Vjosë
Encyclopedia
Vjosë or Aoös is a river
in northwestern Greece
and southwestern Albania
.
Its total length is about 272 kilometres (169 mi), of which the first 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) are in Greece, and the remaining 192 kilometres (119.3 mi) are in Albania. Vjosë is fed by two secondary branches, both in Albania, the Drino
river and the Shushicë.
Its source is in Greece
, specifically in the Pindus
mountains, in Epirus
, near the village of Vovousa
. An artificial lake has been constructed at an altitude of 1350 metres, and there is a hydroelectric dam in place since 1987. It flows through the Vikos–Aoös National Park, where it forms impressive canyons. It flows through Konitsa
, and enters Albania near Çarshovë
. It continues northwest through Përmet
, Këlcyrë
, Tepelenë, Memaliaj
, Selenicë
and Novoselë
. It flows into the Adriatic Sea
, northwest of Vlorë
.
, and Aous in Latin. In Albania it is called Vjosë or Vjosa, while in Greece it is known by its ancient name (Αώος in modern orthography), as well as Vovousa (Βοβούσα) or Aias (Αίας, Αἴας).
In Greek Mythology
, Aous is an epithet or name of Adonis
. Aous (King) was also the name of the first king of Cyprus
. A river and a mountain in Cyprus were also named Aous (Cyprus).
Hecataeus (550 - 476 BC) refers to the river as Aias . The name Anios is used by Plutarch
in Caesar
, while Polybius
, Livy
and Strabo
use the term Aoos. The Thesprotian tribe of Parauaioi received their name from the river, as those living beside it. Pausanias writes of "sharks" in the river, as it flows through Thesprotia
. It is mentioned as Auos by Stephanus of Byzantium
in the 6th century AD.
In 198 BC
, Philip V of Macedon
and the Roman Titus Quinctius Flamininus
, clashed in the Battle of the Aous
. At 170 BC
a plot to kidnap Aulus Hostilius Mancinus
was foiled by Molossians by mistake. There are some indications that a river harbour may have existed in Vjosë. In antiquity the river passed more to the north, towards where Fier
nowadays lies. Owing to an earthquake in the 4th century, it changed to the present course. This earthquake and river change were the main reasons that led to the decline of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia
.
in the region of Epirus
in northwestern Greece
. The national park encompasses 126 square kilometres (31,135 acre) of mountainous terrain, with numerous rivers, lakes, cave
s, deep canyon
s and dense coniferous and deciduous
forest. The core of the park (3400 hectare
s) is the Vikos Gorge
, carved by the Voidomatis river, while Aoos gorge, mount Tymfi
, with its highest peak Gamila 2497 metres (8,192.3 ft) and a number of traditionally preserved settlements form the park's peripheral zone.
Currently a 90 MW power plant at Kalivaç produces energy through a dam in the river. The hydropower additional potential of the river is being studied by the Albanian Government. Seven additional hydroelectric power plants
along the Albanian part of the river would have 400 MW total capacity (2,155 GWh/year). The feasibility of the project is being studied. In February 2005 The Albanian Government approved a law, making the Vjose-Narte wetlands a protected area. This legislation followed Albania's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
in December 2004. The river is known for its apport to the important irrigation canal Vjosë-Levan-Fier, a canal that was built in the 50's for the irrigation of the Myzeqe low plains.
Vjosa is a common female Albanian
given name
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in northwestern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and southwestern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Its total length is about 272 kilometres (169 mi), of which the first 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) are in Greece, and the remaining 192 kilometres (119.3 mi) are in Albania. Vjosë is fed by two secondary branches, both in Albania, the Drino
Drino
The Drin or Drinos is a river in southern Albania and northwestern Greece, tributary of the Vjosë. Its source is in the northwestern part of the Ioannina Prefecture, near the village Delvinaki. It flows initially southwest, then northwest and crosses the Albanian border near Ktismata. It continues...
river and the Shushicë.
Its source is in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, specifically in the Pindus
Pindus
The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"...
mountains, in Epirus
Epirus (region)
Epirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë in the north to the Ambracian Gulf in the south...
, near the village of Vovousa
Vovousa
Vovousa 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 a municipal unit. It is one of the original Zagori villages. Population 179...
. An artificial lake has been constructed at an altitude of 1350 metres, and there is a hydroelectric dam in place since 1987. It flows through the Vikos–Aoös National Park, where it forms impressive canyons. It flows through Konitsa
Konitsa
Konitsa is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos...
, and enters Albania near Çarshovë
Çarshovë
Çarshovë is a municipality in the Përmet District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Çarshovë, Vllaho-Psilloterë, Biovizhdë, Zhepë, Draçovë, Iliar-Munushtir, Strëmbec, Pëllumbar and Kanikol....
. It continues northwest through Përmet
Përmet
Përmet is a town in Albania, capital of Përmet District. The population is 7,717. It is flanked by the Vjosë river, which runs along the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë mountain chain, between Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, and through the Këlcyra gorge....
, Këlcyrë
Këlcyrë
Këlcyrë is a municipality in the Përmet District, southern Albania, located on the bank of the river Vjosë. The municipality consists of the town Këlcyrë and the villages Fshat Këlcyrë, Mbrezhdan, Maleshovë, Limar, Leskaj and Kala...
, Tepelenë, Memaliaj
Memaliaj
Memaliaj in the district of Tepelenë in southern Albania is a small industrial town established in 1946 to support the mining activity in the area. In 1990 the production of coal was around 500,000 tons per year. After the fall of communism and introduction of a free market economy the mine closed...
, Selenicë
Selenicë
Selenicë is a municipality in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. The population is 6,900. The town is well-known for its bitumen mines. The football club is KS Selenicë....
and Novoselë
Novoselë
Novoselë is a municipality in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania.-Villages:The municipality consists of the villages Novoselë, Aliban, Bishan, Mifol, Poro, Dëllënjë, Delisuf, Trevllazër, Cerkovinë, Skrofotinë, Fitore and Akërni....
. It flows into the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, northwest of Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
.
Name
The river is known by a number of different names. In antiquity it was called Aoös in GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, and Aous in Latin. In Albania it is called Vjosë or Vjosa, while in Greece it is known by its ancient name (Αώος in modern orthography), as well as Vovousa (Βοβούσα) or Aias (Αίας, Αἴας).
Human History
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Aous is an epithet or name of Adonis
Adonis
Adonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
. Aous (King) was also the name of the first king of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. A river and a mountain in Cyprus were also named Aous (Cyprus).
Hecataeus (550 - 476 BC) refers to the river as Aias . The name Anios is used by Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
in Caesar
Parallel Lives
Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, commonly called Parallel Lives or Plutarch's Lives, is a series of biographies of famous men, arranged in tandem to illuminate their common moral virtues or failings, written in the late 1st century...
, while Polybius
Polybius
Polybius , Greek ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece...
, Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
and Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
use the term Aoos. The Thesprotian tribe of Parauaioi received their name from the river, as those living beside it. Pausanias writes of "sharks" in the river, as it flows through Thesprotia
Thesprotia
Thesprotia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the town of Igoumenitsa. It is named after the Thesprotians, an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region in antiquity.-History:...
. It is mentioned as Auos by Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephen of Byzantium, also known as Stephanus Byzantinus , was the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica...
in the 6th century AD.
In 198 BC
198 BC
Year 198 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Catus and Flamininus...
, Philip V of Macedon
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
and the Roman Titus Quinctius Flamininus
Titus Quinctius Flamininus
Titus Quinctius Flamininus was a Roman politician and general instrumental in the Roman conquest of Greece.Member of the gens Quinctia, and brother to Lucius Quinctius Flamininus, he served as a military tribune in the Second Punic war and in 205 BC he was appointed propraetor in Tarentum...
, clashed in the Battle of the Aous
Battle of the Aous
The Battle of the Aous was fought in 198 BC between the Roman Republic and The Ancient Kingdom of Macedonia, at or near modern Tepelenë in Albania. The Roman forces were led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus and the Macedonian ones were led by Philip V....
. At 170 BC
170 BC
Year 170 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Mancinus and Serranus...
a plot to kidnap Aulus Hostilius Mancinus
Aulus Hostilius Mancinus
Aulus Hostilius Mancinus was a Roman consul in the year 170 BCE, together with Aulus Atilius Serranus....
was foiled by Molossians by mistake. There are some indications that a river harbour may have existed in Vjosë. In antiquity the river passed more to the north, towards where Fier
Fier
Fieri is a city in southwest Albania, in the district and county of the same name. It is located at , and has a population of 82,297 . Fier is from the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia.-History :...
nowadays lies. Owing to an earthquake in the 4th century, it changed to the present course. This earthquake and river change were the main reasons that led to the decline of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia
Apollonia (Illyria)
Apollonia was an ancient Greek city in Illyria, located on the right bank of the Aous river . Its ruins are situated in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani, in modern-day Albania...
.
Greece
The Vikos–Aoös National Park ( Ethnikós Drymós Víkou–Aóou), founded in 1973 is a national parkNational park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the region of Epirus
Epirus (region)
Epirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë in the north to the Ambracian Gulf in the south...
in northwestern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The national park encompasses 126 square kilometres (31,135 acre) of mountainous terrain, with numerous rivers, lakes, cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s, deep canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s and dense coniferous and deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
forest. The core of the park (3400 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s) is the Vikos Gorge
Vikos Gorge
The Vikos Gorge is a gorge in the Pindus Mountains of northern Greece. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi, with a length of about 20 km, depth ranging from 450 m to 1600 m and width from 400 m to some meters at its narrowest part....
, carved by the Voidomatis river, while Aoos gorge, mount Tymfi
Tymfi
Tymfi or Mt Tymphe, Timfi, also Tymphi is a mountain in the northern Pindus mountain range, northwestern Greece. It is part of the regional unit of Ioannina and lies in the region of Zagori, just a few meters south of the 40° parallel...
, with its highest peak Gamila 2497 metres (8,192.3 ft) and a number of traditionally preserved settlements form the park's peripheral zone.
Albania
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
along the Albanian part of the river would have 400 MW total capacity (2,155 GWh/year). The feasibility of the project is being studied. In February 2005 The Albanian Government approved a law, making the Vjose-Narte wetlands a protected area. This legislation followed Albania's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
in December 2004. The river is known for its apport to the important irrigation canal Vjosë-Levan-Fier, a canal that was built in the 50's for the irrigation of the Myzeqe low plains.
Vjosa is a common female Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
.
Lists
- Tributaries: DrinoDrinoThe Drin or Drinos is a river in southern Albania and northwestern Greece, tributary of the Vjosë. Its source is in the northwestern part of the Ioannina Prefecture, near the village Delvinaki. It flows initially southwest, then northwest and crosses the Albanian border near Ktismata. It continues...
, Shushicë, Voidomatis - Cities and towns (in upstream order) along the river:
- In Albania: NovoselëNovoselëNovoselë is a municipality in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania.-Villages:The municipality consists of the villages Novoselë, Aliban, Bishan, Mifol, Poro, Dëllënjë, Delisuf, Trevllazër, Cerkovinë, Skrofotinë, Fitore and Akërni....
, SelenicëSelenicëSelenicë is a municipality in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. The population is 6,900. The town is well-known for its bitumen mines. The football club is KS Selenicë....
, MemaliajMemaliajMemaliaj in the district of Tepelenë in southern Albania is a small industrial town established in 1946 to support the mining activity in the area. In 1990 the production of coal was around 500,000 tons per year. After the fall of communism and introduction of a free market economy the mine closed...
, Tepelenë, ÇarshovëÇarshovëÇarshovë is a municipality in the Përmet District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Çarshovë, Vllaho-Psilloterë, Biovizhdë, Zhepë, Draçovë, Iliar-Munushtir, Strëmbec, Pëllumbar and Kanikol....
, KëlcyrëKëlcyrëKëlcyrë is a municipality in the Përmet District, southern Albania, located on the bank of the river Vjosë. The municipality consists of the town Këlcyrë and the villages Fshat Këlcyrë, Mbrezhdan, Maleshovë, Limar, Leskaj and Kala...
, and PërmetPërmetPërmet is a town in Albania, capital of Përmet District. The population is 7,717. It is flanked by the Vjosë river, which runs along the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë mountain chain, between Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, and through the Këlcyra gorge....
; - In Greece: KonitsaKonitsaKonitsa is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos...
and VovousaVovousaVovousa 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 a municipal unit. It is one of the original Zagori villages. Population 179...
.
- In Albania: Novoselë
- List crossings of the river: KonitsaKonitsaKonitsa is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos...
bridge