Shtame Pass is a tragic road in Albania
Qafë Shtamë is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,229m (4,032ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Durrës and Dibër counties in Albania.
Where is Shtame Pass?
The pass is located in the northern part of the country, within the Shtamë Pass National Park. The summit is marked with an obelisk dedicated to Major Abaz Kupi.
How long is the road to Shtame Pass?
The road to the summit, also known as Qafa e Shtames, Qafshtama, and Qafë-Shtamës, is 55.7 km (34.61 miles) long, running west-east from Fushë-Krujë (in Durrës County) to Burrel (in Dibër county).
How to drive to Shtame Pass?
The road to the summit is called SH38. It has two different parts. The western side, from Fushë-Krujë to the summit, was paved in 2016, providing a smooth drive with hairpin turns and numerous twists. On the eastern side, from the summit to Burrel, the road is extremely challenging. This segment is unpaved and is open to 4x4 vehicles only, featuring a series of sharp hairpin turns and steep sections.
What happened in Shtame Pass?
On April 29, 1997, tragedy struck when an explosion occurred in an underground bunker complex on the east side of the pass. The tunnels were filled with ammunition and weapons left over from a military storage site from the communist era. This accident resulted in the loss of 23 lives.
Pic: Tomas Miller