Fauna in Theth Jul 3, 2014 | Natyral Attractions Fauna in Theth The fauna of Park is rich and diverse. There can be found about 20 species of mammals, 50 nesting species s nearly 10 species of reptiles and 8 species of amphibians. Very interesting is the presence of mammals and birds which are very related with the habitat of high forests and the ecosystem of alpine mountains Among the largest mammals of the park are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), lynx (Lynx lynx), selvage goat (Rubicapra ribicapra) and roe (Capreolus capreolus), etc.. In higher forest among the birds largely dominate Fragillidae family members (4 types), and Paridae (4 species). Other components are rarer typical elements of the high forest as woodpeckers (3 types), a reptile of trees (Sitt Europea), etc..On the ground floor other types of shrubs can be found like (Erithacus rubecula), ouzel (Turdus merula), (Lanus collurio), etc.. General condition of habitats is relatively good. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
Ethnographic Museum of Dukagjini Jul 2, 2014 | Cultural destinations, Destinations, Destinations in Theth Albania Ethnographic Museum of Dukagjini House of Lulash Boshi Ethnographic Museum of Dukagjini At the valley of Thethi, one can see buildings made of stone, standing tall and strong, which are known for their defensive character. One of the more unique towers is the tower of Lulash Keq Boshi, which was built at the top of jagged rock, 9 meters tall, which is connected to the foundation organically and functionally. The tower is placed near the fertile soil with minimal construction, which is a favorable environment for the growth of cereals. The tower is a semi floor with a horizontal expansion of 87 m2. On the north-west side, it’s the way to the underground level where the cattle are kept. On the surfaces of the first floor is the floor where you enter the building through some stone stairs. On the south-west side of the wall is found the small window called “frangjia”, which is built functionality and architecturally wise. “Frangjia”, is a solid construction that worked with the sculpted rock that comes out of the tower walls. In addition to the below floor, where is the room where the family stay, it’s also found the guest room, which is higher up from the floor where the family lives? An unusual element of the guest room is the fact that it has a fireplace, wooden ceiling and is treated with a lot of care. Usually, this room is more beautiful than in other areas of the building. This shows the Albanian tradition of preparing the best for guests. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
Geography and geology Jun 6, 2014 | Thethi National Park Geography and geology The Dinaric Alps are a chain of mountains in southeast Europe that stretch the length of the Adriatic coast and reach both their highest point (Mt Jezerca, 2692 m) and greatest width in northern Albania. No other part of the Balkans offers high mountain scenery of such distinctively rugged and forbidding beauty. The barren karst landscape is a regular feature, since the rock here is predominantly limestone – indeed this is Europe’s largest region of karst topography. Thanks to its unique Geo-morphology and hydrology, the region has become the focus of important scientific karst research. Dolines (sinkholes), chasms and karst caverns are found wherever water penetrates the rock. These barren, rocky wildernesses can provide unusual attractive itineraries for hikers; until now, however, they have brought little in the way of economic development to the indigenous population. The valley of Theth was formed by the ice movements, especially on the northern side. Theth has mountains that are up to 2570 meters over the sea level. This height is reached at the top of Radohima. The inhabited area of Theth is positioned 600 to 1000 meters over the sea level. Theth is linked to some other areas through some strips that are up to 1600 meters over the sea level. In the territory of Theth and around it are located 170 caves and semi caves, from which ten are internationally known. The most beautiful and the most important are the cave of Rrathëve and the cave of Harapi. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
Customary laws, myths and legends Jun 5, 2014 | Cultural destinations, Destinations, Destinations in Theth Albania Cultural destinations Customary laws, myths, and legends Until recently the mountain regions of northern Albania were isolated not only in terms of geography and communication. In matters of jurisprudence, too, the region was literally a law to itself. Ottoman jurisdiction never prevailed here. Instead, the Code of Lekë Dukagjin was in general use, a set of traditional laws passed on from one generation to another and not codified, written down and printed until 1933. The laws of the ‘Kanun.’ The acts of the ‘Kanun’ of the mountains are still perpetuated and partially observed by the local populace today. The 12 chapters of the code cover all critical areas of life, including marriage, transfer of property, honor, and criminal law. The legal framework is based on the concepts of family honor and breaches thereof. The patriarchal social structure gives the head of the family extensive powers and authority that include the imposition of punishments. The Kanun reflects the stark, ethnic reality of the mountain dwellers, aspects of which are still occasionally visible to visitors even today. It is thought many customs possibly have pre-Christian roots, demonstrating the ancient origins of some elements of the Kanun. Myths and legends were once part of an oral tradition, performed by singers to the accompaniment of the lahuta, a one-stringed musical instrument, and adapted textually to suit the occasion. Although mostly unable to read or write, the singers could recite thousands of verses by heart. Perhaps the best known is the Këngë Kreshnikësh cycle, which recounts the heroic deeds of Gjeto Basho Mujo and his younger brother Halili in the frontier lands occupied by Austria-Hungary, the southern Slavs, and the Ottoman Empire. Similar to Homer’s epic poems, the tales are probably based on historical events (in this case dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries), which over time, have been the subject of fanciful embellishment. This is evident, for example, in the most recent songs, where Mujo appears as a sort of demi-god with the powers to summon to his aid the three ores (derived from the Greek ‘Horai,’ literally ‘Hours’). The Zanes are still present in northern Albanian folklore, appearing in various guises depending on the region. The zana of Nikaj was dark; that of Shala was said to be mail; one feature they all had in common was the fact they lived in the mountains or caves. The moon also played an essential role in everyday life. Sowing was timed to coincide with a waning moon, which was also the best period for cutting hair (if premature grayness was to be avoided). Full moons were a time for marriage since this was auspicious for starting a family. The Franciscan friar Shtjefën Gjeçovi (1874-1929) not only collected the epic verse of the mountains of Albania; he also codified the Kanun, which until that time existed only as an oral tradition, thereby rescuing these works for posterity. Contact us Would you like to visit this destination? We will find the perfect tour or create a custom tour so you can visit and enjoy this destination and more. Call now for the best offer English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771 Send us an email with your details Reserverations email info@thethi-guide.com FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The history and population in Theth Jun 4, 2014 | Blogs from Albanian AlpsThe first official mention of Theth is in a document of 1485 coming from Shkodra, when the village numbered seven houses. In the sixteenth century, during the Ottoman invasion, the ownership of the valley was transferred from the Sandjak of Shkodra to Peja. Today it belongs to the district of Shkodra. Most Theth families can be traced back to the legendary figure of Ded Nika, who is thought to have lived nine to twelve generations earlier. Collective memory sustains the belief that migration to Theth from the lower Shala valley took place around 300 to 350 years ago in order to avoid conversion to Islam. Although the individual hamlets of Theth do not belong exclusively to a single fis (clan or large family), each is dominated by one such family which owns the surrounding Alpine pastures. In most of these hamlets operated a communal mill. Durham described Theth as a bajrak of some 180 houses and also observed that it was almost free from the tradition of blood feud (known in the Albanian language as Gjakmarrja) which so blighted other parts of the Albanian highlands. Children for Thethi Year 1921 Road to Theth When the road to Theth opened in 1936, it heralded a new era for the entire region. Theth acquired its own electricity supply in 1966. The tourism complex (Campeggio), with its well-built hotel and numerous wooden bungalows dating from 1968, once afforded many Albanian families the opportunity to holiday in natural surroundings; since the unrest of 1991, however, it lies in ruins. Much is being done to revive tourism in the region, but this is currently restricted to eco-friendly bed & breakfast tourism in private accommodation. By 1991 Theth was made up of nine hamlets with a total of 280 houses and formed the geographic centre of the Dukagjin region. The population was estimated at that time to be around 7000 inhabitants. But the school had difficulty finding teachers on account of the remote location, and the lack of teaching staff was a major reason why families with children migrated to the towns and cities or moved abroad. This drift towards the cities has become a major problem since the political watershed, leading to the state of virtual depopulation we find today and the serious consequences this has brought with it. Nowadays only a few families spend the entire year in the valley. Most do not sell their houses, coming – if at all – to spend a few days or weeks during the summer holidays.
