Gjakova
Gjakova is the seventh largest city of Kosovo and seat of Gjakova Municipality and Gjakova District. The city has 40,827 inhabitants, while the municipality has 94,556 inhabitants.
Gjakova | |
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City and municipality | |
From top: The city at night, Old Bazaar, Saint Paul and Saint Peter's Church | |
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Flag Seal | |
Gjakova Location of the town of Gjakova within Kosovo Gjakova Gjakova (Europe) | |
| Coordinates: 42°23′N 20°26′E | |
| Country | Kosovo |
| District | Gjakova |
| Municipality | Gjakova |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ardian Gjini (AAK) |
| Area | |
| • Rank | 4th in Kosovo |
| • District | 13.189 km2 (5.092 sq mi) |
| • Municipal | 586.91 km2 (226.61 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • City | 40,827 |
| • City density | 3,100/km2 (8,000/sq mi) |
| • Municipality | 94,556 |
| • Municipality density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Albanian: Gjakovar (m), Gjakovare (f) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 50000 |
| Area code | +381 390 |
| Vehicle registration | 07 |
Geographically, it is located in the south-western part of Kosovo, about halfway between the cities of Peja and Prizren. It is approximately 100 km (62 mi) inland from the Adriatic Sea. The city is situated some 208 kilometres (129 mi) north-east of Tirana, 145 kilometres (90 mi) north-west of Skopje, 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of the capital Pristina, 435 kilometres (270 mi) south of Belgrade and 263 kilometres (163 mi) east of Podgorica.
The city of Gjakova has been populated since the prehistoric era. During the Ottoman period, Gjakova served as a trading centre on the route between Shkodra and Constantinople. It was also one of the most developed trade centres at that time in the Balkans.