Štrpce

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Štrpce / Штрпце Stërpcë / Stërpca
Coordinates: 42°14′05″N 21°01′28″E / 42.23472, 21.02444
Population (1991)
- Total	12,712 (municipality)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)

Štrpce or Shtërpcë (Serbian: Štrpce or Штрпце ; Albanian: Shtërpcë or Shtërpca) is a town and municipality in southern Kosovo, a self-declared de facto independent republic in southeastern Europe.

According to 1991 census, the municipality of Štrpce had a population of 12,712 people. As of 2006, Štrpce has an ethnic Serbian majority, making it a Serb enclave in Kosovo.

[edit] Geography

The municipality is situated near the Šar mountain. Encompasses area of 247.36 square kilometers (95.5 sq mi) on northeast part of Šar Mountain, and upper part of Lepenac river valley, which is well known as Sirinić Valley. Municipal borders almost overlap with borders of Sirinić Valley. Border lines are made of the mountain massive of the north-east part of the Šar Mountain and its branches: Ošljak, Kodža Balkan, Žar and Jezerska Mountain. Municipality of Štrpce is mainly mountainous area, comprises regions from 900 meters (2,953 ft) above sea level in Lepenac river Valley up to Template:M tp ft above sea level at highest peak Ljuboten. Dominant mountain massifs are creating natural isolation of this municipality toward north and south, meanwhile by Brod canyon municipality is open toward Kosovo Valley, and through Prevalac toward Prizren Valley. In immediate neighborhood are municipalities of Uroševac, Kačanik, Suva Reka and Prizren, on the one side municipality is bordered by the Republic of Macedonia.

Area of the municipality and its center Štrpce have relatively favorable location comparing cities and administrative, economic centers of Kosovo, as well as north and northwest part of Macedonia. Distance from this municipality from municipality of Uroševac is 30 kilometers (19 mi), municipality of Priština 61 kilometers (38 mi), municipality of Prizren 34 kilometers (21 mi), meanwhile distance from cities in Macedonia is: Skopje 61 kilometers (38 mi), Tetovo 70 kilometers (43 mi). Štrpce municipality is situated at the center of mentioned cities, which is very important for further municipal economic development. It is also worth mentioning that in zone of 100 kilometers (62 mi) distance from Štrpce there are a number of industrial and mining centers like Trepča - Kosovo mining-energetic basin, then Skopje, Uroševac, Prizren and Peć industrial basins. Traffic connection of Štrpce and Sirinić Valley as whole, the biggest importance has regional road Prevalac - Prizren - Štrpce - Uroševac which is used for bus traffic and trade. In past few years number of asphalt roads was constructed within the municipal territory, so almost all settlements are connected with center of the municipality. Relief features and potential for using agriculture land are prerequisites for bloodstream of settlements’ network which are predominant valley’s type. In the total network of 16 settlements dominant municipal center Štrpce town. Most of the settlements are not urbanized and mainly not functionally integrated, with exception of Brezovica settlement where tourism assets are located and Štrpce as the center of municipality. Diversity and attractive natural resources represents good potential for faster economic development of the municipality. Most valuable natural potentials of the municipality are environment values, climate features and untouched nature. Mountains with so called Alpine mountain relief, in upper part of mountain where there is snow up to 280 days during the year are just some of the advantages for the development of winter tourism. Šara Mountain offers possibility of preparing ski slopes for all types of winter sports fans, from novices to top professional skiers. The lower parts with characteristics of the valley climate are rich with variety of the flora, lakes, caves etc. and offer possibilities for development of summer tourism as well. Beside tourism there are opportunities and natural recourses for development of agriculture and cattle-breading. Agriculture land takes 55 % of municipal territory —13,651 hectares (33,732 acres). Pastures cover 38,8% and meadows 25% of total agriculture land. Cultivable soil covers 18%, and small area is under orchards. Forests take 42% territory of the municipality —11,372 hectares (28,101 acres). Beech is the most widely spread tree, but one can come across Turkey oak, white ash, birch and some other types of trees as well. Above 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) there are mixed and coniferous forests: pine, fir, spruce, juniper, as well as endemic trees like Pinus peuce, Pinus heldreichii, Pinus mugo, Taxus baccata and some others. Whole territory of the municipality is reach with rivers, about 250 springs manifest presence of underground waters. The largest river is Lepenac which is made of two rivers - Tisova and Cerenacke river. There are number of mountain lakes out of which three are most popular - Livadičko, Štrbačko and Jažinačko lake.

[edit] Demographics

Štrpce was a part of the Uroševac municipality for the 1971 and 1981 census. Therefore there is no separate population data for the municipality for those two years.

[edit] See also

• District of Uroševac

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• OSCE Profile of Strpce / Shtërpcë
• Web site of ski resort Brezovica and Štrpce
• About coat of arms and banner of Štrpce