The Vjosa River is not just a beautiful waterfall flowing through Albania; it is a natural wonder, a unique asset that is attracting the attention of scientists and activists from all over the world. Often called the “Amazon of Europe”, the Vjosa remains one of the last wild rivers on the continent, still flowing freely, without dams or major human intervention. This is precisely what makes it a living treasure trove of biodiversity and an open laboratory for studying natural ecosystems.
An intact ecosystem
The Vjosa riverbed stretches through a diverse landscape, with rocky outcrops, gravel beaches, forested banks and countless tributaries that create a unique natural mosaic. This mosaic is home to thousands of species of fish, birds and insects, many of which are rare or endangered. Scientists see the Vjosa as a window into the past, a place where they can study what European rivers looked like before industrialization.
Why the "Amazon of Europe"?
Like the Amazon in South America, the Vjosa resembles a living organism that pulsates and constantly changes. Seasonal floods, changing beds, and the creation of new channels give the river a dynamism that makes it impossible to see it the same way twice. This unstoppable natural process is precisely what distinguishes the Vjosa from most other European rivers, limited by dams and concreted channels.
A scientific and cultural asset
Beyond biology, the Vjosa is a meeting place between science, culture and local communities. The villages along the river have preserved ancient traditions closely linked to water, while for international researchers it remains a “natural laboratory” for understanding the relationship between biodiversity and climate. Any analysis carried out on the Vjosa could provide answers to big questions about climate change, species migration and the protection of future ecosystems.
Call for protection
The miracle of the Vjosa is also a responsibility. Many organizations and scientists appeal for the river to be preserved intact, by declaring it a National Park and protecting it from hydroelectric projects. Its preservation is not simply an Albanian environmental issue, but a European and global mission: to protect one of the few rivers that still flow freely.
The Vjosa is more than a river — it is a natural history flowing before our eyes, an open-air museum and a European Amazon that testifies to the power and beauty of wild nature. Its mysteries are an invitation to see it not only as a national treasure, but as a universal heritage that belongs to today's and future generations.
