Topographically, the county is dominated by mountainous and high terrain, with a great variety of natural features including valleys, canyons, gorges, rivers, glacial lakes and dense forests.

Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the county and has the largest potential to be a source for sustainable income, due to its natural and cultural heritage.

Human activity in the territory of the modern Dibër County can be traced back to the Neolithic.

[7] The region that today corresponds to the county territory was inhabited by the ancient Illyrian tribe of Penestae.

After the death of Gjon Kastrioti in 1437, the eastern region was annexed by the Ottomans and became seat of the Sanjak of Dibra.

[10] The comprising regions were awarded to his son Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, where he survived to conquer back his father’s land and unite all of Albania in 1444.

Much of the Dibër County is dominated by mountainous or high terrain, with a great variety of natural features caused by prehistoric glaciers and varied topography.

It heads westwards through deep gorges and canyons to Mat and northwest through the towns of Klos and Burrel.

The forests are composed of diverse species of deciduous and coniferous trees and a great variety of wildflowers.

The eastern bound of the county forms a part of the European Green Belt, which serves as a retreat for endangered mammal and plant species.

[18] Dibër County’s economy historically depended on agriculture and sheparding, although the collapse of communism and lack of jobs has led to many Albanians migrating abroad.

Dibra is consequently one of the poorer regions of Albania due to its remote and rugged situation, although it is more developed than neighboring Elbasan and Kukës counties which have seen severe economic stagnation.