View source for Mallakastër

{{expand Albanian|date=January 2023|topic=geo}}
{{Infobox settlement (Albanian)
| type = m
| name = Mallakastër
| flag = Flag of Mallakastër.gif
| emblem = Stema e Bashkisë Mallakastër.svg
| skyline = Mallakastra.jpg
| caption = 
| county = Fier
| mayor = Qerim Ismailaj
| party = [[Socialist Party of Albania|PS]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40|36|N|19|44|E|type:adm1st_region:AL_dim:100000|display=inline}}
| elevation = 
| area munic = 329.37
| population as of = 2011
| population munic = 27062
| postal code = 9308
| area code = (0)313
| website = {{URL|https://www.bashkiamallakaster.gov.al/}}
}}
'''Mallakastër''' ({{lang-sq-definite|Mallakastra}}) is a region and a municipality in [[Fier County]], southwestern [[Albania]]. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the present municipalities [[Aranitas]], [[Ballsh]], [[Fratar]], [[Greshicë]], [[Hekal]], [[Kutë]], [[Ngraçan]], [[Qendër Dukas]] and [[Selitë, Mallakastër|Selitë]]. The seat of the municipality is the town Ballsh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/137-2014.pdf |title=Law nr. 115/2014 |language=sq |pages=6370|access-date=25 February 2022 }}</ref> The total population is 27,062 (2011 census),<ref name="census11">{{cite web |url=http://www.instat.gov.al/media/3063/5__fier.pdf |title=Population and housing census - Fier 2011 |access-date=2019-09-25 |publisher=[[Institute of Statistics (Albania)|INSTAT]] }}</ref> in a total area of 329.37&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="LAU">{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/345175/501971/EU-28-LAU-2019-NUTS-2016.xlsx |title=Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries |access-date=2019-09-25 |publisher=[[Eurostat]]|format=XLS }}</ref> It is coterminous with the former [[Mallakastër District]].

==Name==
The municipality takes its name from the Mallakastër hills.

==Geography==
The landscape consists of fields alternated with low hills. Their highest point is the hill Shëndëlli (712 m),<ref>Soviet military map [https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm50/k-34-124-2.jpg K-34-124-Б] (1:50,000)</ref> not to be confused with the much higher [[Mount Shëndelli]] further south.

==Population==
The people from this region are called ''Mallakastriotë''. The population is [[Muslim]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]. The region is a center of both the [[Bektashi]] order and the [[Halveti]] order (to a lesser extent). The region is known for its cultural traditions and has produced many brave fighters including [[Rrapo Hekali]].

==Economy==
Mallakastër was an industrially important region for Albania since it has reserves of [[natural gas]] and [[Petroleum|oil]] which make area a center of [[oil]] production and refining in Albania. Mallakastër is also known for its [[agriculture]] which produces a large variety of products.

==Notable people==
*[[Kadri Roshi]], famous actor
*[[Mehmet Shehu]], communist politician
*[[Rrapo Hekali]], key figure in the [[Albanian revolt of 1847]]
*[[Liri Belishova]], communist politician
*[[:sq:Luftar Paja|Luftar Paja]]
*[[:sq:Ismail Klosi|Ismail Klosi]]
*[[:sq:Ramiz Aranitasi|Ramiz Aranitasi]] 
*[[Bilbil Klosi]], lawyer and judge 
*[[Ardian Klosi]], writer and historian

==References==
<references/>

{{Municipalities of Albania}}
{{Fier County}}
{{Mallakastër div}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mallakaster}}
[[Category:Mallakastër| ]]
[[Category:Historical regions in Albania]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Fier County]]
[[Category:Administrative units of Mallakastër]]
[[Category:Albanian ethnographic regions]]


{{Fier-geo-stub}}