Weltspiegel report: Along the Vjosa in Albania
Vjosa in Albania is one of the last great wild rivers in Europe. But paradise is threatened. Several dams and small power plants are planned on the almost 300-kilometer-long, almost free-flowing Vjosa and its tributaries. These would dramatically change the landscape and biodiversity. To prevent this, scientists from several countries are in Albania in the early summer to collect reliable evidence of the uniqueness of the Albanian wild rivers. Your expedition takes you to the Vjosa and the tributaries Bence and Sushica.
Christian Limpert and Nikolaus Neumaier accompany the researchers in their field work. You will be there when the scientists and activists enter a largely unknown gorge or present their findings. The local population welcomes the scientists. Farmers, shepherds and fish farmers also want to prevent the dams and keep the rivers as they are. Your problem is that in Albania, one of the most water-rich countries in Europe, many villages do not have a secure supply of drinking water.
Researchers and the local population have a dream: The Vjosa and its tributaries are to become Europe's first wild river national park. The Albanian head of government has given assurances that no dams will be built. But so far there is no legal basis. Albania's fight for water does not seem to have been decided yet.
