List of rivers of Albania

(Redirected from Rivers of Albania)

Albania has an extensive hydrographic network of 152 rivers and streams, including 10 large rivers flowing from southeast to northwest, mainly discharging towards the Adriatic Sea. Combined, they produce a total annual flow rate of 1,308 cubic metres per second (46,200 cu ft/s).[1][2]

Hydrogeological Map of Albania
Source: Ministry of Industry and Mines (1985)

In the mountainous regions, the rivers meander through narrow valleys with steep banks and great depth, collecting streams and silt during heavy rains. Their beds become erosive, causing frequent changes in their paths.[3]

The rivers are mainly fed by atmospheric precipitation (65-92%) and underground water (8-35%), with an average rainfall layer of 1,494 mm and a runoff layer of 945 mm. Water flow varies by season, with winter having the largest annual flow (40%), followed by spring, autumn, and summer. The rivers contain an average mineralization of 150 to 500 mg/L and an average annual volume of suspended solids of 60 million tons, with greater erosion occurring in the catchment basins of Osum, Devoll, and Erzen. Temperatures in the winter months fall to 3.5-8.9°C, and in the summer months reach 17.8-24.6°C.[4]

List of rivers

edit
  Part of a protected landscape
  Part of a national park
  Part of a world heritage site

Main rivers

edit
No. Image River Length Basin Annual flow Map
1   Drin 285 km (177 mi) 14,173 km2 (5,472 sq mi) 352 m3/s (12,400 cu ft/s)
 
 
2   Devoll 196 km (122 mi) 3,140 km2 (1,210 sq mi) 49.5 m3/s (1,750 cu ft/s)
 
 
3   Vjosa 192 km (119 mi) 6,706 km2 (2,589 sq mi) 195 m3/s (6,900 cu ft/s)
 
 
4   Shkumbin 181.4 km (112.7 mi) 2,444 km2 (944 sq mi) 61.5 m3/s (2,170 cu ft/s)
 
 
5   Osum 161 km (100 mi) 2,073 km2 (800 sq mi) 32.5 m3/s (1,150 cu ft/s)
 
 
6   Mat 115 km (71 mi) 2,441 km2 (942 sq mi) 103 m3/s (3,600 cu ft/s)
 
 
7   Erzen 109 km (68 mi) 760 km2 (290 sq mi) 18.1 m3/s (640 cu ft/s)
 
 
8   Fan 94 km (58 mi) 1,080 km2 (420 sq mi) 46 m3/s (1,600 cu ft/s)
 
 
9   Seman 85 km (53 mi) 5,649 km2 (2,181 sq mi) 95.7 m3/s (3,380 cu ft/s)
 
 
10   Drino 84.6 km (52.6 mi) 1,320 km2 (510 sq mi) 41.6 m3/s (1,470 cu ft/s)
 
 

Other rivers

edit
No. Image River Length Basin Annual flow Map
11   Shushicë 81.6 km (50.7 mi) 715 km2 (276 sq mi) 24.3 m3/s (860 cu ft/s)
 
 
12   Ishëm 62.2 km (38.6 mi) 673 km2 (260 sq mi) 21.5 m3/s (760 cu ft/s)
 
 
13   Cem 58.8 km (36.5 mi) 368 km2 (142 sq mi) 24.86 m3/s (878 cu ft/s)
 
 
14   Kir 52 km (32 mi) 261 km2 (101 sq mi) 17 m3/s (600 cu ft/s)
 
 
15   Valbonë 50.6 km (31.4 mi) 657 km2 (254 sq mi) 33 m3/s (1,200 cu ft/s)
 
 
16   Pavllë 50 km (31 mi) 374 km2 (144 sq mi) 6.51 m3/s (230 cu ft/s)
 
 
17   Bunë 44 km (27 mi) 5,187 km2 (2,003 sq mi) 320 m3/s (11,000 cu ft/s)
 
 
18   Lëngaricë 36.8 km (22.9 mi) 337.1 km2 (130.2 sq mi) 7.86 m3/s (278 cu ft/s)
 
 
19   Shalë 35 km (22 mi) 269 km2 (104 sq mi) 33.7 m3/s (1,190 cu ft/s)
 
 
20 Kalasë 34 km (21 mi) 258 km2 (100 sq mi) 7.46 m3/s (263 cu ft/s)
 
 
21   Lanë 28.9 km (18.0 mi) 66.9 km2 (25.8 sq mi) 242 m3/s (8,500 cu ft/s)
 
 
22   Gashi 27 km (17 mi)
 
 
23   Bistricë 25 km (16 mi) 189 km2 (73 sq mi) 23.9 m3/s (840 cu ft/s)
 
 
24   Bënça 15 km (9.3 mi) 188 km2 (73 sq mi) 8.8 m3/s (310 cu ft/s)
 
 

Basins

edit

Organized by drainage basin. Albanian-language names of the water bodies are listed if different from English. Italics indicate that the body of water is not in or bordering Albania.

Adriatic Sea

edit

Ionian Sea

edit

Black Sea

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Cullaj, A.; Hasko, A.; Miho, A.; Schanz, F.; Brandl, H.; Bachofen, R. (2005). "The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact". Environment International. 31 (1): 137. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008. PMID 15607787.
  2. ^ Agim SELENICA. "WATER RESOURCES OF ALBANIA". medhycos.mpl.ird.fr.
  3. ^ Qiriazi, Perikli (2001). Gjeografia Fizike e Shqipërisë. Tiranë: Ideart. pp. 101–108. ISBN 978-99956-29-80-9.
  4. ^ Pano, Niko (2015). Pasuritë ujore të Shqipërisë. Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë. p. 636. ISBN 978-99956-10-87-6.