Was born in Venice Karl Gega (Carl Ritter von Ghega), construction engineer of Albanian origin. He graduated from the Military College of Saint Anne for philosophy and mathematics (1817), completed higher studies and graduated from the University of Padova. In 1819, he received the title “Doctor” in mathematics. After graduation, he worked in the state organization for roads and water in the province of Venice. Worked on scientific basis and practiced the principle of adhesion. He was the first to introduce the concept of virtual length into the science of railway construction. In 1824, he was transferred to the province of Treviso as in charge of constructions and, later, chief engineer for the entire northern province of Italy. In 1842 he was appointed inspector of the southern lines and head of planning for the study of all the railways of the empire. He was put in charge of the construction of the Vienna-Grac-Trieste line and in 1848 he was charged with the study, design and construction of the Zemering (Semmering) railway, a rather complicated work with 15 tunnels (the longest 1434 m). The railway and works of art were successfully built according to his design and put into operation. For this, Karl Gega became quite famous. He modernized the entire railway system. He passed away in Vienna, in 1860. (In the photo: Karl Gega)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 760-761.
Photo: © https://konica.al/2022/01/karl-gega-shqiptari-i-triumfit-shkencor/
Graphic processing: AHCF
