The Vivari Channel (
Albanian: Kanali i Butrintit, also known as Butrinto River) links
Lake Butrint
Lake Butrint ( sq, Liqeni i Butrintit) is a salt lagoon south of Saranda, Albania, located in direct proximity of the Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by dense forested hills, rocky coast and complemented by saltwater and freshwater marshlands. The ...
in
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 located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
with the
Straits of Corfu, and forms a border of the peninsula of
Butrint
Butrint ( el, Βουθρωτόν and Βουθρωτός, ''Bouthrōtón'', la, Buthrōtum) was an ancient Greek and later Roman city and bishopric in Epirus. "Speakers of these various Greek dialects settled different parts of Greece at differen ...
.
The channel flows in both directions, from the lake to the sea and vice versa during the rising tide. A
pontoon is situated near the gate of the
Butrint National Park
The Butrint National Park ( sq, Parku Kombëtar i Butrintit) is a national park in Vlorë County, southern Albania. It is located south of Sarandë. The park encompasses of hilly terrain with freshwater lakes, wetlands, salt marshes, open p ...
. Two small forts are located in the southern part of the channel; both were built during the rule of
Ali Pasha of Ioannina
Ali Pasha of Ioannina (1740 – 24 January 1822), was an Albanian ruler who served as pasha of a large part of western Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territories, which was referred to as the Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioanni ...
.
According to international organizations, the channel serves as the demarcation line where 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 t ...
ends and the
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including C ...
begins.
The channel creates a unique situation in Lake Butrint, which is partly fed with fresh water and partly with salt water, thereby creating ideal conditions for
mollusks
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
farming. During the communist regime, many students used to volunteer in the summer time to search for ancient ruins in the Butrint National Park.
See Also
*
Butrinti
*
Butrint National Park
The Butrint National Park ( sq, Parku Kombëtar i Butrintit) is a national park in Vlorë County, southern Albania. It is located south of Sarandë. The park encompasses of hilly terrain with freshwater lakes, wetlands, salt marshes, open p ...
*
Venetian Acropolis Castle
The Venetian Acropolis Castle is a castle on the Butrint Peninsula. The castle is located by the Channel of Vivari and close to the neighboring Venetian Castle Venetian Triangular Castle and the Butrint National Park. In 1386 the Venetians pur ...
*
Venetian Triangular Castle
The Venetian Triangular Castle is a castle near Butrint. The castle is located by the Channel of Vivari and by the nearby Butrint National Park. In 1572 when the wars between Venice and the Ottomans had been occurring this left Butrint and its ...
*
Lake Butrint
Lake Butrint ( sq, Liqeni i Butrintit) is a salt lagoon south of Saranda, Albania, located in direct proximity of the Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by dense forested hills, rocky coast and complemented by saltwater and freshwater marshlands. The ...
*
Geography of Albania
Albania is a small country in Southern, Southeastern Europe and Western Balkans strategically positioned on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea inside the Mediterranean Sea, with a coastline of about . It is bounded by Montenegro to the northwest, Koso ...
*
Lakes of Albania
Albania is home to 247 natural lakes and more than 800 artificial lakes. The natural lakes, most of karstic or glacial origin, based on their origin, are classified as the following, 4 tectonic, 134 ice-dammed,
94 karst and 15 river. Lagoons are p ...
&
Lagoons of Albania
Albania has 4 main lagoons. They are listed as follows:
List of lagoons in Albania
Other lagoons include Vilun, Kunë-Vain, and Orikum.
See also
* Protected areas of Albania
* Geography of Albania
References
{{Portal bar, Ecolog ...
References
Bodies of water of Albania
Geography of Vlorë County
Landforms of the Ionian Islands (region)
Channels of Europe
Butrint National Park
{{Vlorë-geo-stub