Krasta
—  Town  —
Krasta seen from the summit of Noi i Madh (1848 m), at a distance of 7.7 km (5 mi) as the crow flies.
Krasta
Coordinates: 41°25′24″N 20°12′13″E / 41.42333°N 20.20361°E / 41.42333; 20.20361Coordinates: 41°25′24″N 20°12′13″E / 41.42333°N 20.20361°E / 41.42333; 20.20361
Country	Albania
County	Dibër County
District	Bulqizë District
Commune	Martanesh
Government
• Chair of Commune	Gazmend Kënga (PS)
Elevation[1]	1,100 m (3,609 ft)
Population (2005)
• Total	1,540
Time zone	Central European Time (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	8403[2]
Car Plates	BZ

Krasta is a small town in Dibër County, east Albania. With a population of 2142, it is the center and only town of the Commune of Martanesh in the District of Bulqizë. Situated on a plateau, at 1,100 m (3,609 ft) altitude, it is Albania's highest town.^[1] Krasta was founded as a new mining town in 1970, mostly for the exploitation of chromium ore from the Batra mine.

Geography and location[link]

One of the smallest urban settlements of Albania, Krasta is the center of the commune of Martanesh, part of Bulqizë district in Dibër county. It lies on a plateau, on the eastern slope of Kalti mountain 1,592 m (5,223 ft), part of Mali i Lopës. It has an altitude of 1,100 m (3,609 ft), making it the highest town in Albania.^[1] Krasta is situated in a relatively isolated mountainous region and is 20 km far from its nearest city, Bulqiza.^[3] Krasta is almost 145 km (90 mi) by road from the capital Tirana, despite being only 40 km as the crow flies from it. It is expected that the completion of the new Arbër highway will halve the distance of the town from the capital of Albania.^[4]:4

History[link]

Early archaeological evidence has been found in the district of Bulqizë, especially in the villages Krajkë and Shupenzë,^[5]:8 while a stone hammer, today exposed in the Historical Museum of Burrel, was discovered in the village of Gjon, adjacent to Krasta, suggesting that the region was inhabited from the Stone Age.

On February 25, 1965, eleven members of the Geological Expedition of Batra perished under a sudden avalanche in the creek of Batra (approximately 5 km from the site where the town of Krasta was later built), during an attempt to rescue one of their friends. The new Batra mine that began operating in 1967^[3][6]:41 was named "11 Heronjtë" (11 Heroes) in their honor.^[7]

Krasta was founded in 1970,^[3][7] as a new mining community for housing the workers of Batra mine, in the district of Mat.^[8] After an year, in 1971 the new Krasta mine began operating besides Krasta.^[9]:48 The first inhabitants settled in Krasta in 1974 and the locality was slowly growing towards a small urban settlement, based on an approved urban plan. In 1979 Krasta was officially declared a town.^[8] In 1987, a chromium enrichment factory was constructed in the town.^[3] After the split of the district of Dibra in 1992, the local administration of Krasta shifted from Mat district, to the newly formed District of Bulqizë,^[5] together with the whole commune of Martanesh, and became the center of it.

Population[link]

The first citizens settled in the newly founded town of Krasta in 1974. In 2005, the population of Krasta was 1540.^[7] As of 2011, 2142 inhabitants in 477 families lived in Krasta. This constitutes 82% of Martanesh commune’s total population of 2601 inhabitants, arranged in 658 families.^[3] Despite the slight increase of the population in town, many inhabitants of the region have emigrated abroad.

Religion[link]

Citizens of Krasta and the surrounding rural areas are predominantly followers of Bektashism, while there is also a considerable catholic christian community under the Diocese of Rrëshen, which was established on December 7, 1996 and includes the districts of Bulqizë, Dibër and Mat.^[10]

The World Headquarters of the Bektashi Order were officially established in Albania in August 1930,^[11] after the ban of all dervish orders in Turkey in autumn 1925. Albania’s Bektashi community was divided into six districts and the tekke of Krasta was the headquarters of Elbasan district.^[12] Religion was banned by the communist dictatorship of Albania in 1967 and after almost a quarter of a century, on March 22, 1990 Nowruz (Sultan Novruz Day) was celebrated again. This marked the official resurrection of Bektashism in the country and the celebrations were attended even by Mother Teresa, who visited the World Headquarters of Bektashi Order in Tirana.^[11]

Every June 29, southeast of Krasta, in the Ballenjë tekke of Martanesh,^[13] Bektashi believers from Albania and other countries come and gather in a massive pilgrimage to celebrate Balım Sultan (Albanian: Ballëm Sulltan) day,^[14] in memory of the second most important figure of the Bektashi Order.^[15]

Economy and infrastructure[link]

Despite the richness of natural resources, unemployment is high. Mining is the main sector of the town's economy, while the population relies much on remittances. Many families live in poverty; 32.4 percent of families in the Commune of Martanesh are in receipt of economic assistance.^[3] In January 1998, Krista’s water infrastructure benefited from a fund of 600 million Leks that were allocated by then Ministry of Construction and Public Affairs for the construction of 43 water supply facilities.^[16]

Mining[link]

Chromium exploitation was one of the most important branches of the centralized economy of People's Socialist Republic of Albania until the early 1990s. In 1980s, Albania was a leading world producer and exporter of chromite and was often ranked second in terms of export (behind South Africa) and third for production (behind South Africa and former Soviet Union).^[17]

It is considered that mineral reserves of Krasta mine contain rare metals such as cobalt and platinium, whose exploitation today is inaccessible.^[18] After 1999, four mining leases were given by the Albanian government for chromium exploitation in some galleries of the Krasta mine. In 2006, it was estimated that 2 million tons chromium ore remained unexploited in the town's mine, making the Krasta mine second only to the Bulqizë mine in terms of Albania's chromium reserves.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Krasta town centre (PANORAMIO)
• View of the town from Krasta mine (PANORAMIO)

v t e Cities in Albania Bajram Curri Bajzë Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqizë Burrel Cërrik Çorovodë Delvinë Divjakë Durrës Elbasan Ersekë Fier Fushë-Arrëz Fushë-Krujë Gjirokastër Gramsh Himarë Kamëz Kavajë Këlcyrë Klos Konispol Koplik Korçë Krasta Krrabë Krujë Krumë Kuçovë Kukës Kurbnesh Laç Leskovik Lezhë Libohovë Librazhd Lushnjë Maliq Mamurras Manëz Memaliaj Orikum Patos Peqin Përmet Peshkopi Pogradec Poliçan Prrenjas Pukë Reps Roskovec Rrëshen Rrogozhinë Rubik Sarandë Selenicë Shëngjin Shijak Shkodër Sukth Tepelenë Tirana Ulëz Urë Vajgurore Vau i Dejës Vlorë Vorë

v t e Bulqizë District Capital: Bulqizë Fushë-Bulqizë Fushe-Bulqize, Dushaj, Dragua-Bulqize, Koca Gjoricë Gjorice e Siperme, Gjorice e Poshtme, Cerenic i Siperm, Cerenic i Poshtme, Vicisht, Lubalesh Martanesh Krasta, Gjon, Lenë, Peshk, Val, Stavec, Melcu, Ndërfusha Ostren Ostren i Madh, Radovesh, Kojavec, Lajcan, Orzhanove, Okshtun i Madh, Oreshnje, Ostren i Vogel, Okshtun i Vogel, Tucep, Lladomerice, Pasinke, Terba Shupenzë Shupenze, Vlasha, Bocove, Homesh, Okshtine, Kovashice, Zogjaj, Shtushaj, Topojan, Mazhice, Gjurac, Bllac Trebisht Klenje, Gjinovec, Trebisht-Balaj, Trebisht-celebi, Trebisht-Mucine, Vernic Zerqan Zerqan, Krajke, Peladhi, Smollik, Sofracan, Sopot, Strikcan, Ternove e Madhe, Ternove e Vogel, Zall- Sopot, Valikardhe, Zall- Strikcan, Godr

Roberts Gobziņš (born 13 July 1964 in Riga, Latvian SSR^[1][2]), also known as Eastbam or East Bam (as a result of his artistic connections with Westbam) is a Latvian musician, DJ, MC, radio personality and parliamentary candidate. He is best known as a member or collaborator with numerous bands (Dzeltenie Pastnieki, NSRD, Diskomforts, 19 gadi pirms sākuma, Kaija, CSK, Dzidriņas Megasistēma, Smalkie Regeji, Los Amigos, Resnie Putni) and, throughout the 1990s, as a nationally successful solo artist.

He became a pioneer of Latvian language rap music in 1982 by including a rap interlude on Dzeltenie Pastnieki song "Bezcerīgā dziesma" on the album Man ļoti patīk jaunais vilnis and later releasing the first-ever Latvian rap 12-inch single ("Aka Aka") on Westbam's Low Spirit label. Performing live in Germany, he has shared the bill with De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers. In 1997, the avant-garde opera Rolstein on the Beach featured Gobziņš in the role of "The Son of Rothschild". In 2003, Gobziņš took part in "Aka Hip Aka Hop", a collaboration with A.G., Raitis, Guiseppe and Gustavo, celebrating the history of the local scene. He again was the opening act for De La Soul on December 11, 2004 in Riga.

Discography[link]

With Dzeltenie Pastnieki[link]

• Man ļoti patīk jaunais vilnis (1982) (lyrics on 3 tracks, lead vocals on one)
• Vienmēr klusi (1984) (lyrics on 5 tracks, lead vocals on one)
• Depresīvā pilsēta (1986) (lyrics on 3 tracks, lead vocals on 2)
• Kaķis (2003) (lyrics on 5 tracks)

Solo[link]

• "Aka Aka" (1990)
• Roberts Gobziņš aka East Bam (1993)
• Sienāži (1994)
• Man saujā benzīns (1995)
• Roberta Gobziņa 20 labākās dziesmas (1996)
• Rīta radio (1998)
• Biezais vectēvs (2002)

Other Appearances[link]

• 19 gadi pirms sākuma — untitled demo EPs (late 1980s)
• WestBam — The Cabinet (1989) (vocals on "Go Eastbam!")
• Dzidriņas megasistēma — Nes mani vēl (March 18, 1996) (band member)
• Hardijs Lediņš & Kaspars Rolšteins — Rolstein on the Beach (1997)
• NSRD — Labākās dziesmas 1982-2002 (2002) (vocals on "Labrīt, Putra!")
• A.G., Raitis, Guiseppe, Eastbam, Gustavo — "Aka Hip Aka Hop" (2003)
• 19 gadi pirms sākuma — 19 gadi pirms sākuma (2005)
• NSRD — Dziesmas neuzrakstītai lugai (2006) (vocals on "Dons Huans")

References[link]

Glauk Konjufca (born 1981) is an Albanian activist, journalist and politician.

Politics[link]

During his studies in the University of Pristina, Konjufca was the vice-director of the organization Center for Rights. In 2010 he was elected as a deputy of Vetëvendosje and is the editor of its official weekly journal. He is also one of the Vice Presidents of the Assembly of Kosovo.^[1]

Sources[link]