik river, which originates from the Gjeravica lakes and goes through the valleys of the

Albanian Alps The Accursed Mountains (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Prokletije, Проклетије, separator=" / ", ; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian Alps (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Albanski Alpi, Албански Алпи, separator=" / ", li ...

. Junik is bordered by

and

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

. The distance Junik-Peja is 25 km, Junik-Gjakova is 20 km, passing through the village of Batushë, while the distance from Junik to Rastavicë (Peja-Gjakova highway) is 5.5 km.

Climate

Junik has a

continental climate Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), typi ...

, but with some Mediterranean features. This climate is suitable for the cultivation of various agricultural crops. The average monthly temperature is in July and in January.

Hydrology

The Erenik river is the largest and most important in the region, which also serves as a source of water for the irrigation of the Junik field.

Demographics

According to the last census of 2024 by the

Kosovo Agency of Statistics The Kosovo Agency of Statistics ('', ACK;'' ) is the national statistics bureau of Kosovo. It was officially established in 1948, but restarted working as an independent agency in 1999. After Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, the '' ...

, Junik has 3,943 inhabitants.

Ethnicity

Of Junik’s 3,943 residents, an overwhelming 99.87% are ethnic

Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...

, reflecting a highly homogeneous population.

Notable people

Luan Krasniqi Luan Krasniqi (born 10 May 1971) is a German-Albanian actor and former professional boxer. He held the European heavyweight title and also challenged for the WBO world heavyweight title. Background Krasniqi is the youngest of eight children to ...

* Robin Krasniqi *

Din Mehmeti Din Mehmeti (1932 – 12 November 2010) was an Albanian poet from Kosovo. He was among the best-known classical representatives of contemporary verse in Kosovo. Career Mehmeti was born in 1932 in Gjocaj, Junik, near Gjakova, Kosovo, and attended ...

References

External links

{{Authority control Populated places in Kosovo Cities in Kosovo Municipalities of Kosovo