# Kukës

> city in Kukës County, Albania

**Wikidata**: [Q210197](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q210197)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukës)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kukes

## Summary
Kukës is a city located in Kukës County, Albania, serving as the administrative capital of both the municipality and the county. Situated at an elevation of 320 meters above sea level, it functions as a significant human settlement with a recorded population of 15,643 as of the 2023 census. The city is geographically defined by its proximity to Mount Gjallica and the Drin Basin, acting as a central hub for the surrounding administrative units.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Kukës is an instance of a city and a large human settlement.
*   **Location:** It is located in Kukës County, Albania, specifically within the administrative unit of Njësia administrative Kukës (Communes of Albania) since 2015.
*   **Coordinates:** The city is positioned at latitude 42.0758 and longitude 20.4231.
*   **Elevation:** The city sits 320 meters above sea level.
*   **Population:** The population was recorded as 15,643 based on the 2023 census determination method.
*   **Time Zone:** The local time follows Central European Time and Central European Summer Time.
*   **Postal Codes:** The city utilizes postal codes ranging from 8501 to 8503.
*   **Local Dialing Code:** The specific dialing code for the area is 24.
*   **Founding/Inception:** While the city itself is ancient, the associated football club FK Kukësi was founded in 1930.
*   **Official Website:** The municipal website is https://kukesi.gov.al/.
*   **Native Labels:** The name is "Kukësi" when used with a definite article and "Kukës" with an indefinite article.
*   **Geographic Features:** The city offers views of Mount Gjallica and the Drin Basin.
*   **Administrative Status:** It serves as the capital of Kukës municipality and Kukës County.
*   **Related Entities:** The city is associated with the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium and the Kukës International Airport Zayed.
*   **Notable Person:** Herciana Matmuja, an Albanian singer, is a notable person associated with the region.
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   GND ID: 4620169-5
    *   VIAF ID: 138476659
    *   FAST ID: 1247461
    *   Freebase ID: /m/01j_k7
    *   GeoNames ID: 782661
    *   OpenWeatherMap City ID: 782661
    *   MusicBrainz Area ID: 1b759996-e6de-4d75-829b-c956cfe7b651
    *   Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID: 1025349
    *   Who's on First ID: 890443443
    *   Yale Lux ID: place/4c71ea08-14b5-4b07-8201-48a45584e9ad
    *   National Library of Greece ID: 318742
    *   Library of Congress Authority ID: n88029240
    *   National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007567213705171
    *   OpenStreetMap Relation ID: 1248537
    *   GNS Unique Feature ID: -106015
*   **Aliases:** The city is known by aliases including Kukes, Kukësi, クカス, アルバニア, ククス, クケシ, and Кукеш.
*   **Described By:** The city is described in "The World Atlas" (3rd edition, 1999, Russian language) on page 106 as "Кукес".

## FAQs
**What is the administrative role of Kukës within Albania?**
Kukës serves as the capital for both Kukës municipality and Kukës County. It functions as the central administrative hub for the region, overseeing the Njësia administrative Kukës unit established in 2015.

**How large is the population of Kukës and how is it measured?**
As of the 2023 census, the population of the city is 15,643. This figure was determined using standard census methodology to ensure accuracy for the specific point in time.

**What are the geographic and climatic characteristics of the city?**
The city is located at an elevation of 320 meters above sea level with coordinates at 42.0758° N, 20.4231° E. It observes Central European Time and Central European Summer Time, situated near the Drin Basin and Mount Gjallica.

**Which sports and cultural institutions are associated with Kukës?**
The city is home to the football club FK Kukësi, which was established in 1930, and the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium. It is also the birthplace or residence of notable figures such as singer Herciana Matmuja.

**How can one identify Kukës in international databases and libraries?**
Kukës is indexed under numerous authority IDs, including the GND (4620169-5), VIAF (138476659), and Library of Congress (n88029240). It is also cataloged in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names and the National Library of Israel's J9U system.

## Why It Matters
Kukës matters as a critical administrative and demographic center in northeastern Albania, anchoring the Kukës County region. Its role as the capital of both the municipality and the county makes it the primary locus for governance, public services, and regional planning in the area. The city's strategic location near the Drin Basin and its elevation provide a distinct geographic context that influences local agriculture, climate, and settlement patterns.

Beyond administration, Kukës represents a hub for local culture and sports, evidenced by the long-standing presence of FK Kukësi since 1930 and the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium. The city's connection to notable individuals like Herciana Matmuja highlights its contribution to Albanian cultural life. Furthermore, the existence of the Kukës International Airport Zayed underscores its importance as a transportation node, facilitating connectivity for the region. The city's detailed documentation in global databases, from the World Atlas to MusicBrainz, reflects its recognized status in international geography and cultural mapping.

## Notable For
*   **Administrative Centrality:** It is the dual capital of both Kukës municipality and Kukës County.
*   **Geographic Distinctiveness:** The city is visually defined by the backdrop of Mount Gjallica and the Drin Basin.
*   **Sports Heritage:** It hosts FK Kukësi, a football club founded in 1930, and the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium.
*   **Cultural Output:** It is associated with prominent Albanian singer Herciana Matmuja.
*   **Comprehensive Documentation:** The city is uniquely identified across dozens of international authority files, including GND, VIAF, FAST, and Library of Congress.
*   **Multilingual Presence:** It has Wikipedia articles in over 80 languages, ranging from Albanian and English to Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.
*   **Historical Record:** It is explicitly described in the 1999 Russian edition of "The World Atlas" as "Кукес".
*   **Digital Integration:** The city has a dedicated OpenStreetMap relation (1248537) and a specific OpenWeatherMap ID (782661).

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Profile
Kukës is a city situated in Kukës County, Albania, acting as the administrative heart of the region. Geographically, it is located at latitude 42.0758 and longitude 20.4231, with an elevation of 320 meters above sea level. The city falls under the administrative unit of Njësia administrative Kukës, which was established as part of the Communes of Albania structure in 2015. It serves as the capital for both the Kukës municipality and the broader Kukës County. The local time zone alternates between Central European Time and Central European Summer Time. The city is visually characterized by views of Mount Gjallica and the Drin Basin, as captured in its primary image.

### Demographics and Communication
According to the 2023 census, the population of Kukës stands at 15,643. The city utilizes postal codes ranging from 8501 to 8503 for mail delivery. For telecommunications, the local dialing code is 24. The official municipal website is accessible at https://kukesi.gov.al/, serving as a primary digital resource for residents and visitors. The city's native label varies by grammatical context: "Kukësi" is used with a definite article, while "Kukës" is used with an indefinite article.

### Infrastructure and Institutions
The city supports significant infrastructure, including the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium, a football stadium located within Albania. It is also the site of the Kukës International Airport Zayed, which facilitates air travel for the region. The sports culture is anchored by FK Kukësi, an association football club founded in 1930, which has its headquarters in the city. These institutions contribute to the city's identity as a center for recreation and regional connectivity.

### Cultural and Historical Context
Kukës has produced notable figures such as Herciana Matmuja, an Albanian singer with Albanian citizenship. The city is described in historical and geographical literature, including "The World Atlas" (3rd edition, 1999, Russian language), where it is referred to as "Кукес" on page 106. The city's coat of arms is depicted in the file "Stema_e_Bashkisë_Kukës.svg". It is also categorized under "Category:Kukës" and "Category:People from Kukës" on Wikipedia, highlighting its role in the lives of its inhabitants.

### Digital Identity and Authority Records
Kukës is extensively cataloged in global knowledge bases. Its GND ID is 4620169-5, and it holds a VIAF ID of 138476659. Other unique identifiers include the FAST ID (1247461), Freebase ID (/m/01j_k7), and GeoNames ID (782661). The city is also tracked by the MusicBrainz Area ID (1b759996-e6de-4d75-829b-c956cfe7b651) and the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID (1025349). In the OpenStreetMap ecosystem, it is defined by relation ID 1248537. Additional authority records include the National Library of Greece ID (318742), the Library of Congress Authority ID (n88029240), and the National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007567213705171). The city's presence is further confirmed by the Yale Lux ID (place/4c71ea08-14b5-4b07-8201-48a45584e9ad) and the Who's on First ID (890443443).

### Global Recognition and Aliases
The city is known by various aliases across different languages and scripts, including Kukes, Kukësi, クカス, アルバニア, ククス, クケシ, and Кукеш. It maintains a significant online presence with Wikipedia articles in over 80 languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Russian, and Japanese. The city's topic is organized under the main category "Category:Kukës," and it has a dedicated page banner and locator map image available on Wikimedia Commons. The GNS Unique Feature ID for the location is -106015.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. MusicBrainz
3. GeoNames
4. Virtual International Authority File