VLOR

also called Vlora, Geg dialect Vlon, Italian Valona town that is the second seaport of Albania. It lies at the head of Vlors Bay, which is protected by the mountainous Karaburun (peninsula) and the island of Sazan (Italian Saseno, ancient Saso). Of ancient origin, it was founded as Aulon, one of three Greek colonies on the Illyrian coast. It was strategically important during Roman times and in the 11th12th-century wars between Normans and Byzantines. Later it was contested by Venetians, Serbs, and Turks. On Nov. 28, 1912, Ismail Qemal proclaimed there the independence of Albania. Vlor was occupied by the Italians in 191520 and again in 1939. During World War II Sazan was used as a German and Italian submarine base. After the war the town's harbour and submarine facilities were improved by the Soviet Union, which used the bay as a naval base until 1961, when conflict between the two states resulted in a Soviet departure. Vlor's population includes Muslims, Greek Orthodox, and a few Roman Catholics. The town is surrounded by hilly olive groves and is situated just inland from its port, which is linked by pipeline to oil fields and the Crrik refinery. Vlor has a fishing and canning industry, a distillery, and an olive-oil refinery. Natural bitumen from nearby Selenic is exported. Pop. (1990 est.) 73,800.