Vjosa River is one of the main rivers in Albania with a total length of 272 kilometers of which the first 80 kilometers are in Greece, and the remaining 192 kilometers are in Albania.
Its source is in Greece in the Pindus mountains.It enters Albania near Çarshovë and continues northwest through cities of Përmet, Këlcyrë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Selenicë and Novoselë. It flows into the Adriatic Sea, northwest of Vlorë.
The total area of the basin is 6,710 km2. The Albanian catchment area of the Vjoša River covers 4,365 km2 or about two-thirds of the entire catchment area. The rest is situated in Greece. The largest tributary of the Vjosa River is the Drino. It has a catchment area of 1,320 km2, of which 256 km2 are located in Greece.
The other branch of the Vjoša River is the Shushica, with a catchment area of about 715 km2. A characteristic feature of the catchment of the Vjosa River is the presence of deep carst, which provides an abundant underground supply during dry season. The annual discharge volume of this river is about 5,550 million m3 and the specific discharge is about 26 litres per second per km2. Feasibility studies have been carried out for constructing a hydropower station on this river.
Chemical analyses of samples taken from the Vjoša show that water quality is generally good. Some high values have been observed for iron or hardness in the Vjosa, and for chlorine in the Langarica. This river has the best water quality in the country, adequate for all uses. Based on the biotic index, the water quality is good with the exception of two places: near a mine and at a bitumen and oil reservoir.
Other significant rivers in Albania are the Drini, Mati, Ishmi, Erzeni, Shkumbini, and Semani. The mean annual discharge of all rivers is about 1,300 m3, which corresponds to a specific discharge of 29 litres per second per km2, one of the highest in Europe. Surface water also includes the natural lakes of Ohrid, Prespa and Shkodra, a multitude of minor lakes, and reservoirs built along the main rivers: at Fierza, Komani and Vau Deja along the Drini River; Ulza and Shkopeti on the Mati River; and Banja on the Devolli River. Several lagoons are situated along the seacoast, the main ones being the Karavasta, Narta and Butrinti.
Vjosa River is one of the main rivers in Albania with a total length of 272 kilometers of which the first 80 kilometers are in Greece, and the remaining 192 kilometers are in Albania.
Its source is in Greece in the Pindus mountains.It enters Albania near Çarshovë and continues northwest through cities of Përmet, Këlcyrë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Selenicë and Novoselë. It flows into the Adriatic Sea, northwest of Vlorë.
The total area of the basin is 6,710 km2. The Albanian catchment area of the Vjoša River covers 4,365 km2 or about two-thirds of the entire catchment area. The rest is situated in Greece. The largest tributary of the Vjosa River is the Drino. It has a catchment area of 1,320 km2, of which 256 km2 are located in Greece.
The other branch of the Vjoša River is the Shushica, with a catchment area of about 715 km2. A characteristic feature of the catchment of the Vjosa River is the presence of deep carst, which provides an abundant underground supply during dry season. The annual discharge volume of this river is about 5,550 million m3 and the specific discharge is about 26 litres per second per km2. Feasibility studies have been carried out for constructing a hydropower station on this river.
Chemical analyses of samples taken from the Vjoša show that water quality is generally good. Some high values have been observed for iron or hardness in the Vjosa, and for chlorine in the Langarica. This river has the best water quality in the country, adequate for all uses. Based on the biotic index, the water quality is good with the exception of two places: near a mine and at a bitumen and oil reservoir.
Other significant rivers in Albania are the Drini, Mati, Ishmi, Erzeni, Shkumbini, and Semani. The mean annual discharge of all rivers is about 1,300 m3, which corresponds to a specific discharge of 29 litres per second per km2, one of the highest in Europe. Surface water also includes the natural lakes of Ohrid, Prespa and Shkodra, a multitude of minor lakes, and reservoirs built along the main rivers: at Fierza, Komani and Vau Deja along the Drini River; Ulza and Shkopeti on the Mati River; and Banja on the Devolli River. Several lagoons are situated along the seacoast, the main ones being the Karavasta, Narta and Butrinti.