Valbona (river)
| Valbona | |
|---|---|
 Valbona river | |
| Location | |
| Country | Albania |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Albanian Alps |
| • coordinates | 42°24′40″N 19°52′41″E / 42.411°N 19.878°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Lake Koman |
• coordinates | 42°16′01″N 20°01′23″E / 42.267°N 20.023°E |
| Length | 50.6 km (31.4 mi) |
| Basin size | 657 km2 (254 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Drin→ Adriatic Sea |
The Valbona (Albanian: Valbonë) is a river in northern Albania. It is still relatively untouched. Its source is in the Accursed Mountains, near the border with Montenegro.
The Valbonë flows generally east through the municipality Margegaj (mountain villages Valbonë, Dragobi and Shoshan), then turns south along Bajram Curri, and continues southwest until its outflow into the river Drin, near Fierzë. It is one of the cleanest rivers in the country. The river begins in and flows through the Valbonë valley.
Hydropower Debate
Due to the Valbona's importance as a natural feature inside the Valbona Valley National Park, there has been much debate as to whether allow hydropower plants to be constructed on it. From 2007-2013, the government granted contracts for the construction of six hydropower plants on the river.[1] However, when construction started in 2014, residents reported never approving of the project and began raising concerns to the developer, Gener2.
When approached, Gener2 reported that they had collected signatures at a town hall meeting in 2013. These signatures we then disputed, with one accusation being that the some of the signatures were from those who were deceased.[2] When the case was closed in 2018, these accusations were dropped.
In 2016, The Organization to Conserve the Albanian Alps (TOKA) was founded to raise awareness about the hydropower projects and ideally halt their construction while promoting tourism of Albania's natural spaces.[3] Through pressure from TOKA and the public, in 2021 the Supreme Court made the decision to suspend all works and the concession contracts for hydropower plants on the Valbona River.[4]
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ Mejdini, Fatjona Mejdini, Fatjona (2016-04-13). "Campaigners say Power Plants will Wreck 'Albania's Alps'". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Sinoruka, Fjori (2021-11-03). "Construction of Two Hydropower Plants Ordered to Halt in Albania". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ Parsons, Ashley (2020-05-07). "The Valbona River in Peril". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ^ "Lights Off for Hydropower Plants in Valbona". www.wwfmmi.org. 2021-11-12. Retrieved 2025-08-16.