Has (region)

Introduction

The name of Hasi was documented in the year 1570 and many cronists in the beggining of the 17th century have used this name regarding the Kastriots' origin and the Askol population. In latin, Has means 'Dry land' because of its nature which remains even today known as the Dry Has. Hasi is an ethno-geographic area with well-defined borders, sorrounded by rivers of Drini i Bardh in all sides. Hasi area is located in north-eastern part of Albania, being part of Kukes(inside of the Albanian territory) while the south-western part remaining in Kosovo, in Gjakova area and a part that captures the Prizren area. This division occured in 1913 at the Ambasadors Conference of London after the Balkan wars. Hasi has an area of 371 kilometers square and has a population of around 40,000 in the Republic of Kosovo, while in the Republic of Albania it has an area of 374 kilometers square and a population of 21,500. In this way ,Hasi has an area of 745 kilometers square and a population of 61,500.

Harta e Hasit

Name (Etymology)

Has designation emerges from a document of the year 1570. In the early 17th century many chronicler mention the name of Has refering to the origin of the Kastriotis and the Askol population who struggled in the pronunciation of the letters h ands and in this way its name is seen in form of "Az" or "Ass". In the early 17th century Has was also known as Has Shullaa which in Latin means "dry places" according to its nature which remains the same even nowadays which becomes called Dry Has.

Geography

"Has" region that is part of Republic of Albania doesn't contain the whole ethnographic region of Has. Has is a ethnographic province with well defined boundaries, surrounded all around with lakes. Its region in the parts of Albania is based on Kukes, and through the Kosovo side, it is divided in the Municipality of Gjakova, and one part in the Municipality of Prizren.