The Vjosa (; indefinite form: ) or Aoös ( el, Αώος) is a river in northwestern Greece and southwestern Albania. Its total length is about ,
of which the first are in Greece, and the remaining in Albania.
Its drainage basin is and its average discharge is .
The main tributaries are
Voidomatis
Voidomatis ( el, Βοϊδομάτης) is a river in the Ioannina regional unit in northwestern Greece, and is a tributary of the Aoös river. The main current sources are located under the village of Vikos. Along its path it converges with ot ...
,
Sarantaporos,
Drino and
Shushicë.
The river arises in the
Pindus mountains of
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinric ...
, Greece, and generally flows northwest. It enters Albania near
Çarshovë, and empties into the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to the ...
just north of
Vlorë
Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surrounded by the foo ...
. Generally wild and unpolluted, the river is surrounded by the
Vikos–Aoös National Park
The Vikos–Aoös National Park ( el, Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου–Αώου ''Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou'') is a national park in the region of Epirus in northwestern Greece. The park, founded in 1973, is one of ten national p ...
in Greece and the
Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape
The Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape ( sq, Peisazh i Mbrojtur Vjosë-Nartë) is a protected landscape area in southwestern Albania. It covers a total area of , encompassing the lagoon of Narta along with the estuary of the Vjosë and its surroun ...
near its mouth. In December 2020, the Albanian portion of the river was designated a "Managed Nature Reserve" by the government. There is a campaign by the environmentalist groups to designate the whole Albanian part of the course a national park, to guard against the prospective hydroelectric projects.
Name
The Vjosa is known by a number of different names. In antiquity it was called ''Aoös'' () in
Greek (e.g. in Eratosthenes' Geography), and ''Aous'' in
Latin. In Albanian it is called ''Vjosë'' or ''Vjosa'', while in Greece it is known by its ancient name (Αώος in modern orthography), in medieval Latin maps was called ''Viossa'' as well as ''Vovousa'' () or ''Aias'' ().
[Λαμπρίδης Ιωάννης "Ζαγοριακά", Τυπογραφείον Αυγής, Αθήνα, 1870] In Greek is also known as Βοϊούσα (Voioussa, pronounced vo-i-Usa), especially in pre-20th century texts. According to historian Ap. Vakalopoulos (1977) the name Voioussa is the common Greek name of Aoos.
''Vjosa'' is also a common female Albanian given name.
Geography
The river arises in the
Pindus mountains of
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinric ...
, Greece, near the village of
Vovousa
Vovousa ( el, Βοβούσα or Βωβούσα; rup, Bãiasa, or ) is a village and a former community in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zagori, of which it is ...
. An artificial lake has been constructed at an elevation of , where a hydroelectric dam has been in place since 1987. It flows through the canyons of
Vikos–Aoös National Park
The Vikos–Aoös National Park ( el, Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου–Αώου ''Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou'') is a national park in the region of Epirus in northwestern Greece. The park, founded in 1973, is one of ten national p ...
, and then through the town of
Konitsa, where it is joined by the
Voidomatis
Voidomatis ( el, Βοϊδομάτης) is a river in the Ioannina regional unit in northwestern Greece, and is a tributary of the Aoös river. The main current sources are located under the village of Vikos. Along its path it converges with ot ...
. It enters Albania near
Çarshovë, where it is joined by the
Sarantaporos, and then continues northwest through
Përmet
Përmet (; sq-definite, Permeti) is a city and municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë and Përmet. The total po ...
,
Këlcyrë
Këlcyrë ( sq-definite, Këlcyra) is a town and a municipality in southern Albania, located on the bank of the river Vjosë. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Ballaban, Dishnicë, Këlc ...
, and
Tepelenë
Tepelenë ( sq-definite, Tepelena) is a city and a municipality in Gjirokastër County, in the south of Albania. The town is located on the left bank of the Vjosa River, about three kilometres downstream from its union with the Drino.
Until the ...
(where it is joined by the
Drino),
Memaliaj
Memaliaj is a town and a municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is l ...
,
Selenicë
Selenicë ( rup, Selenitsã "Selițcă") is a municipality in Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Armen, Brataj, Kotë, Selenicë, Sevaster and Vll ...
and
Novoselë
Novoselë is a village and a former municipality in the Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Vlorë
Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous c ...
. It then flows into the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to the ...
northwest of
Vlorë
Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surrounded by the foo ...
. The river's mouth is located within the boundaries of the
Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape
The Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape ( sq, Peisazh i Mbrojtur Vjosë-Nartë) is a protected landscape area in southwestern Albania. It covers a total area of , encompassing the lagoon of Narta along with the estuary of the Vjosë and its surroun ...
. In December 2020, the Albanian portion of the Vjosa was designated a "Managed Nature Reserve" by the government.
The main tributaries of Vjosa are the
Sarantaporos and
Voidomatis
Voidomatis ( el, Βοϊδομάτης) is a river in the Ioannina regional unit in northwestern Greece, and is a tributary of the Aoös river. The main current sources are located under the village of Vikos. Along its path it converges with ot ...
in Greece, and the
Drino and
Shushicë in Albania,
The main cities and towns along the river are, in downstream order,
Vovousa
Vovousa ( el, Βοβούσα or Βωβούσα; rup, Bãiasa, or ) is a village and a former community in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zagori, of which it is ...
and
Konitsa in Greece; and
Përmet
Përmet (; sq-definite, Permeti) is a city and municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë and Përmet. The total po ...
,
Këlcyrë
Këlcyrë ( sq-definite, Këlcyra) is a town and a municipality in southern Albania, located on the bank of the river Vjosë. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Ballaban, Dishnicë, Këlc ...
,
Çarshovë,
Tepelenë
Tepelenë ( sq-definite, Tepelena) is a city and a municipality in Gjirokastër County, in the south of Albania. The town is located on the left bank of the Vjosa River, about three kilometres downstream from its union with the Drino.
Until the ...
,
Memaliaj
Memaliaj is a town and a municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is l ...
,
Selenicë
Selenicë ( rup, Selenitsã "Selițcă") is a municipality in Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Armen, Brataj, Kotë, Selenicë, Sevaster and Vll ...
and
Novoselë
Novoselë is a village and a former municipality in the Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Vlorë
Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous c ...
in Albania.
Antiquity
In
Greek mythology,
''Aous'' is an epithet or name of
Adonis
In Greek mythology, Adonis, ; derived from the Canaanite word ''ʼadōn'', meaning "lord". R. S. P. Beekes, ''Etymological Dictionary of Greek'', Brill, 2009, p. 23. was the mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite.
One day, Adonis was gored by ...
. ''
Aous
The Vjosa (; indefinite form: ) or Aoös ( el, Αώος) is a river in northwestern Greece and southwestern Albania. Its total length is about , of which the first are in Greece, and the remaining in Albania. Its drainage basin is and its ave ...
'' was also the name of the first king of
Cyprus. A river and a mountain in Cyprus were also named ''
Aous
The Vjosa (; indefinite form: ) or Aoös ( el, Αώος) is a river in northwestern Greece and southwestern Albania. Its total length is about , of which the first are in Greece, and the remaining in Albania. Its drainage basin is and its ave ...
''.
Hecataeus (550–476 BC) refers to the river as ''Aias'' ( el, Αἴας), the name ''Anios'' ( el, Ἄνιος) is used by
Plutarch in
Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...
, while
Polybius,
Livy and
Strabo use the term ''Aoös''. The
Thesprotian tribe of
Parauaioi received their name from the river, as those living beside it.
Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to:
* Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium''
*Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC
* Pausanias of Sicily, physician of ...
writes of "sharks" ( el, θηρία) in the river, as it flows through
Thesprotia
Thesprotia (; el, Θεσπρωτία, ) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital and largest town is Igoumenitsa. Thesprotia is named after the Thesprotians, an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the ...
. It is mentioned as ''Avos'' ( el, Αύος) by
Stephanus of Byzantium in the sixth century AD.
In 274 BC
Pyrrhus of Epirus defeated Antigonus II Gonatas
Antigonus II Gonatas ( grc-gre, Ἀντίγονος Γονατᾶς, ; – 239 BC) was a Macedonian ruler who solidified the position of the Antigonid dynasty in Macedon after a long period defined by anarchy and chaos and acquired fame for ...
near the river's banks. In 198 BC,
Philip V of Macedon and the Roman
Titus Quinctius Flamininus, clashed in the
Battle of the Aous. In 170 BC a plot to kidnap
Aulus Hostilius Mancinus
Aulus Hostilius Mancinus was consul of the Roman Republic, together with Aulus Atilius Serranus, in 170 BC. He had been an urban praetor in 180 BC. When he was consul he was given the command of the Third Macedonian War (171-168 BC) for that year. ...
was foiled by
Molossia
The Molossians () were a group of ancient Greek tribes which inhabited the region of Epirus in classical antiquity. Together with the Chaonians and the Thesprotians, they formed the main tribal groupings of the northwestern Greek group. On thei ...
ns by mistake. In antiquity the river passed more to the north, towards where
Fier
Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjo ...
lies today. Owing to an earthquake in the fourth century, it changed to its present course. The earthquake and changed river course led to the decline of the ancient Greek city of
Apollonia.
Conservation
Greece
The
Vikos–Aoös National Park
The Vikos–Aoös National Park ( el, Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου–Αώου ''Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou'') is a national park in the region of Epirus in northwestern Greece. The park, founded in 1973, is one of ten national p ...
( el, Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου–Αώου ''Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou''), created in 1973, is a
national park in
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinric ...
in northwestern Greece. The national park encompasses of mountainous terrain, with numerous rivers, lakes, caves, canyons, and coniferous and deciduous forest. The core of the 3,400 hectare park
[Trakolis: p. 3] is the
Vikos Gorge
The Vikos Gorge or Vikos Canyon ( gr, Φαράγγι του Βίκου) is a gorge in the Pindus Mountains of north-western Greece. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymphe with a length of about 32 km, depth ranging from 120 to 1350 ...
, carved by the Voidomatis River, while the Aoos Gorge, Mount
Tymfi
Tymphe (in Latin and English usage) or Tymfi (in the Greek government's preferred transliteration), Timfi, also Tymphi (, ) is a mountain in the northern Pindus mountain range, northwestern Greece. It is part of the regional unit of Ioannina and ...
, with its highest peak, Gamila, at , and a number of settlements forming the park's peripheral zone.
Albania
In February 2005, the Albanian government made the Vjose-Narte wetlands a protected area. This legislation followed Albania's ratification of the
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (part ...
in December 2004. The river contributes water to the Vjosë-Levan-Fier irrigation canal, a canal that was built in the 1950s to irrigate the
Myzeqe
The Myzeqe (; sq-definite, Myzeqeja; rup, Muzachia) is a plain in the Western Lowlands of Albania. The Myzeqe is the largest and widest plain, measured by area, in the Lowlands.
Location
The Myzeqe plain is a large alluvial plain traversed by ...
. In December 2020, the Albanian portion of the river was designated a "Managed Nature Reserve" by the Albanian government.
The Vjosa's potential for hydropower has attracted developers to submit proposal to planning authorities for dam projects along the river and its tributaries. By 2017, over 2000 dam projects had gained governmental approval on stretches of river throughout the Balkans, including the Vjosa's channel.
Developers have met with opposition from European nature organisations including RiverWatch,
EuroNatur, and
EcoAlbania.
A 2012 study assessed the hydromorphology of the Balkan's rivers, taking into account the structural status of 35,000 river kilometres. The study showed that the region's rivers are largely intact, with 30% deemed pristine and 50% slightly modified.
In February 2020, a campaign to elevate the status of the Vjosa watershed to Vjosa National Park gained approval from 20 environmental groups under the leadership of EcoAlbania. The effort to create Europe's first wild river park and save 300 km of rivers and streams targeted several projects identified in a February 2021 proposal.
In September 2020, Albanian Prime Minister
Edi Rama announced that a protected area will be created around the Vjosa. In December 2020, the Albanian government designated the Vjosa River as a "Managed Nature Reserve" or nature park.
Environmental groups are skeptical of the level of protection afforded by "protected" status. A national park designation would prohibit hydroelectric projects, airports, and other development; a protected area designation would not.
In April 2021 a petition signed by Vjosa River scientists was delivered to Albanian President
Ilir Meta
Ilir Rexhep Meta (; born 24 March 1969) is an Albanian politician. He served as President of Albania from 24 July 2017 to 24 July 2022.
Previously Meta served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and he was Speaker of the Parliament of Albania ...
.
The scientists immediate concern is a plan by a Turkish-Albanian venture,
Ayen ALB, to build a 50-metre high hydroelectric dam. It would be the first development to change the course of Albania's 200 kilometre portion of the river. The dam would flood areas populated with the 1,175 animal and plant species—some endangered. It would inundate farmland, destroy the river's fishery, and force thousands from their homes. Activists maintain that the government should focus on other less damaging renewable energy sources.
See also
*
List of rivers of Albania
Albania has more than 152 rivers and streams, forming 8 large rivers flowing from southeast to northwest, mainly discharging towards the Adriatic coast. The rivers of Albania have a total annual flow rate of , or per year.
A majority of the pre ...
*
List of rivers of Europe
*
List of rivers of Greece
This is a list of rivers that are at least partially in Greece. The rivers flowing into the sea are sorted along the coast. Rivers flowing into other rivers are listed by the rivers they flow into. The confluence is given in parentheses.
For an a ...
References
External links
Vjosa/Aoos River Ecomuseum Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vjosa
Rivers of Albania
Rivers of Greece
International rivers of Europe
Chaonia
Illyrian Albania
Labëria
Landforms of Ioannina (regional unit)
Rivers of Epirus (region)
Pindus
Braided rivers in Albania
Natura 2000 in Greece