ZA/OG1N – Albania

Pekka, OH2TA will once again compete as ZA/OG1N from Albania at CQ WW WPX CW on May 25-26, 2024.
He will be responsible for operations in the one-man, one-band category.
Nearest DX Point ZA/OG1N
ZA/OG1N Log Searchsearch He will be active with the WARC Bands before the game.
QSL passed OH2TA, LOTW.
Direct QSL advertising:
PEKKA HOLSTILA, LINNAISTENTIE 7, 01640 Vantaa, Finland.

Mediterranean Republic of Albania

The dramatic history of nation formation

Albania’s strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes has always made the country a place in the eyes of powerful countries. Albania was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for a long time. The country did not gain freedom until 1912. After the First World War, Yugoslavia, Italy and Greece fought for the country’s independence within the framework of the Paris Peace Treaty. In the fight for national freedom, the country’s first parliament was established. Independence was briefly defended – in 1939, Albania was occupied by fascist Italy. This liberation struggle was led by the Communist Party of Albania. The country successfully defended its independence at the cost of political isolation from the outside world. Albania was on a war footing for almost the entire second half of the 20th century. Every family had to build a bomb shelter for themselves. It was not until the 1990s that the country declared a multi-party system. Albania opened its borders and joined NATO. However, the long isolation still had an impact – the country’s living standards were very low.

Albania. Author – Jeff Thomas.

Albania in modern times

Albania is located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, with access to the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. The country’s capital, Tirana, was founded by the Turks in the distant 17th century. The country is led by a president, whose powers are limited by the parliament and the Constitutional Court. The population is 2,806,000. Albania has a high rate of emigration. Due to the low standard of living, locals tend to move to prosperous Europe. The country’s ethnic composition is homogeneous – 95% of the population are Albanians, and only 5% are Greeks, Roma, Romanians, Serbs and Macedonians. During the communist rule, the country declared atheism. Currently, about half of the population (represented by Sunni and Bektasha sects) are Muslims, and the other half are Christians of different faiths – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant.

Albania is an agricultural country with a backward economy. Nearly half a century of political isolation has prevented the country from forming stable trade relations, and currently a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line.

Berat, Albania. Author – Rob Hogslag.

Mediterranean natural scenery

Albania has a comfortable Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The country’s terrain is dominated by hills and mountains. There are hills and snow-white beaches along the Adriatic coast. There is a mountain range on the border with Yugoslavia – the Northern Albanian Alps. A third of the country’s territory is covered with deciduous and coniferous forests, with picturesque orange trees and alpine meadows on the mountains. The mild Mediterranean climate creates favorable conditions for the abundant growth of medicinal plants – sage, linden, thyme, mint, juniper. The country’s fauna is diverse: roe deer, wild boars, deer, lynx, wild cats, bears, wolves, jackals live in the forests. The country’s national symbol is the golden eagle. This bird of prey lives in the Albanian wilderness.

The Bunker, Albania. Author – Steven Ballagher.

Original culture

Albania has a unique and distinct culture. The different ruling regimes and countries that have passed through the centuries have left their mark, making Albania’s architecture diverse and unlike any other European country. The influence of Turkish conquerors, Christian civilization and the 20th century communist regime can all be found here.

The capital of Albania, Tirana, has the National Art Gallery and a picturesque park with a lake in the south of the city. On Skenderberg Square there is the ancient Eteghei Beya Mosque, built in the 19th century. Albania’s second largest city, Old Durres, has an amazing Venetian tower, a huge amphitheater, Roman ruins and fortifications, and the old walls of the Byzantine city. The ancient city of Drilon has a Christian cathedral that has been well preserved since the 5th century. In southern Albania there is the famous Gjirokastra – a city of a thousand tents or stone city, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here you can visit the famous Turkish baths.

The communist regime also left behind traces of concrete bunkers, which are spread across the country. On average, there are 24 bunkers per square kilometer. These bunkers are located in city streets and backyards, along coastlines and national borders. Today, concrete bunkers are used for domestic purposes, as warehouses or kitchens.

Albania’s culinary tradition is typical of the Mediterranean region. Albanian dishes are based on seafood, olive oil, spices, garlic and wine.

ZA/OG1N. Where is Albania located. Map.