Tepelenë District
The circle Tepelenë (Albanian: Rrethi i Tepelenës ) is one of the 36 administrative districts of Albania. The county has an area of 817 km ². It is located in the central hill country and southern Albania belongs to Qark Gjirokastra. It is named after the provincial capital Tepelenë. The circle counts 19,606 inhabitants ( 2011). Around three quarters of the population considers itself to be the Bektashi, the rest is half Orthodox.
The area of the district includes a portion of the Valley of Vjosa and some valleys in the hilly and mountainous areas of southern Albania between Gjirokastra, Ballsh and Berat. With massive mountains rise at the edges of the west and east, the Maja e Kendrevicës with 2122 müa west of Tepelenë. In the east the Vjosa pierces in the canyon Gryka e Këlcyrës a mountain range. Then she joins just south of Tepelenë with the Drinos. In the further course northwest to the Adriatic Sea, the Valley of the Vjosa expands more and more, as well as the hills to the northwest becomes flatter.
To the southwest lies the Kurvelesh, a remote mountain region. The pristine landscape of Kurvelesh is characterized by karst rock which formed numerous canyons and caves. In the scenic area, there are approaches of ecotourism.
Away from the Vjosa Valley and the road from Fier in central Albania on Ballsh and the hills after Tepelenë most areas are very poorly developed. The road Fier - Tepelenë other hand, is the most important connection after southern Albania and also provides a connection to Greece dar. For better development of the South is currently on a direct highway of Fier by the Vjosa Valley to Tepelenë built.