Koran Festival Builds New Tourist Tradition in Pogradec

In a festive atmosphere with the participation of the local community, the "Festival of the Koran Fish" was held for the second consecutive year, CE Report quotes ATA.

The event, organized by the Municipality of Pogradec, aims to promote tourism, protect the lake’s ecosystem, and preserve the natural heritage of the city.

The Prefect of Korçë County, Nertil Jole, stated that the main highlight of the event was the release of 200,000 Koran fish fry into the lake—a significant increase compared to last year. This intervention is an important step in preserving and increasing the population of this endemic species, which exists only in Lake Ohrid.

According to him, the festival represents not only environmental care, but also the authorities’ commitment to turning biodiversity into a tourism and development asset. The rare species is part of Pogradec’s identity and has strong potential to attract visitors.

The Mayor of Pogradec, Ilir Xhakolli, praised all contributors to the event and emphasized:

“Year after year, we are building a new tradition for the city. Starting next year, the Festival of the Koran will be joined by a Carp Festival, with plans to develop a special facility for the breeding of this endangered species.”

This initiative aims to further strengthen Pogradec’s position as a unique tourist destination, transforming the lake into a sustainable source of not just economic, but also cultural and ecological development.