AoosVjosa

AoosVjosa is the transboundary river system formed by the Aoos River in Greece and the Vjosa River in Albania. The name is used in cross-border contexts to emphasize the unity of the river as it travels from the Pindus Mountains in Greece through southern Albania to the Adriatic Sea near Vlora. In Greece the upper course is known as the Aoos; downstream the river takes the name Vjosa in Albania.

Geography and course: The river originates in the Pindus range and flows southeast, crossing the border between Greece and Albania, where the channel becomes Vjosa and continues to the Adriatic coast. The basin traverses diverse landscapes, including deep gorges, wooded valleys, and floodplains that support a variety of habitats.

Ecology: The AoosVjosa watershed hosts a range of aquatic and riparian ecosystems with native fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and birds. It is widely regarded for its largely natural, free-flowing character compared with many European rivers, with intact sediment transport and hydrological regime that sustain habitat diversity.

Conservation and governance: The river has been the subject of conservation campaigns and policy discussions regarding hydropower development. Environmental groups, scientists, and local communities advocate maintaining a free-flowing river and pursuing cross-border cooperation on river management within European environmental frameworks.