Rugova ( or ) is a mountain region located to the north-west of the city of

Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...

, in

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 ...

. In 2013, it was designated a national park by the Parliament of

. Rugova is an ethnographically diverse region, with great importance for the literary branches of lexicology, etymology and onomastics. Rugova is a suitable region for hiking, skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, and picnics. It was ranked as the fourth most important center for winter sports by the

International Ski Federation The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, also known as FIS (), is the highest international governing body for skiing and snowboarding. It was previously known as the International Ski Federation () until 26 May 2022 when the name was cha ...

(ISF). Furthermore, in April 2013,

won the "Tourism for Tomorrow" award for the project, "Peaks of the Balkans". Rugova is rich with many landform elements such as caves, waterfalls, glacial lakes, high peaks, and tunnels. The highest peak is

Hajla Hajla ( or ''Hajla''; sr-Cyrl, Хајла) is a mountain located between the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. It has several peaks that reach over , the tallest with a hight of . The northern slopes contains the spring formation of the Ibar ri ...

at . From Qafa e Qyqes (Cuchoo's Neck) it is possible to observe the whole city of Peja.

Guri i Kuq Guri i Kuq ( or ''Guri i Verdhë''; , ''Žuti kamen'', translated as "red rock or yellow rock") is a mountain in the Accursed Mountains in Kosovo. Reaching a height of high, it is one of the highest mountains in the range.Gjeravica,

Trekufiri Trekufiri (also known as ''Tromedja'' or Тромеђа in Montenegrin Cyrillic), is a mountain located in the Albanian Alps and the Bogićevica range. Perched at above sea level, its summit marks the border where Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegr ...

, Maja e Mariashit (Mariashi Peak), Maja e Hekurave (Iron Peak), Shkëlzeni and

Lake Plav Lake Plav (; ) is a lake in Plav municipality, in northeastern Montenegro.Jezera i rijeke
Montenegro Travel

. Maja e Vjelakut is also a high peak at . A

via ferrata A via ferrata (Italian language, Italian for "iron path", plural ''vie ferrate'' or in English ''via ferratas'') is a protected climbing route found in the Alps and certain other Alpine locations. The protection includes steel fixtures such as ...

(iron path) starts from Peja, and is the only one in 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 ...

. Rugova offers good living conditions even though the number of residents has dramatically decreased.

Etymology

The term "Rugovë" derives from the word "rrugë" which means "street", as a lot of very important roads have crossed this region. The only route that connected

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 ...

with

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 ...

went through Rugova. The oldest name "Shtupel" dates back to 1292, and it represented two of Rugova's villages: Shtupeqi i madh and Shtupeqi i vogël. The meaning of this nomenclature comes from the word "stëp" which means an individual involved in the making of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.) All the village names in Rugova are rooted in the

Albanian language Albanian (Endonym and exonym, endonym: , , or ) is an Indo-European languages, Indo-European language and the only surviving representative of the Albanoid, Albanoid branch, which belongs to the Paleo-Balkan languages, Paleo-Balkan group. It ...

. For example, the village of Dugave (now part of

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

) is derived from the word ''duka'' ("duke", Latin: ''dux''); Kuqishtë is named after the red rocks and stones that can be found in this area; Reka e Allagës is derived from a noble in the region of

Rožaje Rožaje ( Bosnian: ''Rožaje''; , ; , ) is a town located in the Northern Region of Montenegro, situated along the Ibar river. The town is the cultural center of the Bosniaks in Montenegro. As of 2023, the town has a population of 13,608 inhabi ...

, and Stankaj from Stank Nika, who was very famous. The incursions of Slavic, and later, Ottoman, conquerors has meant many places have changed names over the centuries, as the power of various empires grew and waned. Place names are based on features such as: *Natural: Gropa e Borës, Kërshi i Madh, Qafa e Deshve, Neqinati *Ethnographic: Guri i Nuses, Qafa e Dasmorëve, Livadhi i Gjakut, Sheu i Qyqes *Historical: Kodra e Trimave, Vorret e Shehitëve, Hajla e Keqe *Native: Bjeshkët e Kelmendit, Bregu i Kishës, Kroi i Nikçve, Maja e Nikë Dedës, Lugu i Shkodrës, Qafa e Rexhajve *Masterly: Maja e Lopëve, Guri i Çobanit, Llazet e Kuajve, Kërshi i Cjapit, Shpella e Martinit Rugova is enriched with new toponyms every now and then, for example, Kodra e Shkollës and Lëndina e Shkollës.

Geography

Rugova is at a latitude of 42°44’ N and a longitude of 20°3’ E, and it is from

Pristina Pristina or Prishtina ( , ), . is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and District of Pristina, district. In antiquity, the area of Pristina was part of the Dardanian Kingdo ...

, the capital of Kosovo. It covers a territory of 20,330 hectares, and from east to west it extends for . Rugova lies between the mountains of

, Shtëdim, Lumbardh and

Kopranik Kopranik (, ) is a mountain with a height of in Kosovo. Kopranik is part of the Albanian Alps. At the northern slopes of the mountain is the Rugova Canyon which is a popular tourist destination in the Accursed Mountains The Accursed Mountain ...

. The Peja's Lumbardh splits the mountains in half, forming a valley and a canyon ( Rugova Gorge). Eighty-five percent of the territory is covered by forests, while fifteen percent is alpine pasture. The terrain is rugged, with steep limestone slopes and deep, narrow, erosive gorges. The mountains have a slope of 15–30°, but occasionally reach 45–90°. The terrain contains various

karst Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...

ic features such as caves, natural tunnels, waterfalls, and glacial lakes. The region of Rugova is divided into 13 villages (Shtupeqi i Vogël, Shtupeqi i Madh, Reka e Allagës, Drelaj, Pepaj, Malaj, Kuqishtë, Dugaivë, Haxhaj, Stankaj, Bogë, Shkrel dhe Koshutan) and five small neighbourhoods (Llaz, Bellopaq, Pecaj, Ujëmirë, Dreshaj). These villages are apart. Many important roads pass through Rugova: Shkodra's valley connects Rugova with

Tropojë Tropojë (; sq-definite, Tropoja) is a municipality in Kukës County, northeastern Albania, within the historical ethnographic region of the Gjakova Highlands. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Bajram Curri, Bujan, By ...

and

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...

, Qafa e Çakorrit leads to Plav and

Gusinje Gusinje (, ; ) is a small town in Montenegro in the northern region. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 1,673 and is the administrative center of Gusinje Municipality. Name Two alternative etymologies have been proposed ...

, Qafa e Dasmorëve connects to

, and Qafa e Hajlës with Dacaj and Husaj.

Climate

Rugova has a wet, continental climate that is influenced by the mountains, short and hot summers, and long and harsh winters. Spring is late, and the seasons change quickly. The high level of precipitation is a result of clashes between the tropical and continental climates. Maximum precipitation is in December, , and minimum in July, . The annual minimum and maximum are and , respectively. Snow is present on the peaks until August, with a depth ranging from to . The average temperatures in the region are: to in the spring; to in the summer; in the fall; and to in the winter.

Flora

Rugova has a multitude of habitats such as meadows and pastures, subalpine and alpine scrub brush, forest oak, beech and coniferous trees, foothills, pit slopes, streams and ravines, river water, fountain wells, caves, karst pits, wet soil, limestone, acids with , coastlines, massive rocks, and shed stones. The variety of habitats indicates a high diversity of vegetation. Rugosa has flora that is typical of central Europe at high altitudes, but it also has plants that are unique to the Balkans. The region is composed of four zones:

Oak forest zone

The oak forest zone lies at . It mainly occupies the lower part of the region and is represented by mulberry ( ''Morus''), oak (''

Quercus An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisp ...

''), and Qarri. There is also hop hornbeam (''

Ostrya carpinifolia ''Ostrya carpinifolia'', the European hop-hornbeam, is a tree in the family Betulaceae. It is the only species of the genus ''Ostrya'' that is native to Europe. The specific epithet ''carpinifolia'' means "hornbeam-leaved", from , the Latin word ...

''), maple (''

Acer monspessulanum ''Acer monspessulanum'', the Montpellier maple, is a species of maple native to the Mediterranean region from Morocco and Portugal in the west, to Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel in the east, and north to the Jura Mountains in France and the ...

''), and ash (''

Fraxinus ''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus of plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae, and comprises 45–65 species of usually medium-to-large trees, most of which are deciduous trees, although some Subtropics, subtropical specie ...

'').

Herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

plants include Tërfil (

Clover Clovers, also called trefoils, are plants of the genus ''Trifolium'' (), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with the highest diversit ...

), Vjollcë (

Violet Violet may refer to: Common meanings * Violet (color), a spectral color with wavelengths shorter than blue * One of a list of plants known as violet, particularly: ** ''Viola'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants Places United States * Vi ...

), vetch (

Vicia ''Vicia'' is a genus of over 240 species of flowering plants that are part of the legume family (Fabaceae), and which are commonly known as vetches. Member species are native to Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Some other g ...

), Flokëzi, sweet-clover (

Melilotus ''Melilotus'', known as melilot or sweet clover is a genus of legumes in the family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The genus is closely related to ''Trifolium'' (clovers). Several species are common grassland plants and weeds of ...

), and Zhabinat.

Beech forest zone

The beech zone lies above the oak zone, at a height of , but it can be found in lower areas as well. The forest in this zone has been harvested for use as coal and for heating. Therefore, the forest is young, with thin trees and shrubs. Low vegetation is rare and favors the growth of

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

Coniferous forest zone

The

coniferous Conifers () are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a sin ...

zone reaches up to in altitude, making it the highest limit of tree vegetation. These forests are composed of black pine, white spruce, and black spruce. Coniferous forests are dense, and the plant cover is composed of kserofile (

xerophyte A xerophyte () is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water. Examples of xerophytes include cacti, pineapple and some gymnosperm plants. The morphology and physiology of xerophytes are adapted to ...

) vegetation that favours fungi growth.

plants include Fiershqipja (

Pteridophyte A pteridophyte is a vascular plant (with xylem and phloem) that reproduces by means of spores. Because pteridophytes produce neither flowers nor seeds, they are sometimes referred to as " cryptogams", meaning that their means of reproduction is ...

), strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

Alpine pasture zone

This zone is characteristically lacking in forest. This zone is mainly composed of herbaceous plants and shrubs. The main species are: *Fam.

Graminaceae Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in ...

– grasses (Flokësi, Fleumi i alpeve, barëgjaku) *Fam.

Papilionaceae The Faboideae are a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. An acceptable alternative name for the subfamily is Papilionoideae, or Papilionaceae when this group of plants is treated as a family. This subfamily is widely ...

– clover (Tërfili i alpeve) *Fam.

Compositae Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...

(Njëmijëfletëshi, Shmanga, Asteri, Pelini) *Fam.

Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus '' Rosa''. The family includes herbs, shrubs, and trees. Most species are deciduous, but som ...

– roses (Zorreca or Potentilla apenina) *Fam.

Campanula ''Campanula'' () is the type genus of the Campanulaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. ''Campanula'' are commonly known as bellflowers and take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers—''campanula'' i ...

– bellflowers (Lule këmbana, C.Albanica) *Fam.

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older but equally valid) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important Family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous pla ...

(Boronica e zezë, Boronica e kuqe, Rrushi i Arushës) *Fam.

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

*Fam.

Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranth ...

– carnations (Bari i egër or Festuca sp) *Fam.

Campanulaceae The family Campanulaceae (also bellflower family), of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky sap. Among them are several familiar garden plants bel ...

(Xhufka and Shtara) The types of vegetation are: # Oak forest, # Beech Forest, # Coniferous forest (Rrobulli), # Broadleaf forest # Mediterranean Coniferous forest # Mesophyte Herbaceous plants #

Xerophyte A xerophyte () is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water. Examples of xerophytes include cacti, pineapple and some gymnosperm plants. The morphology and physiology of xerophytes are adapted to ...

Herbaceous plants '' Campanula foliosa'' is a perennial plant that grows in subalpine meadows and forests. In Rugova, this plant can be found in Neqinat. '' Phyteuma orbiculare'' is a perennial herb of alpine pastures. In Rugova it is found on the peak of Rusolia. '' Asyneuma trichocalycinum'' is a perennial herb of subalpine forests. This plant is also found in Neqinat.

Fauna

Rugova includes a variety of habitats, suitable for an abundance of living organisms. Domestic animals, such as sheep, horses, donkeys, and mules, are also of great importance in Rugova, . Colored sheep

Birds in the Rugova region include: *

Golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of pr ...

(''Aquila chrysaetos'') * Rock partridge (''Alectoris greaca'') * Griffin vulture (''Gyps fulvus'') *

Rock dove The rock dove (''Columba livia''), also sometimes known as "rock pigeon" or "common pigeon", is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although the rock dov ...

(''Columba livia'') *

Common cuckoo The cuckoo, common cuckoo, European cuckoo or Eurasian cuckoo (''Cuculus canorus'') is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the Geococcyx, roadrunners, the ani (bird), anis and the coucals. This species is a widesp ...

(''Cuculus canorus'') *

Little owl The little owl (''Athene noctua''), also known as the owl of Athena or owl of Minerva, is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, the Palearctic east to Korea, and North Africa. It was introduced into Britain at t ...

(''Carine noctua'') * European green woodpecker (''Picus viridis'') *

Common raven The common raven or northern raven (''Corvus corax'') is a large all-black passerine bird. It is the most widely distributed of all Corvidae, corvids, found across the Northern Hemisphere. There are 11 accepted subspecies with little variatio ...

(''Corvus corax'') *

Hooded crow The hooded crow (''Corvus cornix''), also colloquially called just hoodie, is a Eurasian bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. Widely distributed, it is found across Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as parts of the Middle E ...

(''Corvua cornix'') *

House sparrow The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the Old World sparrow, sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pa ...

(''Passer domesticus'') *

Booted eagle The booted eagle (''Hieraaetus pennatus'', also classified as ''Aquila pennata'') is a medium-sized mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution in the Palearctic and southern Asia, wintering in the tropics of Africa and Asia, with a ...

(''Hieraaetus pennatus'') * Common chaffinch (''Fringilla coelebs'') *

(''Passer domesticum'') *

Eurasian sparrowhawk The Eurasian sparrowhawk (''Accipiter nisus''), also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adult male Eurasian sparrowhawks have bluish grey upperparts and orange-barred ...

(''Accipiter nisus'') Insects of Rugova include: *Ditëshkurtët, *Flatrafortët dhe *Fluturat (

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

) Fish that can be found are : *

Brown trout The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a species of salmonid ray-finned fish and the most widely distributed species of the genus ''Salmo'', endemic to most of Europe, West Asia and parts of North Africa, and has been widely introduced globally ...

''(Salmo trutta fario'') *Troftë Mali e bujanash lumore (a river trout, '' Salmo trutta macrostigma'') * Marble trout (''Salmo marmoratus cuver'') *

Gudgeon A gudgeon is a socket-like, cylindrical (i.e., ''female'') fitting attached to one component to enable a pivoting or hinging connection to a second component. The second component carries a pintle fitting, the male counterpart to the gudgeon, ...

(''Gobio gobio lepidolaemus'')

Hydrography

Rugova consists of a very dense water network. Although limestone does not favor the presence of groundwater, it can contain large amounts of water underground. In the southern part of the area is the glacial Kuqishta Lake (), which is filled with fresh water during all seasons, and Drelaj Lake (), which dries up during the hot summer. Some lakes are also found in the northern part of the area, but all of them are unstable. Water sources in Haxhaj, and at the foot of Jelenku peak, gather in Kuqishtë and create the

Lumbardhi i Pejës The Lumbardhi i Pejës, or Peja Bistrica or Peć Bistrica (; ), is a river in Kosovo. This 62 km-long right tributary to the White Drin river flows entirely within the south-western part of Kosovo. Name The river's name, Lumbardh, litera ...

, which is the water source for the region. The White Drin waterfall is located at the mouth of the White Drin River. It is high and is located at the 6th kilometer of the canyon. On the northern side of the river, are the following landmarks: * Gurra e Saku Ramës (a fountain) and Shentë e Pepajve at the 18th kilometer. * Gërka e Koshutanit, gathers the water of three villages, and the so-called Sheun e keq, in the 17th kilometer. * Sheu i Rek Allagës, which collects water from the Fountain of Hajlës and from three villages, and then flows into the river. * Sheu i Nikçve which brings water from Lugu i Shtedimit and Sheu i Llazeve, passes by two corn mills and flows into the river at the 13th kilometer. * The river of Shushica is in the east part of the region, and flows into the

Drin River The Drin (; or ; ) is a river in Southeastern Europe with two major tributaries – the White Drin and the Black Drin and two distributary, distributaries – one discharging into the Adriatic Sea, in the Gulf of Drin and the other into the ...

(Drini i Bardhë). * Small streams flow from the southern part of the region, for example, Sheu i Llazit të mullinit, flows into the river at the 19th kilometer. * Sheu i Përvarës, which brings water from Lumbardhi and Guri i Kuq, and flows into the river. * The Milisheva river flows into the Lumbardhi river at the 4th kilometer. These streams are very strong, especially during the rainy seasons spring, autumn, and at the end of winter, and cause erosion along the stream and river beds. The water in these streams is potable, especially at the beginning of their flows. The many rivers and streams contribute to sports and tourism in these regions.

Speleology

There are caves all over Rugova, although they have not been fully explored. The caves have been shelters for refugees, not only from Rugova, but Albanians from all areas. Some of the largest caves are: Karamakazi Cave (3rd kilometer), Cave of Ruta e Gurrës (Drelaj), Great Cave, and Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave in the northeast of Rugova. The great Canyon Cave one of the most interesting caves in the region. Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave is the most studied cave and the biggest. At depths of , Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave has corridors with water. At greater depths, there are three small lakes. A human femur bone was found in the cave which is estimated to be over 2.40 m and a container with a capacity of 80-100L. Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave can hold about 30,000 people, similar to the population of Peja at that time.

Morphometry

During the

Ice Age An ice age is a long period of reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Earth's climate alternates between ice ages, and g ...

, the Albanian Alps were covered with ice up to Vermosh, the northernmost village in Rugova. The layer of ice was thicker in Rugova, compared to the other mountain regions in Kosovo. Therefore, there are more glacial forms, especially in the crests of the mountains where

glacial lake A glacial lake is a body of water with origins from glacier activity. They are formed when a glacier erodes the land and then melts, filling the depression created by the glacier. Formation Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,0 ...

s formed, such as Lake Kuqishta and Lake Drelaj. Much of the glacier melted into the Mbushtria River, and into the Lumbardhi and Ibri rivers in Rozhaja, forming regions of thick, stratified

moraine A moraine is any accumulation of unconsolidated debris (regolith and Rock (geology), rock), sometimes referred to as glacial till, that occurs in both currently and formerly glaciated regions, and that has been previously carried along by a gla ...

. The Peja glacier which was long, formed the Rugova Gorge, leaving large amounts of moraine material, , which was the biggest moraine in the Balkans region. Low relief settlements along the Mbushtria river include Shtupeqi i Madh and Kuqishta village. Shaped pit settlements include Drelaj, Koshutan, Haxhaj and Llaz-Bellopaqi, which is the deepest pit in the region, formed by tectonic movements or it might be a crater of a volcano. Kuqishta and Shkreli are in the form of hills. Shtupeqi i Madh is on a valley slope, Pepaj, Malaj and Shtupeqi i Vogël are on steep slopes, and Dugaiva is on a plateau. Rugova is an area of natural hazards such as landslides, rock slides and collapses. Rugova gorge

At the ninth kilometer is the area where an avalanche started, from Bjeshka e Lumbardhit, crossed the river Mbushtria, and blocked the road with snow. Meanwhile, at the fifteenth kilometer, an avalanche occurs periodically. In 1982, due to deforestation, a large avalanche went through the village of Koshutan, and 11 residents died.

History

Early history

The Balkans have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There are signs that Rugova has been populated since the time when people lived in caves. This was proven by the discovery of a man's femur, found in the Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave, and by a

petroglyph A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...

. Because this region has not been studied extensively, its earliest history is known mostly through local traditions.

Medieval and Ottoman Period

The earliest official documents about Rugova are from the 13th century but this area was heavily populated only two centuries later. After the invasion of the Balkans by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

(1389), Rugova was part of the

Sanjak of Scutari The Sanjak of Scutari or Sanjak of Shkodra (; ; or ''İşkodra Sancağı'') was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire. It was established after the Ottoman Empire acquired Shkodra after the siege of Shkodra in 1478–9. It was part of th ...

. From the 16th century, it was part of the Sanjak of Dukagjin. Rugova became a part of the Kosovo Vilayet after the new administrative division in the 19th century. The region had a kind of autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. They were exempted from the obligations of the Ottoman government, but time after time there were conflicts between the natives and the invaders. In 1638, the Ottoman Empire in Rugova sent an army of 15,000 soldiers to invade this region. However, their attempt was unsuccessful and the Ottomans were forced to turn back. Eleven years after that, in 1649, highlanders attacked the Meduni's castle. Three days after the attack they occupied it and won more autonomy. The fighting restarted in 1700, when the High Porte charged the Pasha of Peja to vanquish Rugova, resulting in 274 families being displaced from Rugova to Peshter,

Novi Pazar Novi Pazar ( sr-cyr, Нови Пазар) is a List of cities in Serbia, city located in the Raška District of southwestern Serbia. As of the 2022 census, the urban area has 71,462 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 106,720 inha ...

. The Rugovians opposed the Ottoman Empire by participating in the Austro-Turkish War in 1737–1739. However, their greatest contribution was given for the National Movement.

The Albanian National Movement

Rugovians were always ready to fight for freedom. They participated in the Assembly of the

League of Prizren The League of Prizren (), officially the League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation (), was an Albanian political organization that was officially founded on June 10, 1878 in the old town of Prizren in the Kosovo Vilayet of th ...

in 1878 (representatives: Sali Jaha, Çelë Shabani), and were crucial to the Battle of Noksic, which was the first victory of the League. They also participated in the

League of Peja The League of Peja (), also known as League of İpek or Besa-Besë (Pledge for a Pledge) between Albanians, was an Albanian political organization established in 1899 in the city of İpek (now Peja), Kosovo Vilayet, Ottoman Empire. It was led by ...

in 1899 (11 representatives), and the Assembly of "Verrat e Llukes" in 1903 (two representatives). Rugovians had a key role in an armed uprising in 1904, which included

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 ...

. Following the rejection of the Young Turk revolution in 1908, Rugovians found themselves facing the Ottoman army which was equipped with 24 cannons. Rugova was also involved in the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...

. On 28 November 1912, Rugova sent 60 villagers in support of Albanian Independence. After the London Conference of Ambassadors in 1913, Kosovo was separated from Albania. In the

Second Balkan War The Second Balkan War was a conflict that broke out when Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia and Kingdom of Greece, Greece, on 1 ...

, 1913–1914, the region changed from Albanian (late Ottoman) to Serbian authority. From 1915 to 1918, Rugova was occupied by

Austro-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

until the Serbian government was reinstated in 1918. In 1919, an armed uprising broke out in Rugova. The natives fought against the 3rd Serbian Army. The most prominent leaders were Zhuj Selmani, Sali Rama, Ker Sadria, and Zhuk Haxhia. During these years, 410 Rugovian houses were burned, and citizens joined the Kaçak movement

World War II

Rugova was under the control of

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. During this time the first municipality was formed, headed by Zhuj Ker Bardhi, and the first Albanian school was opened. In 1942, because of the betrayal by

Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...

, the border was closed. Four defensive groups were formed, composed half of civilian and half of military members. #The band of Zhuk Haxhia #The band of Sali Rama #The band of Rizë Zymeri #The band of Sak Fazlia Among the fighters were women who defended their honour with weapons, for example, Bekë Maliqa (Bekë Alia) who killed 7 soldiers. The National Liberation Movement in Rugova had a short life because the natives had lost their faith. In November 1944, Rugova and Peja were liberated.

Rugova after World War II

With the formation of

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

, Kosovo was part of the Socialist Autonomous Province of

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

. As in any other period, there were conflicts between the Rugovians and the ruling regime. The clashes with the

communists Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, d ...

began in 1945. In Rugova, the Albanian Anti-Communist National-Democratic party was formed by the mayor, Sylë Mehmeti, who died in prison in Yugoslavia. This was the first political party in

and operated until 1952. During the Yugoslavian period, many Rugovians were active in the organization of protests and demonstrations in Kosovo. Rugova became the center of movements to stop the fighting, first in 1970, and then in 1990, when a Reconciliation Committee was founded by Anton Çetta. Rugovians rejected Serbian authority in the areas of schools, electrification, and other institutions, so there were many political prisoners. In the 1990s, the

Democratic League of Kosovo The Democratic League of Kosovo (, LDK) is the oldest and one of the largest list of political parties in Kosovo, political parties in Kosovo. History During the late 1980s, nationalism was on the rise throughout the Socialist Federal Republi ...

(LDK), the Association of Intellectuals, Humanitarian Association for the Return of Displaced Albanians were formed.

Kosovo War

In earlier wars, Rugova had been a shelter for patriots such as

Hasan Prishtina Hasan bey Prishtina, (born Hasan Berisha; 27 September 1873 – 13 August 1933), was an Ottoman, later Albanian, politician who served as the 8th prime minister of Albania in December 1921. Biography Family and early life In his memoirs, Pris ...

and Haxhi Zeka. Similarly, during the

Kosovo War The Kosovo War (; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Косовски рат, Kosovski rat) was an armed conflict in Kosovo that lasted from 28 February 1998 until 11 June 1999. It ...

, Rugova played a major role in sheltering those who were left homeless, and were seeking for a way to get into Montenegro and Albania. Rugova also had a branch of the

Kosovo Liberation Army The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA; , UÇK) was an Albanians, ethnic Albanian separatist militia that sought the separation of Kosovo, the vast majority of which is inhabited by Albanians, from the Republic of Serbia (1992–2006), Republic of R ...

(KLA), commanded by Salih Lajçi, known as "The 136 Rugova Brigade". During the war there were continuous attacks and confrontations, burning of houses, and killings. Some families, were able to keep their lands, and helped the KLA by supplying food, medicines, and other necessities. Many locals helped by supplying weapons. The Rugovian lawyer, Bajram Kelmendi, was the first to press charges in the Hague against

Slobodan Milošević Slobodan Milošević ( sr-Cyrl, Слободан Милошевић, ; 20 August 1941 – 11 March 2006) was a Yugoslav and Serbian politician who was the President of Serbia between 1989 and 1997 and President of the Federal Republic of Yugos ...

. Rugova suffered major damage in the war and lost its most notable citizens.

Demography

Ethnically, Rugova is a pure area with a population of approximately 100 inhabitants known as

Gheg Albanian Gheg or Geg (Gheg Albanian: ''gegnisht'', Standard ) is one of the two major varieties of Albanian, the other being Tosk. The geographic dividing line between the two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Alba ...

s who came from Kelmend (Malësia e Madhe). Therefore, the population is divided into tribes who are part of the Kelmend region: Lajç, Nikç, Muriq, Vukël and Selcë. According to legend, the tribes were created by the four sons of the tribe leader, with the origin from Bishtanini. The sons of Nikë Deda came to the land of Rugova, and they gave the villages names that reflected their origins, such as Drelaj from Dreli, Stankaj from Stank, Pepaj (Pepiq) from Pepi, Nokshiq from Noku. However, some people settled here because of the feud. The first official census dates back to 1484, found in documents of the Ottoman Empire for Shkodra. According to these documents, during the 15th century Rugova had 69 houses with 114 inhabitants. There are also data for some villages that were separate from Rugova: Shtupeq had 38 houses and Boga had 2 houses. For more than 436 years, there is no data on the population. Because of the hostilities with the regime, inhabitants frequently boycotted registrations. Since 1921, villages organized censuses themselves, as shown in the table: A lot of emigration out of Rugova occurred because of war. The greatest effect was after World War II and, especially, after the 1960s when pressure from the Yugoslavian regime increased.

Life in Rugova

Rugova was part of Sanjak of Scutari which was isolated from the rest of the Ottoman Empire. For a long period of time, they could trade only with Shkodra. However, starting in 1959, Rugova belonged to the municipality of

. The tribal organization of Rugova had changed little since medieval times since the only law was the Kanun of Lek Dukagjini, codified in the 15th century, which governed the entire lifestyle. House-like towers held 50–70 members, and each house had its own family background which determined how they were treated by society, whether with great honour or humiliation. Rugovans are mostly involved with livestock farming, though their lifestyle has gone through changes. Long ago, many families had up to 1000 sheep, and 50 cows and horses. During the winter, nomadic shepherds would move to the Dukagjin Region and in Peshter,

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 ...

for months until the winter was over. The head shepherd was an illiterate and a self-taught veterinarian. Holiday cabins at Rugova

Due to the physical barriers in the area, Rugovians would only marry within their mountain territory. However, they would never marry someone from their own tribe. These traditions have changed in recent times. Rugovian nights were characterized by gatherings of men in oda (chambers) where traditional games were played and songs were sung to instruments such as the lahuta and çiftelia. The odas were lighted only by pine or kerosene lamps until 1983, when Rugovians rejected the Yugoslav government and electrified the region. The typical Rugovian woman has an important role in the family; they are treated equally to men and often fight next to their men during war. At times, women rejected their female role and took on the role of men. These women were called burrnesha; they changed their names, did not marry, attended odas, and led their families, similar to the

Amazons The Amazons (Ancient Greek: ', singular '; in Latin ', ') were a people in Greek mythology, portrayed in a number of ancient epic poems and legends, such as the Labours of Hercules, Labours of Heracles, the ''Argonautica'' and the ''Iliad''. ...

of mythology. Apart from housework and raising children, women were traditionally involved in handcrafting, and sewing clothes and qylyms (rugs). Rugovians celebrate Spring day,

Saint George's Day Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, regions, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, England, Ethiopia, Greece, Georgia, Port ...

(Shengjergj) and they are highly devoted to their traditional games.

Religion

Rugovians are not thought to have been very religious historically, and have not been particularly concerned with the difference between being Muslim or Catholic. Their practice is filled with many elements of paganism. Nevertheless, until 1703, there were no traces of

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

, whereas other regions had already converted to that religion. In the 20th century, the Rugovians struggled to protect their religion and refused to convert to Orthodoxy. Hundreds of Rugovians died in these wars. All of the 13 villages had churches until they were destroyed by the Ottomans. The first mosque was built in Drelaj in 1915, the second in Koshutan, and the third one in Shtupeq i Vogel. The first imam was Mulla Sylë Rugova. All of the imams of Rugova's mosque, lived in Peja. Today in Rugova, there is one church in Kuqishte and the remaining mosques are in Drelaj and Shtupeq i Vogel. Also, Peja's Patriarchate, a Serbian Orthodox monastery, is situated at the entrance of Rugova Canyon. It was built in the 13th century, and is the spiritual seat of Serbian archbishops. Since 2003, it has been protected by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

. Before that, it was protected for more than 300 years by a Rugovian family with the title "vojvoda", meaning "sentry".

Culture and tradition

The Cursed Mountains in general, and Rugova in particular, are known for traditions and customs. These traditions are seen in their costume, dance, dialect, and traditional games. Cultural investments in the area have grown steadily. The amphitheatre in Malaj has been restored, and is currently being used for cultural meetings, and the amphitheatre in Reka e Allages is used for "Film Fest" presentations. Traditional foods that continue to be prepared include

flia Flia or flija ( Albanian indefinite form: fli) is an Albanian dish typical of northern Albania and of the cuisine of Kosovo. It consists of multiple crêpe-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream and butter. The name transla ...

, leqeniku (cornbread), shëllira, maza e zier and cheese produced by traditional methods by local farmers.

Costumes

''Main Page: Traditional clothing of Kosovo'' Veshja1

Rugova has its own traditional costumes and there are significant regional differences in women's clothing. Women's dress is filled with embroidery and beads with different colors and symbols. It consists of a tufted caul with short sleeves. A dress is worn over that,

embroidered Embroidery is the art of decorating Textile, fabric or other materials using a Sewing needle, needle to stitch Yarn, thread or yarn. It is one of the oldest forms of Textile arts, textile art, with origins dating back thousands of years across ...

with 120 parts, combined with a belt. A black vest is worn over the caul, called a kracë. Qystek (a golden chain) goes around the neck and reaches to the waist. An apron is worn over the other articles of clothing. On the front apron are handkerchiefs, and on the back, are pështjellaku with a shoke circling the waist. Rugova Man

A red

headscarf A headscarf is a scarf covering most or all of the top of a person's, usually women's, hair and head, leaving the face uncovered. A headscarf is formed of a triangular cloth or a square cloth folded into a triangle, with which the head is cov ...

is placed on the head, black sleeves from wrist to elbow, and black socks.

Leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning (leather), tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffal ...

shoes are worn by both men and women. Men wear white woolen pants (tirqi) with a caul, sash, vest and a black tunic (xhurdi). The qeleshe is a felt hat that is seen all over Albania. Men also wear a white scarf (maud) on their heads. It is over three meters long and is worn from age 7 until death. The maud is used as a burial shroud after death. Examples of tirqi in other parts of the world are

braies Braies are a type of trouser worn by Celtic and Germanic tribes in antiquity and by Europeans subsequently into the Middle Ages. In the later Middle Ages they were used exclusively as undergarments. Braies generally hung to the knees or mi ...

Gaul Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...

and the

kilt A kilt ( ) is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill-woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish Highland dress for men, it is first r ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

which resemble the Bavarian kilotons.

Pyrrhic Dance

The Pyrrhic Dance (or Warrior Dance of Rugova) has traditionally been performed by mountain dwellers. This dance was based on the

Korybantes According to Greek mythology, the Korybantes or Corybantes (also Corybants) (; ) were the armed and crested dancers who worshipped the Phrygian goddess Cybele with drumming and dancing. They are also called the ''Kurbantes'' in Phrygia. Etymology ...

(guards of the baby

Zeus Zeus (, ) is the chief deity of the List of Greek deities, Greek pantheon. He is a sky father, sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is the child ...

). The Korybantes prevented

Cronus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Cronus, Cronos, or Kronos ( or ; ) was the leader and youngest of the Titans, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (mythology), Uranus (Sky). He overthrew his father and ruled dur ...

from finding the place where his son, Zeus, was hidden, by clashing their swords to cover the cries of the baby.

Dorians The Dorians (; , , singular , ) were one of the four major ethnic groups into which the Greeks, Hellenes (or Greeks) of Classical Greece divided themselves (along with the Aeolians, Achaeans (tribe), Achaeans, and Ionians). They are almost alw ...

took this dance to

Sparta Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the Evrotas Valley, valley of Evrotas (river), Evrotas rive ...

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

danced it before attacking

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

, and

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

, after his stay in

Illyria In classical and late antiquity, Illyria (; , ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; , ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians. The Ancient Gree ...

, made the dance known in

. The Albanologist, Thelloczi, asserts that Illyrians danced with swords in their hands as Albanians do today. Women dance with handkerchieves. There is also a combined dance in which women and men dance together.

Music

Rugova has homophonic music, similar to the North Albanian region. Music is present in the life of Rugovians, not only at weddings and other important events, but also in daily life. Men used to sing during the meetings in the odas and women while doing their daily work. Music was also played at funerals when a brave and outstanding person died; this kind of singing was considered a particular privilege. Rugova has 54 epic songs dedicated to its heroes. The most characteristic instruments are the lahuta (lute), the çiftelia and the sharkia. The first man known to play the lahuta was Hysen Selman Husaj (1791–1876). One of the most important types of traditional singing in this area is top-side singing (majekrahu song). In the past top-side singing was used as a way of communication from one hill to another. A particular musical piece, the Vallja e Rugoves (Dance of Rugova) is heard at weddings all over Kosovo and

Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms. It is a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical kingdom. It was first recognized as a distinct region ...

. The Pyrrhic dance is performed with this instrumental.

Traditional Games

Games have an important place in the culture of Rugova. Every August, residents and immigrants come together to play, dance, and sing, and demonstrate their physical skills. Only men play in these games; there are judges, and awards for the winners. The traditional games have six components:

Climbing up a pole

The goal is to climb an wooden pole (shilor) and touch the top as soon as possible, without any climbing aids. The one who reaches the top in the shortest period of time is declared the winner.

Stone throw

The participants throw a stone which weighs about . The one who throws the stone the furthest is the winner. This discipline originated in antiquity and it was played by the Illyrians. The game called rrasa, which means "shoot by hand" and is played only by shepherds, also comes from antiquity. The symbolism of this game comes from the saying, "Do not touch my land, my stones will judge you".

Arm Wrestling

There is a special table for this game. Two participants compete against each other, so the race is organized using an elimination system. The game was played by

Skanderbeg Gjergj Kastrioti (17 January 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanians, Albanian Albanian nobility, feudal lord and military commander who led Skanderbeg's rebellion, a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania, ...

when he returned from Kruja. Because of this, in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

it is called the "Skanderbeg Game".

Wrestling

Free style wrestling is another game. A regular fight lasts for five minutes, but can continue for two more. For every victory, the participant collects points and at the end, the winner is declared based on the collected points.

The shot-put

This game is based on the throw of a llastar stick ( long with a diameter of about ). The participants throw it using only their hands. The winner is the one who throws the llastar the farthest.

Tug-of-war

Each team in this game consists of five members. The rope is thick and about in length, with a flag in the middle. The team that can pull the rope and the flag to their side is the winner. Usually, this is a competition between two tribes, two villages, or two families.

Dialect

The dominant dialect in the region is

Gheg Gheg or Geg (Gheg Albanian: ''gegnisht'', Standard ) is one of the two major varieties of Albanian, the other being Tosk. The geographic dividing line between the two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Alba ...

, with the exception of the diphthong "ua" and certain verbal traits that belong to the

Tosk Tosk ( sq-definite, toskërishtja) is the southern group of dialects of the Albanian language, spoken by the ethnographic group known as Tosks. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg (the northern variety) is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is ...

dialect. In composition it uses the Shkodra's dialect; the biggest difference is in the vowels. The letter a is more pronounced, which in articulation sounds like o. In some cases the letter a switches to i, for example "livdoj" instead of "lavdëroj" and "gjimoj" instead of "gjëmoj". The letter e vanishes while talking, for example, "çuditshe" instead of "çuditeshe" and "skuqshe" instead of "skuqeshe". The letter ë is only used before some consonants and in the accusative case. Other notable features are nasalization and denasalization, which means that nasal vowels predominate. Diphthongs are used with the exception of the "oe" which is not heard at all.

Education

For a long period of time, education was in the

Serbian language Serbian (, ) is the standard language, standardized Variety (linguistics)#Standard varieties, variety of the Serbo-Croatian language mainly used by Serbs. It is the official and national language of Serbia, one of the three official languages of ...

, a component of the assimilation pursued by the communists and, later, the Yugoslav government. Resistance to assimilation led to a high level of illiteracy. The majority of the population were illiterate until the first half of the 20th century. Despite these obstacles, the desire for learning was always present, and classes were held outdoors or in private homes until 1930, when the first elementary school was built in Kuqishte. In 1946, Perparimi Elementary School was opened in Drelaj. In 1952, the first high school was built in Kuqishte and in 1956, the first class of 17 pupils graduated. During the years 1947–1969, eight more schools opened, including branches of "1 Maji" High School in Haxhaj. These schools had many students. During this time, Rugovians were faced with increasing pressure from the Yugoslavs. This is seen in the burning of schools in 1953, the prohibition of income, and the attempts to close schools. Extremely valuable contributions were made by teachers, many of whom were women. Although there have been obstacles, Rugovian schools have been successful in educating generations of students. The high school, Perparimi, had its own magazine called ''Gurra'' in Albanian, which examined the problems that Kosovo faced during that period. During the Kosovo War, the school in Haxhaj was turned into a barracks for the

, while the school in Drelaj was occupied by

. Nowadays in Rugova, only the high school in Drelaj is still open, and one class in Shtupeqi i Madh. The number of pupils that attend those classes is low.

Economy

The economy of Rugova has always been based on its natural resources and labor. Livestock has played a central role. Rugova supplied the markets of Peja, Plava and

Berane Berane (Cyrillic: Беране) is a town in Montenegro in the northern region. It is former administrative centre of the Ivangrad District. The town is located on the Lim river. From 1949 to 1992, it was named Ivangrad ( cyrl, Ивангра ...

. Today, its products are only sold in the Peja markets. The forests of Rugova are a very important resource, with agriculture playing a secondary role. In the time of Yugoslavia, an agriculture cooperative was opened, generating jobs for many locals. However, with the fraying of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the cooperative was closed.

Hydropower Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, ...

has been utilized in Rugova since the end of the war. The power plant is still in operation as well as a cheese factory that is part of the same company.

Tourism

In recent years, tourism has taken off. Many factors have combined to promote tourism: the mountain climate; the area's natural beauty; the varied flora and fauna; and investments in infrastructure such as stores, hotels, and restaurants to serve and shelter the tourists. The Rock Climbing Association, Marimangat, attracts local and international tourists to the region. This association also enabled the building of a

(iron road) in 2013, the only one in the

, which makes it safer to climb, otherwise dangerous, routes. There is a "Green Path" which is used for walking and cycling around the mountains. Recently, Rugova's designation as a National Park has added to its prominence as a tourist destination. Tourism in Rugova is divided into two branches: Business tourism and household tourism.

Sports

Due to its past, sports in Rugova started developing later than in other countries. Today Rugova has several

ski areas A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area–a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North ...

(one of them is equipped with a cable car), trails for

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

, and facilities for

parachuting Parachuting and skydiving are methods of descending from a high point in an atmosphere to the ground or ocean surface with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or multiple parachutes. For hu ...

Rock climbing Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...

and

mountaineering Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas that have become mounta ...

are being developed.

Skiing

Before 1974, skiing was a part of mountaineering. Rugova is known as a cradle of skiing in Kosovo and Balkans. Rusolia was the first ski club from which were formed three other groups: Peja, Alpi and Rugova. Rusolia club has participated in the Olympic Games. The most advanced ski run is in Bogë where there are two skiing schools, Dardani and Ke Luani.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering as a sporting activity started in Peja in 1928.

Free climbing Free climbing is a form of rock climbing in which the climber can only use climbing equipment for climbing protection but not as an artificial aid to help them in ascending the route. Free climbing, therefore, cannot use any of the tools that ...

, a type of mountaineering, involves climbing without any tools in the high craggy rocks. Within the mountaineering group is the rescue group which consists of 30–40 people who help in emergencies. Mountaineers climb in four regions: * The southern side of the region (6 climbs) * The western and northern side of the region (1 climb) * From the centre to the north (3 climbs) * The northern side (2 climbs) * The eastern side (1 climb)

References

External links

Rock Climbing Association "Marimangat"

Rugova Experience
*
Kosovo Guide

Water Factory "Uje Rugove"

Peaks of the BalkansBalkan Natural Adventure

{{Kosovo topics Geography of Peja District Albanian ethnographic regions Mountains of Kosovo Gegëri Accursed Mountains Kosovo Ethnographic Regions