Devoll (river)

Devoll (Albanian: Devoll, definite Albanian form: Devolli; Latin: Eordaïcus; Ancient Greek: Εορδαϊκός) is a river in southern Albania. It is one of the source rivers of Seman. It is 196 km (122 mi) long and its drainage basin is 3,130 km2 (1,210 sq mi). Its average discharge is 49.5 m3/s (1,750 cu ft/s).[2] Its source is in the southwestern corner of the Devoll municipality, close to the Greek border. It flows initially northeast, through Miras, then north through Bilisht, and northwest through Progër, Pojan (in the northern Korçë Plain which was marshy until after the World War II), Maliq, Moglicë, Kodovjat, Gramsh, where it is stowed in a big lake and Gostimë, where it turns south. It joins the Osum near Kuçovë, to form the Seman. The Seman opens into a small delta south of the Karavasta lagoon in the Adriatic sea.

Devoll
Devoll Valley
Location
CountryAlbania
Counties
Cities
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationNikolicë, Korçë County
  coordinates40.485°N 20.767°E / 40.485; 20.767
Mouth 
  location
Seman near Kuçovë
  coordinates
40.8128°N 19.8588°E / 40.8128; 19.8588
Length196 km (122 mi)
Basin size3,140 km2 (1,210 sq mi)[1]
Discharge 
  average49.5 m3/s (1,750 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionSemanAdriatic Sea

A number of hydroelectricity plants on the river Devoll are planned or under construction. The Albanian company Devoll Hydropower, owned and operated by the Norwegian power company Statkraft,[3][4][5] is building two hydroelectricity plants near Banjë (Banjë Hydro Power Plant) and near Moglicë (Moglicë Hydro Power Plant), with combined capacity 242 MW. The decision whether a third plant near Kokel is to be built, will be taken when the first two dams are completed.[6][7][8]

At an unspecified location in the valley of Devoll, Bohemund of Taranto and the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I made an agreement in 1108, in the wake of the First Crusade. This treaty is named after the Byzantine fortress of Devol, modern Albania. Although the treaty was not immediately enforced, it was intended to make the Principality of Antioch a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire.[9]

During 1970 significant amounts of water from the river was diverted into the Small Prespa Lake with the intention to use it latter during the summer time for the irrigation purposes. Due to the high suspended solids in the river water significant siltation did occur on the Albanian side. The practice has recently stopped.[10]

See also

References

  1. "Modelling of water allocation and availability in Devoll River Basin, Albania" (PDF). brage.bibsys.no. p. 6.
  2. 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: 138.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Devoll Hydropower, about us
  4. "Statkraft buys EVN AG's share in Devoll hydropower project". www.hydroworld.com. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  5. "Devoll Hydropower | Our Concession". www.devollhydropower.al. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  6. Statkraft
  7. "Devoll Hydropower Project". Power Technology. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  8. "Statkraft prepares for Devoll hydroelectric project construction". www.hydroworld.com. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  9. Steven Runciman (3 December 1987). A History of the Crusades. CUP Archive. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-521-34771-6.
  10. Etnografia shqiptare. Akademia e Shkencave e RPSH, Instituti i Historisë, Sektori i Etnografisë. 1962.
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