The history of Kukës in short
The history of Kukës has two turning points. The first was the move of the town in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Fierza dam on the Drin was planned and built. The second was the spring of 1999, when people fled from Kosovo into Albania and the town took them in.
Where two years are possible, this page gives both. The numbers for 1999 are estimates from that spring, not a census.
Kukës timeline
The main dates.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1962 (22 July) | Building of the new town begins |
| 1965 (April) | First people settle in the new town |
| 1970 | Construction of the Fierza power station begins |
| 1976 or 1978 | The old town is flooded |
| 1978 | First turbine at Fierza; Lake Fierza forms |
| 1979 to 1992 | Tunnels are built about 30 m below the town |
| 1980 | The Fierza power station reaches full capacity |
| 1999 | Refugees from Kosovo arrive in Kukës |
| 2021 (18 April) | First commercial flight at Kukës airport |
If you want to see where this happened, the things to do in Kukës include the museum and the memorial obelisk. For a trip into the mountains beyond the lake, see the Albanian Alps tours.
Tours and day trips from Kukës
Albanian Alps, Valbona, the Koman ferry and trips to Kosovo, with live prices and availability.
The moved town and the Fierza dam
The Fierza power station on the Drin was built from 1970. Its first turbine ran in 1978 and it reached full capacity in 1980. Lake Fierza formed behind the dam and is today about 72.5 km² in area and roughly 70 km long.
Building of the new town began on 22 July 1962, and the first people settled there in April 1965. The old town went under water in 1976 or 1978, and the resettlement was complete by 1978.
The 1999 refugees from Kosovo
In spring 1999, people from Kosovo crossed into Albania in very large numbers.
On 25 April 1999 an estimated 86,000 people were in Kukës town. The table shows how they were housed.
| Where people stayed | Estimate, 25 April 1999 |
|---|---|
| Homes in the town | About 45,000 |
| Collective centres | About 20,000 |
| Tent camps | About 16,000 |
| Scattered tractor camps | About 5,000 |
| Total in Kukës town | About 86,000 |
These numbers belong to one place and one date. By 7 May 1999, about 400,000 people had crossed the border into Albania as a whole. That figure covers the whole country, not Kukës alone and not private homes in the town. A memorial obelisk for the refugees stands in the centre, near the museum.
Tunnels and the airport
Two more chapters of the town's recent past.
Tunnels under the town
Tunnel building ran from 1979 to 1992, about 30 m below the town. The plans included accommodation, a command centre, a hospital, a bakery and a printing house. Do not assume that the tunnels are fully equipped or open to visitors today.
The airport
The airport carries the name Kukës International Airport ZAYED. Its first commercial flight was on 18 April 2021. A past flight does not mean a timetable today, so check current flights before you plan around it.
Getting to Kukës →
Kukës history: frequently asked questions
Why was Kukës moved?
The Fierza dam on the Drin created a reservoir that covered the old town. Building of the new town began on 22 July 1962.
When was old Kukës flooded?
In 1976 or 1978. The first turbine of the power station ran in 1978, and the power station reached full capacity in 1980.
How many refugees came to Kukës in 1999?
Estimates put about 86,000 people in Kukës town on 25 April 1999, in homes, collective centres and camps. About 400,000 crossed into Albania as a whole by 7 May 1999.
When did the Fierza power station start work?
Construction began in 1970. The first turbine ran in 1978 and the station reached full capacity in 1980.
Can I visit the underground tunnels?
Tunnels were built about 30 m under the town from 1979 to 1992. Do not plan on a full visit. Ask locally whether a guided visit is possible.
Is kukes.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the Municipality of Kukës, the Albanian tourism agency or any museum.