Vermosh
Encyclopedia
Vërmosh is the northernmost village of Albania
, a rural part of the Kelmend
municipality, District of Malësi e Madhe
.
(gore) in Serbian
and Montenegrin
), a mountain range in northern Albania that extends to southwestern Kosovo and eastern Montenegro and the highest point of which, Maja Jezercë, lies 18.8 kilometers (12 miles) south-west of Vërmosh, in the Theth
and Valbona National Parks.
Vërmosh comprises the quarters of Pjetroja—also known as Qendra ("The Center"), Velan, Bashkim ("Junction" --with the Lepushë valley), Velipojë, and Maliaj. When first explored it was called Bjeshket e Seljanave.
Its mountain pastures are called Seferçe, Smutirogë, Lugu i Dolit, Përbicë, Greben, etc.
Vërmosh is the place of the border crossing
with Montenegro
near Vjeternik on the road from Shkodra
(95 km (59 mi) away) and Koplik
to Guci/Gusinje
and Plav
/Plava in Montenegro.
The Vërmosh river appears under the Montenegrin
name of Vrmoša below the Maglič peak in the Kuči
area of eastern Montenegro, just before running into Albania.
It re-enters Montenegro at Vjeternik under the name of Grnčar.
Receiving the stream Vruje from the right in Guci/Gusinje
, it continues as the Ljuča for a few more kilometers where it empties into the Lake Plav
(Plavsko blato in Montenegrin
), creating a small delta.
There it flows out of the lake to the north, next to the mountain Visitor
, under the name Lim for the remaining 197 kilometers (122 miles) through Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
, where it joins the Drina
at the Višegrad
reservoir
.
Most of the families living there originate from Sëlca
, 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) south of Vërmosh.
Other settlers have come from places such as Kosovo
, specifically from nearby Peja
.
The regional economy is based mainly on agriculture, immigrant remittances and tourism.
There are also more than 30 kinds of medicinal and endemic plants.
Popular activities in Vërmosh include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and the "Miss Bjeshka" ("Miss Mountains") pageant.
The border was drawn in 1878 by the Berlin Congress which gave Plav
/Plava, Guci/Gusinje
, Tuzi
and Ulqin/Ulcinj
to Montenegro
at the expense of the Ottoman Empire
. Although Vermosh was there before the border was drawn. The history of Vermosh comes from the story of the three brothers Seli, Vuli, and Nili. Their names resemble the villages of Selca, Vukli, and Nikci. Some families from Vermosh have came from Gusinje
and Peje
. They have changed their last names to a Albanian-Catholic last name and have became catholic and adopted the traditions of people from Vermosh. There is a book that was written by Pero Llesh Tinaj (the brother of Fran Llesh Tinaj) that states the families who have derived from Selce and the families from Gusinje
and Peje
.
Part of the Malësor
highlanders, the local Këlmendi mountain tribe has been known for its warring tradition, mostly against foreign occupiers. It has been traditionally Catholic.
Vërmosh is the birthplace of patriots Fran Llesh Tinaj, Mema Smajli, Marash Vata, Dod Prek Nika, Gjon Preci etc.
One big local hero was Prek Cali Hasanaj, famous for fighting Slavic aggression and Communist oppressors.
Two days later, 17 year-old Pëllumb Pëllumbaj left Vërmosh to try to cross the border to Yugoslavia through Hani Hotit. He was caught and the communist party killed him and dragged his body through Shkodër
on a truck. When the people of Shkodër saw him they started arguing with the communists saying "why did you kill him, he didn't deserve to be killed"? They started rioting and the Communists had to call Albanian Communist President Ramiz Alia
and Enver Hoxha
's spouse Nexhmije Hoxha
then in Gjirokastër
.
500 people from Shkodra were killed because of the death of Pëllumb Pëllumbaj.
This also occurred in probably the same year when people from Bajza
attempted to cross the border in Vërmosh and were caught by the Communists who carried their corpses on the back of trucks through the Kelmend municipality (Selcë, Tamarë, Lëpushë, and Vërmosh) and then down to Shkodër.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, a rural part of the Kelmend
Kelmend
Kelmend is a municipality in the Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. The municipality is part of the larger Kelmend region, and consists of eight major settlements, along with several other minor settlements.- Settlements :...
municipality, District of Malësi e Madhe
Malësi e Madhe District
The Malësi e Madhe District is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Shkodër County. It has a population of 36,091 , and an area of 555 km². It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Koplik...
.
Geography
Vërmosh is part of the "Accursed Mountains" (Bjeshket e Namuna in Albanian, ProkletijeProkletije
Prokletije or Albanian Alps is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from northern Albania, to southwestern Serbia and eastern Montenegro. Its highest point, Jezercë in Albania at , is the tallest peak in the entire Dinaric Alps...
(gore) in Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
and Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
), a mountain range in northern Albania that extends to southwestern Kosovo and eastern Montenegro and the highest point of which, Maja Jezercë, lies 18.8 kilometers (12 miles) south-west of Vërmosh, in the Theth
Theth National Park
Theth National Park is a national park in extreme northern Albania declared by government decree in 1966. It covers an area of 2,630 hectares and is located along the Theth River. The main attractions in the park are the Grunas Waterfall and the Lock-in Tower.Valbonë Valley National Park is...
and Valbona National Parks.
Vërmosh comprises the quarters of Pjetroja—also known as Qendra ("The Center"), Velan, Bashkim ("Junction" --with the Lepushë valley), Velipojë, and Maliaj. When first explored it was called Bjeshket e Seljanave.
Its mountain pastures are called Seferçe, Smutirogë, Lugu i Dolit, Përbicë, Greben, etc.
Vërmosh is the place of the border crossing
Border crossings of Albania
The following list includes the border crossings of Albania, via air, sea, and land. Recently, some major border crossings have been reconstructed by the EU presence in Albania.-Sea border crossings:*Port of Shëngjin*Port of Durrës*Port of Vlorë*Port of Himarë...
with Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
near Vjeternik on the road from Shkodra
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
(95 km (59 mi) away) and Koplik
Koplik
Koplik is a city and urban municipality, serving as the capital of the Malësi e Madhe district in the northwestern tip of Albania. It is situated north of the city of Shkodër.-History:...
to Guci/Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
and Plav
Plav
Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
/Plava in Montenegro.
The Vërmosh river
Vërmosh extends around the 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) of the Vërmosh river (Lumi i Vërmoshit in Albanian) which belong to Albania.The Vërmosh river appears under the Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
name of Vrmoša below the Maglič peak in the Kuči
KUCI
KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...
area of eastern Montenegro, just before running into Albania.
It re-enters Montenegro at Vjeternik under the name of Grnčar.
Receiving the stream Vruje from the right in Guci/Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
, it continues as the Ljuča for a few more kilometers where it empties into the Lake Plav
Lake Plav
Lake Plav is a lake in Plav municipality, in northeastern Montenegro.It is a glacial lake located between the Prokletije and Visitor mountain ranges at an altitude of 906 m above sea level, and extends north-south for some 2,160 m...
(Plavsko blato in Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
), creating a small delta.
There it flows out of the lake to the north, next to the mountain Visitor
Visitor Mountain
Visitor is a 2211 m / 7253 ft high mountain in Montenegro, east of Plav/Plava and its lake, from which the river Lim flows....
, under the name Lim for the remaining 197 kilometers (122 miles) through Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, where it joins the Drina
Drina
The Drina is a 346 kilometer long river, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps which belongs to the Danube river watershed...
at the Višegrad
Višegrad
Višegrad is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Republika Srpska entity. It is on the river Drina, located on the road from Goražde and Ustiprača towards Užice, Serbia.-History:...
reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
.
Population
Vërmosh started being settled in the mid-19th century, first for the 4–6 months of the Spring and Summer because of the harsh winters (up to 3 feet of snow regularly).Most of the families living there originate from Sëlca
Selcë
Selcë is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania....
, 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) south of Vërmosh.
Other settlers have come from places such as Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, specifically from nearby Peja
Pec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
.
The regional economy is based mainly on agriculture, immigrant remittances and tourism.
Tourism
Most tourists come to Vërmosh for its mountain views.There are also more than 30 kinds of medicinal and endemic plants.
Popular activities in Vërmosh include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and the "Miss Bjeshka" ("Miss Mountains") pageant.
History
There are some sources by montenegrin clans,that the Kelmendi(Serbian:Klimenti) is of serbian origin such as montenegrin clans.Also,in Kelmendi region it can be heard of Kelmendi people,they are of Serbian origin.The border was drawn in 1878 by the Berlin Congress which gave Plav
Plav
Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
/Plava, Guci/Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
, Tuzi
Tuzi
Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
and Ulqin/Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
to Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
at the expense of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Although Vermosh was there before the border was drawn. The history of Vermosh comes from the story of the three brothers Seli, Vuli, and Nili. Their names resemble the villages of Selca, Vukli, and Nikci. Some families from Vermosh have came from Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
and Peje
Peje
Peje may refer to:* Peje, the nickname of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a Mexican politician *Peje, a chiefdom of Sierra Leone, in the Pujehun District of the Southern Province...
. They have changed their last names to a Albanian-Catholic last name and have became catholic and adopted the traditions of people from Vermosh. There is a book that was written by Pero Llesh Tinaj (the brother of Fran Llesh Tinaj) that states the families who have derived from Selce and the families from Gusinje
Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
and Peje
Peje
Peje may refer to:* Peje, the nickname of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a Mexican politician *Peje, a chiefdom of Sierra Leone, in the Pujehun District of the Southern Province...
.
Part of the Malësor
Malësia
Malësia or Malësia e Madhe, is a historical geographical region in northern Albania and eastern Montenegro. It consists of an area of land that stretches from the southeast of Podgorica to northern shores of Lake Scutari, and includes much of the Malësi e Madhe District of Albania...
highlanders, the local Këlmendi mountain tribe has been known for its warring tradition, mostly against foreign occupiers. It has been traditionally Catholic.
Vërmosh is the birthplace of patriots Fran Llesh Tinaj, Mema Smajli, Marash Vata, Dod Prek Nika, Gjon Preci etc.
One big local hero was Prek Cali Hasanaj, famous for fighting Slavic aggression and Communist oppressors.
Fleeing the Communist regime
After Enver Hoxha died in 1990, many people from Vërmosh tried to leave. Most were caught by the Communists and brought to Shkodër.Two days later, 17 year-old Pëllumb Pëllumbaj left Vërmosh to try to cross the border to Yugoslavia through Hani Hotit. He was caught and the communist party killed him and dragged his body through Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
on a truck. When the people of Shkodër saw him they started arguing with the communists saying "why did you kill him, he didn't deserve to be killed"? They started rioting and the Communists had to call Albanian Communist President Ramiz Alia
Ramiz Alia
was the second and last communist leader of Albania from 1985-91, and the President of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania from 1991 to 1992, and also the first President of the post communist Albania elected in 1991-92. He had been designated as successor by Enver Hoxha and took power after...
and Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
's spouse Nexhmije Hoxha
Nexhmije Hoxha
Nexhmije Hoxha is the widow of Albanian Socialist leader Enver Hoxha.-Personal history:Hoxha was born in Debar, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; present-day Debar, Republic of Macedonia. She studied at a high school in Tirana. After the war, she continued her studies at the State University...
then in Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
.
500 people from Shkodra were killed because of the death of Pëllumb Pëllumbaj.
This also occurred in probably the same year when people from Bajza
Bajza
People with the surname Bajza can refer to any of the following people:* József Bajza - Hungarian poet* Pavol Bajza - Slovak footballer...
attempted to cross the border in Vërmosh and were caught by the Communists who carried their corpses on the back of trucks through the Kelmend municipality (Selcë, Tamarë, Lëpushë, and Vërmosh) and then down to Shkodër.
Notable People
- Prek Cali Hasanaj
- Llesh Marashi
- Mema Smajlaj
- Fran Llesh Tinaj
- Luc Mark Gjelosh Hysaj
- Zek Çuni Hysaj
- Gjelosh Çuni Hysaj
- Pjeter Gjek Hysaj
- Marash Vata Lumaj (fought the Communist regime)
- Gjon Prec Rexhaj
- Dod Prek Nika Bujaj (fought the Communist regime)
- Gjergj Ndou
- Ded Lulashi
- Fran Mali
- Nik Marku Rexhaj
- Ded Macaj
Families
- Tinaj
- Vukaj
- Vuktilaj
- Bujaj
- Cali
- Dukaj
- Gjonoviç
- Hasanaj
- Hysaj
- Koçaj
- Lelçaj
- Lumaj
- Maçaj
- Mitaj
- Nacaj
- Pepaj
- Peraj
- Pllumaj
- Preljocaj / Tinaj
- Rexhaj
- Selmanaj
- Mernacaj
- Lekutanaj
- Smajlaj
- Shqutaj
- Volaj
- Vushaj