Vjosa - Brief History
The Vjosa River, known in ancient times as the Vovousa, begins life as the Aoos River in the Pindos Mountains in the north of Greece, then straddles the Greek-Albanian border before continuing on its way down to the Adriatic Sea as the Vjosa.
Like many other rivers around the world, the Vjosa’s riverine landscape has offered an important strategic place that has shaped the lives of various civilisations throughout history. On the hills stretching above its riverbed, important prehistoric cities including Byllis, Apolonia and Amantia were founded between the 6th and 2nd century BC.
A similarly important historical value was accorded to Vjosa during the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empires, when the area was known for the fertility of its soil and for its trading relations. Along with the tradition of pastoralism, these empires contributed significantly to the population dynamics (resettlements, internal and external migration) that have marked this area throughout the centuries. During World War II, the Vjosa River Valley became a battlefield where the Albanian army fought the Italian army and where numerous national patriots were lain to rest in the arms of its riverside.
A similarly important historical value was accorded to Vjosa during the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empires, when the area was known for the fertility of its soil and for its trading relations. Along with the tradition of pastoralism, these empires contributed significantly to the population dynamics (resettlements, internal and external migration) that have marked this area throughout the centuries.
A similarly important historical value was accorded to Vjosa during the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empires, when the area was known for the fertility of its soil and for its trading relations. Along with the tradition of pastoralism, these empires contributed significantly to the population dynamics (resettlements, internal and external migration) that have marked this area throughout the centuries.
During World War II, the valley was the location of many battles and numerous national patriots were lain to rest in the arms of its riverside.
During World War II, the Vjosa River Valley became a battlefield where the Albanian army
fought the Italian army and where numerous national patriots were lain to rest
in the arms of its riverside.
According to the Albanian ethnographer Rrok Zojzi (1950), the Vjosa Valley was culturally and geographically divided into two regional areas from the period of Ottoman Empire until the end of the communist regime. Along the southern bank stretches Labëria, a relatively mountainous area, dominated by limestone and hosting a pastoralist society that is still preserved today. Along the northern bank stretches Toskëria, which is mainly lowland with dominant clay, and an agricultural society.
According to Zojzi (1950), the marriage pattern in these two regions was largely exogamous, but it remained confined to one river bank.
For many centuries the communities populating the northern and southern banks of the river had little contact, which is still a relevant feature today. Historically, both regions were subject to considerable internal and international migration, with the highest rates occurring at the beginning of Ottoman rule in the 15th century, during the interwar period (Zojzi 1950) and after the collapse of the communist regime.
The only exception was the communist regime when international migration was strictly forbidden (due to country’s isolation) while internal migration was directed and controlled. It was during this period, which is described as one of the harshest and most draconian regimes in Europe (Vickers 1999; de Waal 2005; Schrapel et al. 2016), that agrarian reform took place in 1958. Agricultural cooperatives were established in many villages, including those of the Vjosa Valley. Work brigades (collective labour activities) expanded agricultural fields, built irrigation canals, cut back Mediterranean shrubs along the Vjosa River and transformed the riverine landscape into a productive area.
In order to prevent soil erosion, which was already prominent in the area, platanus, poplars and acacia were planted along the riverbank. In the wake of the industrial reform that took place after the 1970s, many villages in the valley got electricity and some also got piped water. Private property – land – was collectivised.
After the collapse of the communist regime in 1991, the agricultural cooperatives dissolved and the process of land decollectivisation began. Due to the complex system of religious and administrative division in the past, this process is still ongoing. As a result, many locals still do not legally own a particular plot of land, or they are in conflict over land with their relatives or neighbours, or they have migrated and no longer live in the area.
As a result, the once collective land has been fragmented into numerous smaller parcels, which means that management and cultivation are in the hands of the family or the individual owner. The latter often sell to local or foreign real estate companies due to the current economic and political situation in Albania.
As a result, the once collective land has been fragmented into numerous smaller parcels, which means that management and cultivation are in the hands of the family or the individual owner. The latter often sell to local or foreign real estate companies due to the current economic and political situation in Albania.
In the first decades after the collapse of the regime, massive rural-urban migration took place. As a result, many hectares of agricultural land were abandoned, irrigation canals became blocked and other infrastructure – water and electricity networks,
In the first decades after the collapse of the regime, massive rural-urban migration took place. As a result, many hectares of agricultural land were abandoned, irrigation canals became blocked and other infrastructure – water and electricity networks,
roads – deterioated.
roads – deteriorated.
Most locals return to their villages only during the summer holidays, or when they retire or die, for there is still – especially in the rural areas – a strong tradition of burying ancestors in their hometowns or so-called place of origin.
Most locals return to their villages only during the summer holidays, or when they retire or die, for there is still – especially in the rural areas – a strong tradition of burying ancestors in their hometowns or so-called place of origin.
Most locals return to their villages only during the summer holidays, or when they retire or die, for there is still – especially in the rural areas – a strong tradition of burying ancestors in their hometowns or so-called place of origin.
After 1980, as a result of the general political, economic and social crisis in the country, which led to the collapse of the communist regime, severe deforestation took place on the riverbanks – either for personal use or for market sale. Other infrastructural interventions also occurred during these years, such as gravel mining for construction purposes, which flourished after 1991.
After 2014, due to Albania’s accession to the EU candidate process, European, American and other investment funds began to invest in infrastructural development. This included, for example, the construction of roads and hydroelectric power plants in Kalivaç and Poçem. After ten years of dedicated work by local communities, the local NGO EcoAlbania and international NGOs (RiverWatch, Euronatur and Balkan River Defence), scientists and other activists to protect the Vjosa River from the infrastructural interventions, the Memorandum between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania and outdoor company Patagonia was signed on 13 June 2022. With this the Albanian government committed to declare the Vjosa River a national park.
