Overview Bushat

An important part of the Region of Shkodra, the Commune of Bushat is located at a distance of 12 km south from the town of Shkoder. The commune borders are as follows: northeast on the River Drin, south and southwest on the Region of Lezha and northeast on the Commune of Berdice. The Commune of Bushat has an area of 100 km² and a population of about 25000 inhabitants (data from the Commune, 2007). Main revenue comes from agriculture and stock breeding. Agricultural land measures 5800 ha and is divided in accordance with law 7501 concerning Land Reform in the Republic of Albania. Land division has benefited about 19 000 inhabitants. Two important rivers pass through the territory of the commune. The River Drin crosses the villages of Stajkë, Kosmaç and Ashtë in their northern part and then joins the Buna River in Bahçallëk. The commune is also crossed by the River of Drini i Vogël (Smaller Drin), which traverses the commune of Bushat at the villages of Stajkë, Plezhë, Shkjezë, Barbullush and Kukel. Before flowing to the sea, this river creates its delta in the Lezha Region.

Distribution of rainfall is unequal both over time and in space. More rainfall is recorded in the northern part of the Mountain of Kakarriqi and the Field of Barbullushi. More rainfall is seen in the coldest half of the year, about two thirds of the total amount. Rainfall is heaviest during the fall and winter, mainly as snowfall is a rare and short lived phenomenon. Sleet and hailstone are frequent and cause damage to farming. Annual amount of rainfall ranges between 1.500-1.800 mm. Number of days with rainfall is 107- 115 days annually. Snow layer varies from 8-20 cm and very rarely to 40-50 cm (the year 1985). Snow days are in the range of 5-6 a year. Sunny hours are 2.600 annually. Annual average humidity is 66% and minimal humidity (in the month of August) is 53-55 %.

Climate conditions

The commune is characterized by Mediterranean climate typical of flat northern places. The geographical position of the commune (located at the southwest extreme of the region of Shkoder, bordering on the Mountain of Kakarriq on the west, the Field of Zadrima on the east and the high mountains on its east which prevent cold continental winds from penetrating its territory) endows the member villages with the advantages of a wild climate which enables inhabitants to make their living through a number of economic activities. The mountain is mostly under the influence of air currents from the Adriatic. The flat relief of the field keeps winds at constant speed and determines their annual regime.

There are about 2442 sunny hours annually (or about 327 days in a year) which represents a substantial source of renewable energy which can be used by households and industry. Winters are relatively mild, with remarkable Mediterranean characteristics. Only in rare cases temperatures below zero grades Celsius cause damage to crops. Wind blows from various directions, but predominantly from southeast, and northeast, however, north is not excluded. The local winds are murlani in winter, bringing dry weather and freezing temperatures and the rain bringing winds in spring and fall, such as, shiroku. In the summer, winds blowing from the Adriatic sea cools down the hot temperatures. Average winter temperature drops to -5 grades Celsius. The number of freezing days ranges from 20 to 30 annually. Summer is very hot. At the hottest month, temperature exceeds 35 grades Celsius sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius. However, mean temperature in the summer time is 24 degrees Celsius. The annual mean can be placed at 16-18 degrees Celsius. Annual amplitude is 17 degrees. Rainfall and its regime are related to the cyclonic and anti-cyclonic activity, the relief and the sea.